Rhode Island, TX to Wolfe City, TX is 144.4 miles and takes about 2h 47m via I 45 and I 30, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, traversing mostly Texas. Given its relatively short duration and high highway percentage, this route is best suited for a single-day drive. You'll spend almost all your time on major roadways, making for a straightforward transit between these two Texas locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.2 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 45
69.3 mi
1h 10m
I 30
36.4 mi
38m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
14.7 mi
15m
North State Highway 34
13 mi
22m
Crockett Street
1.2 mi
2m
Johnson Street
1.2 mi
1m
Wolfe City Drive
1.1 mi
1m
East FM 833
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 69.3 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rhode Island, TX and Wolfe City, TX.
1
Start on County Road 161
10 ft·7 sec·County Road 161
2
Turn left onto FM 833
0.9 mi·1 min·East FM 833
3
Turn right onto TX 75; FM 833
52 ft·2 sec·North State Highway 75
4
Turn left onto FM 833
0.7 mi·1 min·West FM 833
5
Continue on FM 833
0.4 mi·55 sec·Farm-to-Market Road 833
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
7
Merge onto I 45
69 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 276BToward I 20 East: ShreveportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 20
6.1 mi·6 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 635
8.5 mi·9 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Exit 480Toward I 635 North: Mesquite, GarlandUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 8Toward I 30: Texarkana, Dallas
12
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 30 East: TexarkanaUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 30; US 67
36 mi·38 min·I 30; US 67
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 69, US 380, US 69
15
Turn straight onto I-30 Frontage Road
0.8 mi·1 min·I-30 Frontage Road
16
Turn left onto US 69 Bus
0.9 mi·1 min·US 69 Bus
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 69 Bus
0.5 mi·44 sec·Park Street
18
Turn right onto US 69 Bus
1.2 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
19
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 34
0.5 mi·49 sec·Commerce Drive
20
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 34
1.1 mi·1 min·Wolfe City Drive
21
Continue on TX 34
13 mi·22 min·North State Highway 34
22
Continue on TX 34
1.2 mi·2 min·Crockett Street
23
Turn left onto TX 34
0.6 mi·1 min·South Santa Fe Street
24
Turn right onto FM 1563
343 ft·6 sec·East Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
FM 1563
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 2 hour and 47 minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential rush hour traffic, especially around urban areas. With only one stop recommended and a fuel cost estimated at $22, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 69.3-mile mark on I 45, as this is the longest stretch without major towns or services. You'll have plenty of flexibility to adjust your timing or make an unplanned stop since it's a short trip.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.2 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 32 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.2 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wolfe City, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rhode Island, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rhode Island, TX
This is one driving day of about 144.4 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Rhode Island, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 45 for about 69.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 71.7 and 125.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Shreveport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 276B
Toward I 20 East: Shreveport
9
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway toward I 635 North: Mesquite, Garland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 480
Toward I 635 North: Mesquite, Garland
6
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 30: Texarkana, Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 8
Toward I 30: Texarkana, Dallas
7
87 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
6
125.4 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|US 69 Bus
Turn left onto US 69 Bus
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.82 one way
$43.64 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$23.88
$47.77
premium
$4.54
$25.78
$51.56
diesel
$5.61
$31.88
$63.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.22
$9.24
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Rhode Island, TX
Late night
in Rhode Island on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 15 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 11:30AM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Wolfe City, TX
Late night
in Wolfe City on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 15 to 20 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 11:30AM CDT until April 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
54°F
Mesquite, TX
72 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend 95% of your 144.4 miles on major highways like I 45 and I 30. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 69.3 miles, which will be on I 45. You'll encounter a high density of exits and merging traffic, particularly as you approach and travel through urban areas via Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. Surface roads will only become a factor in the final leg.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.3 mi on I 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and I 30. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 71.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 144.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 71.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.2 miles (I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rhode Island, TX and Wolfe City, TX, road signs point toward Garland and Dallas.
Rhode Island (RI) is the smallest state of the United States of America, tucked between Massachusetts and Connecticut in New England. Nonetheless, it has over 400 mi (640 km) of coastline, courtesy of Narragansett Bay and islands such as Aquidneck Island, home to Newport, the "City by the Sea". While Rhode Island contains the name "island" in its name, most of its area is not on an island.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 144.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.3 miles on I 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Wolfe City, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 71.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.2 miles (I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wolfe City, TX before heading back.
