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Trip from Montopolis, TX to Ricardo, TX

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

4h 7m

Distance

213.4 mi

343 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Good

6 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 54m ★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
3h 59m

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

Downtown Ricardo, TX, TX

Ricardo, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

The drive from Montopolis, TX to Ricardo, TX covers 213.4 miles and takes about 4h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on TX 80, South US Highway 181, I 69E for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.2 miles on TX 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.25 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

106.7 miles from Montopolis, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 4h 7m highway drive covering 213.4 miles, with most of the trip on TX 80 and South US Highway 181. The longest continuous stretch is about 51.2 miles on TX 80.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
TX 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 51.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 80 and South US Highway 181. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in near TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 213.4 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 12.9 miles (TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.7 miles (US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

5
12.9 mi into trip | ~16m in | TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway

Merge onto TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
22.7 mi into trip | ~25m in

Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
5
174.7 mi into trip | ~3h 24m in | US 77

Take the exit onto US 77 toward I 37, US 77, I 69E

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
5
175.2 mi into trip | ~3h 25m in | I 37; US 77; I 69E

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

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

Use the straight lane.
7
177.7 mi into trip | ~3h 28m in | I 69E; US 77

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

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. Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Montopolis, TX and Ricardo, TX, road signs point toward San Antonio and Brownsville.

San Antonio

12.6 mi in | ~16m

Brownsville

177.7 mi in | ~3h 28m | via I 69E; US 77

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
TX 80 51.2 mi 56m
South US Highway 181 40.2 mi 45m
I 69E 31.3 mi 33m
US Highway 181 South 16.1 mi 18m
US 77 12 mi 13m
Bastrop Highway 11.7 mi 15m
US 183 10.1 mi 11m
Pickle Parkway 9.8 mi 8m
Longest stretch: TX 80 — 51.2 mi, about 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Montopolis, TX and Ricardo, TX.

1

Start on this road

219 ft · 5 sec · this road
Toward 183 Toll South: Lockhart
2

Merge onto 183 Toll

0.8 mi · 47 sec · Bergstrom Expressway
3

Continue on US 183

12 mi · 15 min · Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll South: Lockhart, San Antonio
5

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

9.8 mi · 8 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183
8

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street
9

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
10

Continue on US 183

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Magnolia Avenue
11

Continue on TX 80

51 mi · 56 min · TX 80
12

Turn slight left onto FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792
13

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
14

Turn left onto US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
15

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · South US Highway 181
16

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · North 8th Street
17

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South
18

Take the exit onto US 181

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 181
19

Keep slight right at fork onto US 181

213 ft · 5 sec · US Route 181
20

Turn straight onto US 181

0.7 mi · 1 min · US Highway 181
21

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
22

Merge onto US 77

12 mi · 13 min · US 77
23

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
24

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
25

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
26

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77

31 mi · 33 min · I 69E; US 77
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Keep slight left at fork onto US 77

4.4 mi · 4 min · U.S. Highway 77
28

Turn left onto FM 1118

75 ft · 2 sec · Farm to Market Road 1118
29

Arrive at destination

FM 1118

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 106.7 miles from Montopolis, TX, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.2 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 106.7 miles or 2h 6m 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 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ricardo, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Montopolis, 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 Montopolis, TX

This is one driving day of about 213.4 miles and 4h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Montopolis, 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 TX 80 for about 51.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 106.7 mi from Montopolis, TX · 2h 6m into the drive

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

San Antonio, TX

107 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

San Antonio, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.7 miles from Montopolis, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Ricardo, TX

The final approach into Ricardo, 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 Ricardo, 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

$32.25 one way

$64.49 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 75 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $35.30 $70.59
premium $4.54 $38.10 $76.20
diesel $5.61 $47.12 $94.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

6 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good

PIE AE HEB E51ST DCFC1

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE HEB E51ST DCFC2

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE AFS DC1

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE AFS DC2

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE HEB E51ST DCFC4

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

PIE AE HEB E51ST DCFC3

Austin, TX

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 64 0 $22.41 $10.24
Efficient EV 53.4 0 $18.67 $8.54
EV Truck/SUV 85.4 1 $29.88 $13.66

Gas CO2

75 kg

EV CO2

25 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Montopolis, TX

Late night in Montopolis on Wednesday

Local time

12:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ricardo, TX

Late night in Ricardo on Wednesday

Local time

12:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

87°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

23 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

4h 7m 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 Montopolis, TX to Ricardo, TX covers 213.4 miles and takes about 4h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TX 80, South US Highway 181, I 69E. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.7 miles from Montopolis, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.25 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 213.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.9 miles (TX 130 Toll / Pickle Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.7 miles (US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Montopolis, TX and Ricardo, TX, road signs point toward San Antonio and Brownsville.

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