The drive from Rhode Island, TX to Baird, TX covers 231.5 miles and takes about 4h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, US 287, I 45 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 124.1 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.98 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
115.8 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 231.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Rhode Island, TX to Baird, TX covers 231.5 miles and takes about 4h 6m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 124.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near I 45.
Driving Effort5/10
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 231.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.4 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.1 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 105.9 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|I 45
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.1 mi into trip|~45m in|US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth
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 247
Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth
7
105.9 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 20 West
7
109.9 mi into trip|~2h in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
5
230 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 20 Business: Baird
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 308
Toward I 20 Business: Baird
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Rhode Island, TX to Baird, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Worth along the way.
Fort Worth
43.1 mi in|~45m|via US 287
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
124.1 mi
2h 7m
US 287
62.8 mi
1h 11m
I 45
40.7 mi
40m
I 20 Bus
1.4 mi
2m
East FM 833
0.9 mi
1m
West FM 833
0.7 mi
1m
Farm-to-Market Road 833
0.4 mi
<1m
Interstate 20 East
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
— 124.1 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rhode Island, TX and Baird, TX.
1
Start on County Road 161
10 ft·7 sec·County Road 161
2
Turn left onto FM 833
0.9 mi·1 min·East FM 833
3
Turn right onto TX 75; FM 833
52 ft·2 sec·North State Highway 75
4
Turn left onto FM 833
0.7 mi·1 min·West FM 833
5
Continue on FM 833
0.4 mi·55 sec·Farm-to-Market Road 833
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
7
Merge onto I 45
41 mi·40 min·I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 287
63 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 287
Exit 247Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.0 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 WestUse the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
120 mi·2 hr 2 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 West: AbileneUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Exit 308Toward I 20 Business: Baird
12
Turn straight onto Interstate 20 East
201 ft·10 sec·Interstate 20 East
13
Turn left onto I 20 Bus
1.4 mi·2 min·I 20 Bus
14
Turn left onto FM 18
122 ft·2 sec·Market Street
15
Arrive at destination
FM 18
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 115.8 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.1 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 51 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.8 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baird, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island, TX
This is one driving day of about 231.5 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Rhode Island, 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 Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for about 124.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 115.8 mi from Rhode Island, TX
· 2h 6m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.5
0
$24.31
$11.11
Efficient EV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
EV Truck/SUV
92.6
1
$32.41
$14.82
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Rhode Island, TX
Morning
in Rhode Island on Saturday
Local time
9:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Baird, TX
Morning
in Baird on Saturday
Local time
9:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
2 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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Rhode Island, TX to Baird, TX covers 231.5 miles and takes about 4h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, US 287, I 45. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 115.8 miles from Rhode Island, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.98 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 231.5 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.1 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 105.9 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Rhode Island, TX to Baird, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Worth along the way.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
