Origin
Rhode Island, TX
Morning in Rhode Island on Friday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 40m
Distance
259.3 mi
417 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rhode Island, TX
Beth Fitzpatrick
Potosi, TX
Mark Direen
Rhode Island, TX to Potosi, TX is 259.3 miles and takes about 4h 40m via Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and US 287, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward drive across the state. With a recommended single day for completion, it's a manageable journey perfect for those looking to cover ground efficiently. The drive is primarily on major highways, making it a practical choice for transit rather than a destination in itself.
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
129.7 miles from Rhode Island, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 259.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 45% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 140.4 miles, which likely means consistent speed limits and less frequent turns. The journey transitions to US 287 and I-45, suggesting a blend of efficient highway travel with potentially more varied road conditions as you approach your destination. Expect a drive characterized by open Texas landscapes, typical of the Great Plains region.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near I 45.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 259.3 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 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
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
Take the exit toward I 20 Business: Abilene
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Rhode Island, TX to Potosi, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Worth along the way.
Fort Worth
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 140.4 mi | 2h 23m |
| US 287 | 62.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| I 45 | 40.7 mi | 40m |
| State Highway 36 | 8.1 mi | 12m |
| East Highway 80 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| FM 1750 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| East FM 833 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West FM 833 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Rhode Island, TX and Potosi, TX.
Start on County Road 161
Turn left onto FM 833
Turn right onto TX 75; FM 833
Turn left onto FM 833
Continue on FM 833
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 45
Take the exit onto US 287
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
Take the exit
Turn straight onto I 20 Bus
Turn left
Merge onto Loop 322
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Turn left onto TX 36
Continue on TX 36
Turn right onto FM 1750
Turn right onto Potosi Road
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 40m duration, starting your drive in Rhode Island, TX in the morning will allow ample time to reach Potosi, TX before evening. With only one recommended stop, it's wise to plan this break strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel the need to stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 140.4-mile stretch on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, as services might be spaced out. This is a drive where you can be quite flexible with your timing due to its manageable length.
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.
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 57 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.7 miles or 2h 20m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Potosi, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 259.3 miles and 4h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129.7 mi from Rhode Island, TX · 2h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 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.
A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 129.7 miles from Rhode Island, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 140.4 miles.
The final approach into Potosi, 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 Potosi, TX.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$39.18 one way
$78.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $42.89 | $85.77 |
| premium | $4.54 | $46.30 | $92.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $57.25 | $114.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.8 | 0 | $27.23 | $12.45 |
| Efficient EV | 64.8 | 0 | $22.69 | $10.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.7 | 1 | $36.30 | $16.60 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Rhode Island on Friday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Potosi on Friday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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