Trip from Colleyville, TX to Corpus Christi, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 17m

Distance

398.5 mi

641 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$55

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

7h 7m ★

6 AM

7h 17m

8 AM

7h 39m

10 AM

7h 25m

12 PM

7h 23m

3 PM

7h 26m

5 PM

7h 38m

8 PM

7h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Colleyville, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of Nueces County, Texas, United States

Corpus Christi, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Colleyville to Corpus Christi is 398.5 miles and takes about 7h 17m via North South Freeway and TX 130 Toll, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas down to the southern part of the same state. Given the 83% highway share, expect a fairly direct drive for most of the way. It's a solid option if you need to get from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to the coast efficiently.

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

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

199.3 miles from Colleyville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North South Freeway	85 mi	1h 28m
TX 130 Toll	58.5 mi	54m
TX 80	51.2 mi	56m
South US Highway 181	40.2 mi	45m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
I 35	26.5 mi	26m
US Highway 181	23.3 mi	26m
US Highway 181 South	16.1 mi	18m

Longest stretch: North South Freeway — 85 mi, about 1h 28m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~2,844 veh/hr typical · worst 3,686

Quietest

2 AM

~446 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colleyville, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.

Start on this road

125 ft · 11 sec · this road

Turn right onto TX 26

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Colleyville Boulevard

Continue on TX 26

1.6 mi · 2 min · Colleyville Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Continue on TX 26

1.1 mi · 1 min · Grapevine Highway

Turn slight left onto FM 3029

1.1 mi · 2 min · Precinct Line Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Airport Freeway

431 ft · 8 sec · Airport Freeway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward TX 121 South, TX 183 West Use the left lane.

Merge onto TX 121; TX 183

2.3 mi · 2 min · Airport Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Airport Freeway

Exit 25A Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 121

6.9 mi · 8 min · Airport Freeway

Exit 24B Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Ft Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: Waco Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 35W; US 287; US 377

85 mi · 1 hr 28 min · North South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · TX 130 Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Magnolia Avenue

Continue on TX 80

51 mi · 56 min · TX 80

Turn slight left onto FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Turn left onto US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · South US Highway 181

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · North 8th Street

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South

Continue on TX 89

4.1 mi · 4 min · State Highway 89

Continue on US 181

5.9 mi · 6 min · US Highway 181

Continue on US 181

1.3 mi · 1 min · Railroad Avenue

Continue on US 181

17 mi · 19 min · US Highway 181

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec

Turn slight right

0.3 mi · 56 sec

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 37

0.3 mi · 29 sec · I 37

Continue on Interstate Highway 37

387 ft · 10 sec · Interstate Highway 37

Continue on Interstate Highway 37

444 ft · 15 sec · Interstate Highway 37

Continue on I 37

483 ft · 9 sec · I 37

Arrive at destination

I 37

Trip Plan

For this 7-hour drive, leaving Colleyville early in the morning, around 7 AM, will allow you to arrive in Corpus Christi by mid-afternoon. With only 2 recommended stops, plan to take your breaks strategically, perhaps one around the halfway point. The fuel cost is estimated at $58, so ensure you have enough gas before starting, especially for the 85-mile stretch on the North South Freeway. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your stop times based on your comfort level.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

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

The halfway point lands around 199.3 miles from Colleyville, TX, or about 3h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85 miles.

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 88 miles or 1h 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 199.3 miles or 3h 29m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 7m

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 Colleyville, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Colleyville, TX

This is one driving day of about 398.5 miles and 7h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Colleyville, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

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

The longest stretch is on North South Freeway for about 85 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montopolis, TX

199 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Montopolis, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 199.3 miles from Colleyville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Corpus Christi, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+13618267529

Visit website

Harbor Playhouse

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Corpus Christi, Texas

+13618825500

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Corpus Christi, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+13618263460

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 229.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp toward TX 121 South, TX 183 West

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward TX 121 South, TX 183 West

6.5 mi into trip | ~10m in | TX 121 / Airport Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121 / Airport Freeway toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 25A Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth

13.6 mi into trip | ~19m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South:...

170.1 mi into trip | ~3h 2m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

229.4 mi into trip | ~3h 57m in

Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$54.58 one way

$109.16 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 139 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$60.97	$121.93
premium	$4.23	$66.29	$132.57
diesel	$4.80	$75.24	$150.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$55

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 139.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	119.6	1	$41.84	$19.13
Efficient EV	99.6	1	$34.87	$15.94
EV Truck/SUV	159.4	1	$55.79	$25.50

Gas CO2

139 kg

EV CO2

47 kg (66% 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 as of Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Colleyville, TX

Late night in Colleyville on Monday

Local time

4:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 5 mph 17% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Corpus Christi, TX

Late night in Corpus Christi on Monday

Local time

4:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSE 13 to 16 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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

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

7h 17m on the road

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

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.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 96.2

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 83% of the route being high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 85 miles on the North South Freeway. After that, you'll transition to TX 130 Toll and TX 80, which will likely involve more exits and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent flow of traffic typical of major Texas thoroughfares.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 85 mi on North South Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North South Freeway and TX 130 Toll. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 16 significant decision points across 398.5 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 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles (TX 121 / Airport Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

714 ft 7 ft

Total Climb

369 ft

Total Descent

969 ft

Highest Point

714 ft

~28.5 mi in

Elevation Range

707 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Colleyville, TX

Full guide →

Arriving in Corpus Christi, TX

Full guide →

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".

Top landmarks

• USS Lexington — 1942 Essex-class aircraft carrier
• Corpus Christi Cathedral — historic place in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas
• Sherman Building — listed on the NRHP in Nuences County, Texas

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 17m. Total distance: 398.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 85 miles on North South Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 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.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Colleyville, TX or browse trips ending in Corpus Christi, TX.

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Trip from Colleyville, TX to Corpus Christi, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Quality Services Towing & Tires

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Circle K

Ascent Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

Bayfront Park

Harbor Playhouse

Whataburger Field

Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History

The Art Museum of South Texas

Texas State Aquarium

Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures & Education Center

Water's Edge Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Colleyville, TX

Corpus Christi, TX

Same local time

8 degrees warmer at arrival

7h 17m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Colleyville, TX

Arriving in Corpus Christi, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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