How far is Merkel, TX from Rhode Island, TX?

The driving distance from Merkel, TX to Rhode Island, TX is about 269.4 miles (433.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 225.8 miles (363.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
269.34 mi
04h 05m
Flight
225.8 mi
363.39 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Merkel.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
225.8 mi
Kilometers
363.39 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
269.34 mi
Kilometers
433.46 km
Drive Time
04h 05m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rhode Island
Thu, Apr 23, 4:22 AM CDT
Return by in Merkel
Thu, Apr 23, 8:28 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Merkel
2026-04-23T00:16
Arrive Rhode Island
Thu, Apr 23, 4:22 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:06 AM to 12:06 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Merkel
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Weatherford
TX

City in and county east of Parker County, Texas, United States

From Merkel
134.8 mi
02h 02m
To Rhode Island
134.5 mi
02h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
20 mph SSW
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Merkel and Rhode Island.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Merkel and Rhode Island.

  1. 1

    Start on North 1st Street

    16 m · 6 sec · North 1st Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Kent Street

    2347 ft · 48 sec · Kent Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North 7th Street

    897 ft · 25 sec · North 7th Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 20 East: Abilene

    68 m · 5 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    151.8 mi · 2 hr 34 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    22.6 mi · 24 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on US 287 South: Little Road, Waxahachie

    50.7 mi · 57 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 45 South: Corsicana

    3065 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    40.9 mi · 41 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward FM 833

    1640 ft · 41 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto North Interstate 45

    94 m · 10 sec · North Interstate 45

  12. 12

    Turn left

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North State Highway 75

    16 m · 2 sec · North State Highway 75

  14. 14

    Turn left onto East FM 833

    1.5 km · 1 min · East FM 833

  15. 15

    Turn right onto County Road 161

    3 m · 1 sec · County Road 161

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road 161

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Merkel and Rhode Island.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 20 East
152 mi · 56%
US 287 South
50.7 mi · 19%
I 45 South
41.5 mi · 15%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
22.6 mi · 8%
East FM 833
0.93 mi
Kent Street
0.44 mi
Longest Stretch

I 20 East

Merge slight left

152 mi · 02h 34m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.6 mi
225.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Weatherford
02h 02m from Merkel
Leave By
8:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Merkel and Mostly Cloudy near Rhode Island.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Merkel to Rhode Island?

The road trip is about 269.4 miles (433.5 km) and usually takes 04h 05m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Weatherford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 134.8 miles from Merkel and 134.5 miles from Rhode Island.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 225.8 miles (363.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.90 one way or $71.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Merkel and Mostly Cloudy near Rhode Island.

Stop Ideas Near Weatherford

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Weatherford, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Weatherford.

RAIL

Fort Worth Central Station

44 mi away
1001 Jones Street
RAIL

Cleburne

60 mi away
206 North Border St.
RAIL

Union Station

93 mi away
400 South Houston St.
BUS

Dallas, TX

93 mi away
205 South Lamar Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Merkel and Rhode Island. Straight-line distance: 225.8 mi (363.39 km).

Merkel

#1 Merkel

City in Texas

Population2,629
Coordinates32.4706800, -100.0128700
Altitude570
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Rhode Island

Rhode Island is a place in Texas, United States.

Population0
Coordinates31.8154400, -96.2313600
Altitude119
CountryUnited States
Start: North 1st Street (-100.012866, 32.470701)
End: FM 833 (-96.231403, 31.815452)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 433 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.5 gal
35.98 L · about $35.90
Round trip
$71.80
19 gal · 71.96 L
Estimated CO2
84.4 kg one way
Round trip: 168.9 kg / 372 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $35.90 $71.80
Mid-grade $4.25 $40.39 $80.79
Premium $4.59 $43.61 $87.23
Diesel $3.99 $37.93 $75.87

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Merkel and Rhode Island. The current time is 00:16:51.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.