Trip from Dallas, TX to Rhode Island, TX

Q: How long is the trip from Dallas, TX to Rhode Island, TX?

The drive from Dallas, TX to Rhode Island, TX covers 83.4 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are Julius Schepps Freeway, FM 833, East FM 833. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 41.7 miles from Dallas, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.60 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns show up on signs driving from Dallas, TX to Rhode Island, TX?

The route from Dallas, TX to Rhode Island, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 29m

Distance

83.4 mi

134 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min

4 AM

1h 23m ★

6 AM

1h 30m

8 AM

1h 43m

10 AM

1h 34m

12 PM

1h 33m

3 PM

1h 35m

5 PM

1h 43m

8 PM

1h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

This short, 83.4-mile drive from Dallas to Rhode Island, Texas, can be completed in about 1 hour and 29 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With a projected fuel cost of $13, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route is almost entirely highway, offering a straightforward journey through the Great Plains region of Texas. You won't need to worry about overnight stays or splitting the drive, giving you plenty of flexibility for your schedule. This trip is all about efficient travel within the state.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 83.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for 98% of this trip. The majority of your miles will be on the Julius Schepps Freeway, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 79.4 miles. This suggests a consistent, high-speed driving environment for most of the journey. The route's character is defined by its efficiency and directness, with minimal deviations from major roadways. You'll likely experience a steady pace as you traverse the landscape.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Julius Schepps Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 79.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and FM 833. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near McKinney Avenue.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (McKinney Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | McKinney Avenue

Turn right onto McKinney Avenue

Navigation decision point

7

0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Houston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 45 South: Houston

5

1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Merge onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

6

4.5 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

7

80.8 mi into trip | ~1h 24m 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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway	79.4 mi	1h 21m
FM 833	1.3 mi	3m
East FM 833	0.9 mi	1m
Woodall Rodgers Freeway	0.4 mi	<1m
McKinney Avenue	0.2 mi	<1m
North Lamar Street	<0.1 mi	<1m
North Interstate 45	<0.1 mi	<1m
North State Highway 75	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Julius Schepps Freeway — 79.4 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Rhode Island, TX.

1

Start on North Lamar Street

433 ft · 14 sec · North Lamar Street

2

Turn right onto McKinney Avenue

0.2 mi · 24 sec · McKinney Avenue

3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward US 75 North

4

Merge onto Spur 366

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Woodall Rodgers Freeway

5

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 45 South: Houston Use the slight right lane.

6

Merge onto I 45

3.1 mi · 3 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

Use the straight / right lanes.

7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 45

76 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 206 Toward FM 833 Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9

Turn left onto North Interstate 45

307 ft · 10 sec · North Interstate 45

10

Turn left onto FM 833

1.3 mi · 3 min · FM 833

11

At end of road, turn right onto TX 75; FM 833

52 ft · 1 sec · North State Highway 75

12

Turn left onto FM 833

0.9 mi · 1 min · East FM 833

13

Turn right onto County Road 161

10 ft · 0 sec · County Road 161

14

Arrive at destination

County Road 161

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 41.7 mi from Dallas, TX · 44m into the drive

city in Ellis County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ennis, TX

42 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

Ferris, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ennis, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.7 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.4 miles.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.60 one way

$25.20 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$13.79	$27.59
premium	$4.54	$14.89	$29.78
diesel	$5.61	$18.41	$36.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$13

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	25	$8.76	$4.00
Efficient EV	20.9	$7.30	$3.34
EV Truck/SUV	33.4	$11.68	$5.34

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Dallas, TX

Afternoon in Dallas on Thursday

Local time

12:57 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rhode Island, TX

Afternoon in Rhode Island on Thursday

Local time

12:57 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

11 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 29m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions