Origin
Rhode Island, TX
Late night in Rhode Island on Friday
Local time
1:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Malakoff, TX
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
58m
Distance
51.6 mi
83 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Malakoff, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Texas Great Plains, the 51.6-mile trip from Rhode Island to Malakoff is a straightforward choice. You can expect to spend about 58 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your budget for this journey is quite manageable, with fuel costs estimated at around $8. The route relies on a combination of I-45, Northeast 2nd Street, and East State Highway 31 to get you to your destination efficiently. Since the entire drive stays within the Great Plains region, the landscape remains consistent throughout the journey, offering a predictable and reliable transit between these two Texas points.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 51.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This 51.6-mile trek is a highway-focused drive, with 61% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a mix of conditions, starting with a significant 19.9-mile stretch on I-45 that allows for steady cruising. As you transition off the interstate and move onto Northeast 2nd Street and East State Highway 31, the pace of the drive shifts to accommodate local travel. The road character is functional and direct, prioritizing speed over technical complexity. Because there are no scheduled stops required by the route profile, you can maintain a consistent rhythm from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 45 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and Northeast 2nd Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near FM 833 / East FM 833.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 58m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (FM 833 / East FM 833): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (TX 75; FM 833 / North State Highway 75): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (FM 833 / West FM 833): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
FM 833 / East FM 833
Turn left onto FM 833 / East FM 833
Navigation decision point
3
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
TX 75; FM 833 / North State Highway 75
Turn right onto TX 75; FM 833 / North State Highway 75
Navigation decision point
3
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
FM 833 / West FM 833
Turn left onto FM 833 / West FM 833
Navigation decision point
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.
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward TX 31: Athens, Waco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 227
Toward TX 31: Athens, Waco
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 Malakoff, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
Waco
22.3 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 19.9 mi | 19m |
| Northeast 2nd Street | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| East State Highway 31 | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| West Royall Boulevard | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| East FM 833 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West FM 833 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Interstate 45 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 19.9 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rhode Island, TX and Malakoff, 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
20 mi
·
19 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 227
Toward TX 31: Athens, Waco
9
Turn left onto South Interstate 45
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Interstate 45
10
Take the ramp
170 ft
·
5 sec
11
Merge onto TX 31
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
12
Turn right onto TX 31
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Highway 31
13
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Northeast 2nd Street
14
Continue on TX 31
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Royall Boulevard
15
Turn right onto FM 3441
430 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Terry Street
16
Arrive at destination
FM 3441
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.8 mi from Rhode Island, TX · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.8 miles from Rhode Island, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Malakoff, TX
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Malakoff, TX if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.80 one way
$15.59 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.53 | $17.07 |
| premium | $4.54 | $9.21 | $18.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.39 | $22.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.22 | $3.30 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Malakoff, TX
Late night in Malakoff on Friday
Local time
1:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
17 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
58m 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
The drive from Rhode Island, TX to Malakoff, TX covers 51.6 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 45, Northeast 2nd Street, East State Highway 31. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.8 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 $7.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 58m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (FM 833 / East FM 833): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (TX 75; FM 833 / North State Highway 75): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (FM 833 / West FM 833): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Rhode Island, TX to Malakoff, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
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