Origin
Cotulla, TX
Evening in Cotulla on Sunday
Local time
6:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cotulla, TX to Rhode Island, TX
Drive Time
5h 22m
Distance
350.3 mi
564 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 9m
★
6 AM
5h 23m
8 AM
5h 50m
10 AM
5h 32m
12 PM
5h 29m
3 PM
5h 33m
5 PM
5h 48m
8 PM
5h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cotulla, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Cotulla, TX to Rhode Island, TX covers 350.3 miles and takes about 5h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Main Street, Purple Heart Trail, South Pan Am Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.51 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
175.1 miles from Cotulla, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 22m drive with frequent turns across 350.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cotulla, TX to Rhode Island, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Pan Am Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Pan Am Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 35 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 84 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cotulla, TX and Rhode Island, TX.
1
Start on Tilden Street
49 ft
·
5 sec
·
Tilden Street
2
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
4
Take the ramp slight left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
5
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
76 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
6
Continue on South Pan Am Expressway
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
7
Keep slight left to continue on South Pan Am Expressway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
8
Keep slight right to continue on South Pan Am Expressway
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
9
Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
10
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
11
Continue on Interstate Highway 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
12
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
13
Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
14
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
16
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
17
Turn right onto East Waco Drive
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
East Waco Drive
18
Continue on Bellmead Drive
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
19
Continue on East US Highway 84
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East US Highway 84
20
Continue on State Highway 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
21
Continue on Hubbard Bypass
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
22
Continue on State Highway 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 31
23
Turn right onto Corsicana Bypass
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
24
Turn right onto South Interstate 45
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Interstate 45
25
Take the ramp slight left
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
26
Merge slight left
20 mi
·
19 min
27
Take the exit slight right toward FM 833
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
FM 833
28
Turn left onto North Interstate 45
308 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Interstate 45
29
Turn left
1.3 mi
·
3 min
30
At the end of the road, turn right onto North State Highway 75
52 ft
·
2 sec
·
North State Highway 75
31
Turn left onto East FM 833
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East FM 833
32
Turn right onto County Road 161
10 ft
·
1 sec
·
County Road 161
33
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 175.1 miles from Cotulla, TX, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.1 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
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 Cotulla, 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 Cotulla, TX
This is one driving day of about 350.3 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cotulla, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 175.1 mi from Cotulla, TX · 2h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
175 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 175.1 miles from Cotulla, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rhode Island, TX
The final approach into Rhode Island, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Rhode Island, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.51 one way
$107.02 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
123 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $58.64 | $117.28 |
| premium | $4.59 | $63.32 | $126.63 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $77.82 | $155.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 105.1 | 1 | $36.78 | $16.81 |
| Efficient EV | 87.6 | 1 | $30.65 | $14.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 140.1 | 1 | $49.04 | $22.42 |
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Destination
Rhode Island, TX
Evening in Rhode Island on Sunday
Local time
6:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5h 22m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cotulla, TX to Rhode Island, TX covers 350.3 miles and takes about 5h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Main Street, Purple Heart Trail, South Pan Am Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 175.1 miles from Cotulla, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cotulla, TX to Rhode Island, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cotulla, TX to Rhode Island, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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