Trip from Little River-Academy, TX to Rhode Island, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

121.9 mi

196 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 8m ★

6 AM

2h 18m

8 AM

2h 37m

10 AM

2h 24m

12 PM

2h 22m

3 PM

2h 25m

5 PM

2h 36m

8 PM

2h 12m

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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Little River-Academy, TX

Eddie O.

Rhode Island, TX

Beth Fitzpatrick

Trip Overview

The drive from Little River-Academy, TX to Rhode Island, TX covers 121.9 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on State Highway 31, Purple Heart Trail, I 45 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.8 miles on State Highway 31. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.42 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

61 miles from Little River-Academy, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
State Highway 31	35.8 mi	38m
Purple Heart Trail	26.1 mi	26m
I 45	19.8 mi	19m
Southeast H K Dodgen Loop	6.5 mi	8m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6 mi	6m
Corsicana Bypass	5.5 mi	6m
Hubbard Bypass	5.3 mi	5m
TX 95	5.2 mi	6m

Longest stretch: State Highway 31 — 35.8 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Little River-Academy, TX and Rhode Island, TX.

Start on FM 436

1.1 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Turn left onto TX 95

5.2 mi · 6 min · TX 95

Continue on Loop 363

6.5 mi · 8 min · Southeast H K Dodgen Loop

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North General Bruce Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · North General Bruce Drive

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward I 35 North

Merge onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.0 mi · 6 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 28 sec

Exit 338 Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway

0.3 mi · 30 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Turn right onto US 84

0.3 mi · 52 sec · East Waco Drive

Continue on US 84

2.6 mi · 4 min · Bellmead Drive

Continue on US 84

2.7 mi · 3 min · East US Highway 84

Continue on TX 31

17 mi · 17 min · State Highway 31

Continue on TX 31

5.3 mi · 5 min · Hubbard Bypass

Continue on TX 31

19 mi · 21 min · State Highway 31

Turn right onto TX 31

5.5 mi · 6 min · Corsicana Bypass

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto South Interstate 45

0.5 mi · 50 sec · South Interstate 45

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Merge onto I 45

20 mi · 19 min · I 45

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

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

Turn left onto North Interstate 45

307 ft · 10 sec · North Interstate 45

Turn left onto FM 833

1.3 mi · 3 min · FM 833

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

52 ft · 1 sec · North State Highway 75

Turn left onto FM 833

0.9 mi · 1 min · East FM 833

Turn right onto County Road 161

10 ft · 0 sec · County Road 161

Arrive at destination

County Road 161

Trip Plan

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 61 miles from Little River-Academy, TX, or about 1h 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.8 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 27 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 61 miles or 1h 10m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 53m

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 Little River-Academy, 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 Little River-Academy, TX

This is one driving day of about 121.9 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Little River-Academy, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on State Highway 31 for about 35.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bellmead, TX

61 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

Lorena, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61 miles from Little River-Academy, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 43.5

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 8.7

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 13.8 and 119.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

13.8 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 35 / Purple Heart Trail

Merge onto I 35 / Purple Heart Trail

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

45.9 mi into trip | ~51m 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

93.3 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass

Turn right onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

99.5 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in | I 45

Merge onto I 45

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

119.3 mi into trip | ~2h 12m 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

$18.42 one way

$36.84 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$20.16	$40.32
premium	$4.54	$21.76	$43.53
diesel	$5.61	$26.91	$53.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	36.6	$12.80	$5.85
Efficient EV	30.5	$10.67	$4.88
EV Truck/SUV	48.8	$17.07	$7.80

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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 16, 2026

Origin

Little River-Academy, TX

Afternoon in Little River-Academy on Saturday

Local time

1:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rhode Island, TX

Afternoon in Rhode Island on Saturday

Local time

1:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°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

6 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

2h 17m 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.

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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 46.2

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

121.9 mi in 2h 17m — 60% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: State Highway 31.

60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 35.8 mi on State Highway 31.

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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in near I 35 / Purple Heart Trail.

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 121.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 13.8 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.3 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 121.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.8 miles on State Highway 31. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rhode Island, TX before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Little River-Academy, TX or browse trips ending in Rhode Island, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Little River-Academy, TX to Rhode Island, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Doris D Miller Park

Cultural Activities Center

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Little River-Academy, TX

Rhode Island, TX

Same local time

6 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 17m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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