Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Weslaco, TX

Drive Time

8h 55m

Distance

471.9 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Overnight route

Trip Overview

The drive from Rhode Island, TX to Weslaco, TX covers 471.9 miles and takes about 8h 55m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on FM 833, Highway 75, Farm-to-Market Road 833 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $70.21 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

236 miles from Rhode Island, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 8h 55m drive with frequent turns across 471.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 52 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

FM 833 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
FM 833	0 mi	0m
Highway 75	0 mi	0m
Farm-to-Market Road 833	0 mi	0m
Interstate 45	0 mi	0m
US 79	0 mi	0m
North Craig Street	0 mi	0m
West Commerce Street	0 mi	0m
Main Street	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: FM 833 — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on County Road 161

2

Turn left onto East FM 833

3

Turn right onto North State Highway 75

4

Turn left onto West FM 833

5

Continue on Farm-to-Market Road 833

6

Turn left onto North Interstate 45

7

Take the ramp left

8

Merge slight left

9

Take the exit slight right toward US 79: Buffalo, Jewett

10

Turn straight onto North Craig Street

11

Turn right onto West Commerce Street

12

Continue on Main Street

13

Continue on North Market Street

14

Continue on South State Highway 6

15

Take the exit slight right toward TX OSR

16

Continue on South State Highway 6

17

Turn right onto West Old San Antonio Road

18

Turn right

19

Take the exit slight right

20

Keep slight left

21

Turn left onto United States Highway 77

22

Continue on North Jefferson Street

23

Continue on South US Highway 77

24

Continue on US 77

25

Continue on United States Highway 77

26

Continue on North Texana Street

27

Turn right onto West 4th Street

28

Continue on Fairwinds Street

29

Turn left onto United States Highway 77

30

Take the exit slight right

31

Turn straight onto Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway

32

Take the ramp straight

33

Merge slight left onto Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway

34

Continue on Northwest Zac Lentz Parkway

35

Take the exit slight right

36

Turn left

37

Turn right onto US Highway 77 South

38

Turn straight onto Alamo Street

39

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

40

Keep slight left

41

Merge slight right

42

Take the exit slight right toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

43

Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77

44

Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77

45

Take the exit slight right toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen

46

Continue straight

47

Take the exit slight right toward SPUR 31: Mile 2 West Road

48

Turn straight onto Expressway 83

49

Continue on Expressway 83

50

Turn sharp left onto Mile 2 West Road

51

Turn right onto West 2nd Street

52

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 236 miles from Rhode Island, TX.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 104 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 236 miles

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 236 miles

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Weslaco, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Rhode Island, TX

Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Weslaco, TX

Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from Rhode Island, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Overnight candidate

Austin, TX

236 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Weslaco, TX

320.9 mi · 5h 48m

Suggested Overnight Stops

Night 1

Austin, TX

236 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 236 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Weslaco, 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 Weslaco, TX.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Weslaco, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 236 mi from Rhode Island, TX

Austin, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 104 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 236 miles from Rhode Island, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 236 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

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

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.78	$70.21	$140.42
midgrade	$4.25	$79.00	$157.99
premium	$4.59	$85.29	$170.59
diesel	$3.99	$74.18	$148.37

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 165.1 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Rhode Island, TX to Weslaco, TX covers 471.9 miles and takes about 8h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are FM 833, Highway 75, Farm-to-Market Road 833. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 236 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 236 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 $70.21 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.