Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Weslaco, TX

Drive Time

8h 55m

Distance

471.9 mi

759 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$72

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Mark Direen

Trip Overview

Spanning 471.9 miles from Rhode Island to Weslaco, this Texas road trip requires approximately 8 hours and 55 minutes of drive time. While theoretically possible in a single long day, splitting the journey over two days is highly recommended to keep the pace manageable. You should budget roughly $72 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Great Plains locations. Because you will spend a significant portion of your time on the road, planning for an overnight stay allows you to arrive in Weslaco refreshed rather than exhausted. This drive is a straightforward, highway-focused trek that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing detours.

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

235.9 miles from Rhode Island, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a focused experience behind the wheel, as roughly 77% of this route takes place on major highways. You will rely heavily on U.S. Highway 77 to navigate the majority of the trip, which features a notable 90.7-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. The transition from the rural stretches of the Great Plains into the southern reaches of Texas involves a mix of fast-paced highway segments and localized travel on Main Street. The road maintains a consistent personality, favoring steady highway miles that allow you to cover ground quickly. Prepare for a predictable, high-speed environment that demands steady focus throughout the duration of your transit.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

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

U.S. Highway 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 90.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and United States Highway 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 331.5 miles in near I 69E; US 77.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 471.9 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 331.5 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 424.2 miles (I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 453.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 32 key points

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

331.5 mi into trip | ~6h 18m 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

424.2 mi into trip | ~8h 2m in | I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

453.6 mi into trip | ~8h 32m in

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

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 26B Toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen

467.4 mi into trip | ~8h 47m in

Take the exit toward SPUR 31: Mile 2 West Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 161 Toward SPUR 31: Mile 2 West Road

468.8 mi into trip | ~8h 50m in | US 83 Bus / West 2nd Street

Turn right onto US 83 Bus / West 2nd Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Rhode Island, TX and Weslaco, TX, road signs point toward Jewett, Tx Osr and Brownsville.

Jewett

29.2 mi in | ~31m

Tx Osr

94.7 mi in | ~1h 46m

Brownsville

331.5 mi in | ~6h 18m | via I 69E; US 77

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
U.S. Highway 77	90.7 mi	1h 39m
United States Highway 77	67.1 mi	1h 16m
Main Street	51.1 mi	58m
Alamo Street	37.1 mi	43m
TX 21	36.6 mi	40m
US Highway 77 South	34 mi	38m
I 69E	31.3 mi	33m
I 45	26.6 mi	26m

Longest stretch: U.S. Highway 77 — 90.7 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rhode Island, TX and Weslaco, TX.

Start on County Road 161

10 ft · 7 sec · County Road 161

Turn left onto FM 833

0.9 mi · 1 min · East FM 833

Turn right onto TX 75; FM 833

52 ft · 2 sec · North State Highway 75

Turn left onto FM 833

0.7 mi · 1 min · West FM 833

Continue on FM 833

0.6 mi · 1 min · Farm-to-Market Road 833

Turn left onto North Interstate 45

159 ft · 6 sec · North Interstate 45

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Merge onto I 45

27 mi · 26 min · I 45

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 23 sec

Toward US 79: Buffalo, Jewett

Turn straight onto North Craig Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Craig Street

Turn right onto US 79

0.2 mi · 15 sec · West Commerce Street

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 79

51 mi · 58 min · Main Street

Continue on US 79; TX 6

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Market Street

Continue on US 190; TX 6

11 mi · 12 min · South State Highway 6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward TX OSR

Continue on South State Highway 6

0.3 mi · 37 sec · South State Highway 6

Turn right onto TX OSR

8.0 mi · 10 min · West Old San Antonio Road

Turn right onto TX 21

37 mi · 40 min · TX 21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Keep slight left at fork

