Claude, TX to Corpus Christi, TX is 676 miles and takes about 11h 47m via Lucian Adams Freeway, Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, and US Highway 84, with a fuel budget near $102 and an overnight stay recommended. This long-haul drive spans across Texas, starting in the Great Plains region and ending in the same region. While primarily a highway cruise, it's a substantial trek that's best broken into two days for a more comfortable experience. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path across the state with minimal detours.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
338 miles from Claude, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 56m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Claude, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.
1
Start on US 287
127 ft·3 sec·West 1st Street
2
Continue on US 287
20 mi·20 min·US Highway 287
3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287
7.9 mi·10 min·US 287
Toward I 40 West, US 287 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 287
470 ft·8 sec·US 287
Exit 70Toward I 27 South, US 87, US 60, US 287 North: Canyon, Lubbock, Dumas, Pampa, Downtown
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 70Toward I 27 South, US 87 South, US 60 West: Canyon, LubbockUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 27; US 60; US 87
13 mi·14 min·Canyon Expressway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 27
104 mi·1 hr 43 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 536BToward Loop 289
9
Turn straight onto North Interstate 27
0.5 mi·1 min·North Interstate 27
10
Turn left onto North Loop 289
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Loop 289
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
12
Merge onto Loop 289
7.5 mi·8 min·Loop 289
13
Take the exit
421 ft·10 sec
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
14
Keep slight right at fork
233 ft·5 sec
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
15
Turn straight onto Southeast Loop 289
0.1 mi·16 sec·Southeast Loop 289
16
Turn right onto Spur 331
1.9 mi·2 min·Southeast Drive
17
Merge onto US 84
0.2 mi·13 sec·Slaton Road
18
Continue on US 84
6.9 mi·6 min·East Highway 84
19
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi·4 min·Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
20
Continue on US 84
20 mi·20 min·East Highway 84
21
Continue on US 84
1.0 mi·1 min·North US Highway 84
22
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi·16 sec·East 15th Street
23
Turn right onto TX 207
0.4 mi·37 sec·Ralls Road
24
Turn straight onto TX 207
1.1 mi·2 min·North Avenue F
25
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
74 mi·1 hr 14 min·US Highway 84
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.5 mi·6 min·US 84
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
27
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 244Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
28
Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Southwest Georgia Avenue
29
Turn right onto TX 70
0.7 mi·1 min·Lamar Street
30
Continue on TX 70
10 mi·10 min·State Highway 70
31
Turn left onto TX 153
29 mi·33 min·State Highway 153
32
Turn right onto FM 2111
12 mi·13 min·FM 2111
33
Turn left onto TX 158
6.3 mi·7 min·TX 158
34
At end of road, turn right onto US 67; US 83
387 ft·18 sec·Hutchings Avenue
35
Turn left onto US 83
17 mi·18 min·South 7th Street
Use the left lane.
36
Continue on US 83
42 mi·44 min·Grassmeyer Street
37
Continue on US 83
29 mi·31 min·Ellis Street
38
Take the exit onto US 83
40 mi·38 min·US 83
Toward I 10 East: San AntonioUse the left lane.
39
Continue on I 10
54 mi·54 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
17 mi·19 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
1.7 mi·2 min·McDermott Freeway
42
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 569CToward Santa Rosa Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
43
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Pecos-La Trinidad
44
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
45
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
46
Continue on West Market Street
0.4 mi·42 sec·West Market Street
47
Continue on East Market Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·East Market Street
48
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
0.2 mi·21 sec·Tower of the Americas Way
Use the right lane.
49
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 37 South, US 281 South
50
Merge onto I 37; US 281
1.4 mi·1 min·William J Bordelon Freeway
51
Continue on I 37; US 281
140 mi·2 hr 23 min·Lucian Adams Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
387 ft·10 sec·Interstate Highway 37
53
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
444 ft·15 sec·Interstate Highway 37
54
Continue on I 37
483 ft·9 sec·I 37
55
Arrive at destination
I 37
Trip Plan
Given the 11-hour driving time, planning for an overnight stop is highly advised. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours for the first day's leg. With 3 recommended stops, you can build in breaks every few hours. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach longer highway stretches like the 140.3 miles on Lucian Adams Freeway. Breaking the trip roughly in half will allow you to cover about 338 miles each day, making the $102 fuel cost more manageable across two days.
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 338 miles from Claude, TX, or about 5h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.3 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 149 miles or 2h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 338 miles or 5h 56m 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 338 miles or 5h 56m
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 10h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Corpus Christi, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Claude, 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 Claude, TX
Aim for roughly 338 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Corpus Christi, TX
Aim for roughly 338 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 149 miles from Claude, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Lucian Adams Freeway for about 140.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 33
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.7 and 531.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
19.7 mi into trip|~20m in|US 287
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 toward I 40 West, US 287 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 West, US 287 North
6
27.5 mi into trip|~30m in|US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward I 27 South, US 87, US 60, US 287 North: Canyon, Lubbock, Dumas, Pampa, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward I 27 South, US 87, US 60, US 287 North:...
9
27.6 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 27 South, US 87 South, US 60 West: Canyon, Lubbock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 70
Toward I 27 South, US 87 South, US 60 West: Can...
8
417.7 mi into trip|~7h 21m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
8
531.1 mi into trip|~9h 15m in
Take the exit toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 569C
Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$102.15 one way
$204.29 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg237 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$111.81
$223.61
premium
$4.54
$120.70
$241.39
diesel
$5.61
$149.25
$298.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$102
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$232–$342
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 236.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $71 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
202.8
2
$70.98
$32.45
Efficient EV
169
1
$59.15
$27.04
EV Truck/SUV
270.4
3
$94.64
$43.26
Gas CO2
237 kg
EV CO2
79 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Claude, TX
Late night
in Claude on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Corpus Christi, TX
Late night
in Corpus Christi on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
25 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
11h 47m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 536.1
13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 23.3
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 489.5
Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 23.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 69% of this 676-mile drive on main highways, totaling roughly 466 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 140.3 miles on Lucian Adams Freeway. Beyond the highway portions, expect to navigate surface roads, which will likely feature more frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you pass through towns. This transition from high-speed cruising to more localized travel is a key aspect of the drive.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
55 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.3 mi on Lucian Adams Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 11h 47m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.7 miles in near US 287.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 676 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 19.7 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.5 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Claude, TX and Corpus Christi, TX, road signs point toward Loop 289, Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and Downtown.
Corpus Christi (called Corpus by the locals) is Texas's largest coastal city and the gateway to Padre Island. While Corpus Christi isn't on the way to much of anything except itself (and the islands off its coast), it offers enough to fill a visit in its own right, or a multi-day trip from San Antonio, Austin, or Houston. The name is Latin for "Body of Christ".
The longest stretch is about 140.3 miles on Lucian Adams Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 338 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Corpus Christi, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.7 miles (US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.5 miles (US 287): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.8 hours each way, a round trip means 23.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Corpus Christi, TX before the return drive.
