Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Wimberley, TX to Rhode Island, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 6m
Distance
216.2 mi
348 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 53m
★
6 AM
4h 6m
8 AM
4h 32m
10 AM
4h 15m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 31m
8 PM
3h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wimberley, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Trip Overview
Wimberley to Rhode Island is 216.2 miles and takes about 4h 6m via Purple Heart Trail and I 45, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, traversing Texas for its entirety. It's a straightforward drive that offers a good mix of highway cruising and surface road travel, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on major roadways before transitioning to more local routes.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.1 miles from Wimberley, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 112.5 mi | 1h 59m |
| State Highway 31 | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| I 45 | 19.8 mi | 19m |
| Ranch Road 150 West | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6 mi | 6m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Hubbard Bypass | 5.3 mi | 5m |
| Ranch Road 3237 | 5.2 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 112.5 mi, about 1h 59m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 76 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,925 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~679 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wimberley, TX and Rhode Island, TX.
1
Start on RM 12
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Ranch Road 12
2
Continue on Old Kyle Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Kyle Road
3
Turn left onto RM 3237
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Ranch to Market Road 3237
4
Continue on RM 3237
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Ranch Road 3237
5
Enter roundabout onto RM 150
85 ft
·
1 sec
·
Ranch Road 150 West
6
Continue on RM 150
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Ranch Road 150 West
7
Turn left onto FM 2770
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Jack C Hays Trail
8
Turn right onto CR 171
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Kohlers Crossing
9
Turn left onto CR 210
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kyle Crossing
10
Continue on Windy Hill Road
355 ft
·
12 sec
·
Windy Hill Road
11
Turn left onto South Interstate 35
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Interstate 35
Use the left lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 35 North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Merge onto I 35
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 338
Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
18
Turn right onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
East Waco Drive
19
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
20
Continue on US 84
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East US Highway 84
21
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
22
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
23
Continue on TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 31
24
Turn right onto TX 31
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto South Interstate 45
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Interstate 45
26
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
27
Merge onto I 45
20 mi
·
19 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 206
Toward FM 833
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn left onto North Interstate 45
307 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Interstate 45
30
Turn left onto FM 833
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
FM 833
31
At end of road, turn right onto TX 75; FM 833
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
North State Highway 75
32
Turn left onto FM 833
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East FM 833
33
Turn right onto County Road 161
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
County Road 161
34
Arrive at destination
County Road 161
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 6m estimated drive time, leaving Wimberley in the morning is your best bet to ensure you arrive in Rhode Island with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $31, but it's always wise to top off before embarking. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of the transition from Purple Heart Trail to I 45, as this marks a significant change in driving pace and road type.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 108.1 miles from Wimberley, TX, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.5 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 48 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.1 miles or 2h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rhode Island, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wimberley, 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 Wimberley, TX
This is one driving day of about 216.2 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Wimberley, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 112.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.1 miles from Wimberley, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 112.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Final third
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteToybrary Austin
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, ~11 min detour
Early stretch
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+15124343927
Visit websiteVillage of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Halfway reset
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 20.3 and 213.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
South Interstate 35
Turn left onto South Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
21.4 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35 North
6
38.6 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
140.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 338
Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
7
213.6 mi into trip
|
~4h in
Take the exit toward FM 833
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 206
Toward FM 833
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.61 one way
$59.23 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $33.08 | $66.15 |
| premium | $4.23 | $35.96 | $71.92 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $40.82 | $81.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.70 | $10.38 |
| Efficient EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.92 | $8.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.5 | 1 | $30.27 | $13.84 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Wimberley, TX
Evening in Wimberley on Monday
Local time
6:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph
74% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:00AM CDT until July 16 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 16 at 2:35AM CDT until July 16 at 3:15AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Rhode Island, TX
Evening in Rhode Island on Monday
Local time
6:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
0 mph
21% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:00AM CDT until July 16 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 16 at 2:35AM CDT until July 16 at 3:15AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
1 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
4h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 141.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll encounter a mixed highway and surface road profile on this drive. About 32% of the route is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on Purple Heart Trail measuring 112.5 miles. Expect a transition from potentially faster-paced highway driving to more varied surface road conditions. The mix means you'll experience both open cruising and areas with more frequent intersections or slower traffic.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.5 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20.3 miles in near South Interstate 35.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 216.2 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.3 miles (South Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 38.6 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
896 ft
344 ft
Total Climb
684 ft
Total Descent
1,144 ft
Highest Point
896 ft
~77.2 mi in
Elevation Range
553 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Wimberley, TX
Full guide →Founded 2000
San Marcos is a college town in the Central Hill Country region of Texas in the United States of America, about half an hour's drive south of the state's capital, Austin. The site of human habitation for over 10,000 years, it was settled in 1808 by Mexican families, and is now the home to Texas State University-San Marcos. In 2020, it had a population of 58,000 people.
Arriving in Rhode Island, TX
Full guide →“The Ocean State” · Founded 1790
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 216.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Rhode Island, 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. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.3 miles (South Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 38.6 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Rhode Island, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Rhode Island, TX
More trips to Rhode Island, TX
Explore more options from Wimberley, TX or browse trips ending in Rhode Island, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.