103 ft · 2 sec

Turn left onto US 77

27 mi · 30 min · United States Highway 77

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 77

2.7 mi · 3 min · North Jefferson Street

Continue on US 77

25 mi · 28 min · South US Highway 77

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 77

6.8 mi · 7 min · US 77

Continue on US 77

0.2 mi · 14 sec · United States Highway 77

Continue on US 77

1.3 mi · 1 min · North Texana Street

Turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt

0.3 mi · 20 sec · West 4th Street

Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Fairwinds Street

Turn left onto US 77

40 mi · 45 min · United States Highway 77

Take the exit

278 ft · 7 sec

Turn straight onto US 77

405 ft · 8 sec · Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway

Take the ramp onto US 77

0.3 mi · 43 sec · US 77

Merge onto US 77

1.4 mi · 1 min · Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway

Continue on US 77

12 mi · 13 min · Northwest Zac Lentz Parkway

Take the exit onto US 77

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 77

Turn left

170 ft · 6 sec

Turn right onto US 77

34 mi · 38 min · US Highway 77 South

Use the none lane.

Turn straight onto US 77

37 mi · 43 min · Alamo Street

Use the none lane.

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77

Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Use the none / straight lanes.

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 77

61 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77

29 mi · 30 min · U.S. Highway 77

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min

Exit 26B Toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 2; US 83

13 mi · 13 min · I 2; US 83

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Exit 161 Toward SPUR 31: Mile 2 West Road Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Expressway 83

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Expressway 83

Continue on Expressway 83

0.6 mi · 1 min · Expressway 83

Turn sharp left onto Spur 31

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Mile 2 West Road

Turn right onto US 83 Bus

3.1 mi · 4 min · West 2nd Street

Use the none lane.

Arrive at destination

US 83 Bus

Trip Plan

Given the nearly 9-hour travel time, plan your departure for early morning to avoid peak traffic and maximize daylight hours. With two designated stops recommended, use these breaks to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle before tackling the longest 90.7-mile highway segment. Since U.S. Highway 77 serves as your primary artery, keep an eye on your fuel gauge during these longer stretches where service stations might be spaced further apart. If you choose to split the trip, look for accommodations near the midpoint to ensure your second day is shorter and more relaxed. Prioritizing these breaks will make the 471.9-mile journey feel significantly less taxing on both you and your vehicle.

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 235.9 miles from Rhode Island, TX, or about 4h 27m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.7 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

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

First stop

Around 104 miles or 1h 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 235.9 miles or 4h 27m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 235.9 miles or 4h 27m

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 48m

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.

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.

The longest stretch is on U.S. Highway 77 for about 90.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 235.9 mi from Rhode Island, TX · 4h 27m into the drive

Mid-route 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.

Find hotels in Austin, TX

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Weslaco, TX

320.9 mi · 5h 48m

Overnight Options

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.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Austin, TX

Fuel and coffee

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

Corpus Christi, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 235.9 miles from Rhode Island, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

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

Arriving in Weslaco, TX

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$72.09 one way

$144.17 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 165 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$79.00	$157.99
premium	$4.59	$85.29	$170.59
diesel	$5.64	$104.84	$209.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$72

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$202–$312

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 165.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	141.6	1	$49.55	$22.65
Efficient EV	118	1	$41.29	$18.88
EV Truck/SUV	188.8	2	$66.07	$30.20

Gas CO2

165 kg

EV CO2

55 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 2 days ago

Origin

Rhode Island, TX

Afternoon in Rhode Island on Sunday

Local time

1:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Weslaco, TX

Afternoon in Weslaco on Sunday

Local time

1:25 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°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.

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.

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

8 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

8h 55m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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 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 U.S. Highway 77, United States Highway 77, Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

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 235.9 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 $72.09 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.

Between Rhode Island, TX and Weslaco, TX, road signs point toward Jewett, Tx Osr and Brownsville.

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Return Trip

Weslaco, TX to Rhode Island, TX

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468.3 mi 7h 43m

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Trip from Rhode Island, TX to Weslaco, TX

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Weslaco, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Rhode Island, TX

Weslaco, TX

Same local time

8 degrees warmer at arrival

8h 55m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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