Corpus Christi to Dalhart is 725.4 miles and takes about 12h 39m via I 37 and I 10, with a fuel budget near $105 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive across Texas, starting in the Great Plains and ending in the same region. Given the duration, it's best planned as an overnight trip, splitting the 2 recommended days of driving. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so expect a straightforward route.
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
362.7 miles from Corpus Christi, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 37
140.1 mi
2h 22m
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
109.9 mi
1h 51m
I 10
98.7 mi
1h 37m
US 84
74.5 mi
1h 14m
Frisco Avenue
41.9 mi
44m
US 385
33.1 mi
34m
State Highway 153
29.5 mi
33m
North Main Street
29.3 mi
30m
Longest stretch:
I 37
— 140.1 mi, about 2h 22m
Traffic on I-37
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,782 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,364
Quietest
2 AM
~179 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Corpus Christi, TX and Dalhart, TX.
1
Start on I 37
17 mi·17 min·I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
2
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi·1 min
3
Continue on I 37
123 mi·2 hr 4 min·I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 140BToward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, AlamodomeUse the slight right lane.
5
Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard
1.4 mi·3 min·East César E. Chávez Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 10 West, I 35 North
7
Merge onto I 10; I 35; US 87
93 ft·1 sec·South Pan Am Expressway
8
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87
0.9 mi·1 min·McDermott Freeway
Exit 156Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El PasoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87
15 mi·17 min·McDermott Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
99 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 83
0.3 mi·44 sec·US 83
Exit 456Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
12
Turn right onto US 83; US 377
29 mi·30 min·North Main Street
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on US 83
42 mi·44 min·Frisco Avenue
14
Continue on US 83
17 mi·18 min·Roberts Avenue
15
Turn right onto US 67; US 83
387 ft·18 sec·Hutchings Avenue
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto TX 158
6.3 mi·7 min·North Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto FM 2111
12 mi·13 min·FM 2111
18
Turn left onto TX 153
29 mi·33 min·State Highway 153
19
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
19 ft·0 sec·State Highway 153
20
Turn right onto TX 70
10 mi·10 min·State Highway 70
21
Continue on TX 70
0.8 mi·1 min·Lamar Street
22
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Northwest Georgia Avenue
23
Take the ramp
340 ft·8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
24
Merge onto I 20; US 84
6.0 mi·5 min·I 20; US 84
25
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi·19 sec·US 84
Exit 238AToward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 84
27
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi·1 min·South Avenue F
28
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi·10 sec·North Avenue F
29
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi·38 sec·Ralls Road
30
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi·17 sec·East 15th Street
31
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi·1 min·North US Highway 84
32
Continue on US 84
20 mi·19 min·Highway 84
33
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi·4 min·Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
34
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi·6 min·East Highway 84
35
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi·5 min·Slaton Road
36
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
37
Turn slight right onto Interstate 27
321 ft·6 sec·Interstate 27
38
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
39
Merge onto I 27; US 87
110 mi·1 hr 51 min·Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
40
Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87
4.7 mi·4 min·Canyon Expressway
41
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Loop 335: Sundown Lane, Hollywood Road
42
Turn straight onto Canyon Drive
1.2 mi·2 min·Canyon Drive
43
Turn left onto Loop 335
0.2 mi·13 sec·West Hollywood Road
44
Take the exit onto Loop 335
0.6 mi·57 sec·Loop 335
45
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward FM 2590
46
Continue on West Hollywood Road
1.4 mi·1 min·West Hollywood Road
47
Continue on Loop 335
0.4 mi·28 sec·West Loop 335 South
48
Continue on Loop 335
4.3 mi·4 min·Helium Road
49
Continue on Loop 335
1.6 mi·1 min·West Loop 335 South
50
Continue on Loop 335
2.6 mi·3 min·South Soncy Road
51
Turn slight right
0.5 mi·59 sec
52
Turn left onto RM 1061
338 ft·12 sec·Tascosa Road
Use the left lane.
53
Continue on RM 1061
13 mi·14 min·Ranch Road 1061
54
Continue on RM 1061
18 mi·18 min·Tascosa Road
55
At end of road, turn right onto US 385
28 mi·29 min·US 385
56
Take the ramp onto US 385
4.7 mi·5 min·US 385
57
Continue on US 87; US 385
9.5 mi·11 min·US 87; US 385
58
Arrive at destination
US 87; US 385
Trip Plan
For this 725.4-mile drive, plan for an overnight stop to comfortably complete the trip in 2 days. Leaving Corpus Christi in the morning will allow you to cover a good portion of the route before stopping for the night. With 3 recommended stops, spread them out to break up the 12h 39m of driving time. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches, and utilize the services available along I 37 and I 10. The $105 fuel estimate is a good starting point for budgeting.
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 362.7 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, or about 6h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.1 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 160 miles or 2h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 362.7 miles or 6h 17m 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 362.7 miles or 6h 17m
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 11h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dalhart, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Corpus Christi, 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 Corpus Christi, TX
Aim for roughly 363 miles and 6.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Dalhart, TX
Aim for roughly 363 miles and 6.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 160 miles from Corpus Christi, 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 I 37 for about 140.1 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 36
5 decision points cluster between mile 141.4 and 257.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
141.4 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome
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 140B
Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodom...
8
143.2 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
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 156
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
6
144.1 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
158.7 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
257.4 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 456
Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$108.90 one way
$217.79 round trip
$3.81/gal25.4 MPG avg254 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$120.49
$240.98
premium
$4.57
$130.37
$260.74
diesel
$6.28
$179.24
$358.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$109
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$239–$349
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 253.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $76 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
217.6
2
$76.17
$34.82
Efficient EV
181.4
2
$63.47
$29.02
EV Truck/SUV
290.2
3
$101.56
$46.43
Gas CO2
254 kg
EV CO2
85 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Corpus Christi, TX
Morning
in Corpus Christi on Friday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NNE 6 to 9 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dalhart, TX
Morning
in Dalhart on Friday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
SSW 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
12h 39m 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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 125.1
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 675.4
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 675.4
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 200.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 64% of the total distance on major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 140.1 miles on I 37 before transitioning to other highways. The latter portion of the drive will involve more surface roads, offering a change of pace from the interstate cruising. Expect typical interstate conditions with consistent traffic flow for the majority of the trip.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
58 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.1 mi on I 37.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 12h 39m, 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 141.4 miles in.
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 36 significant decision points across 725.4 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 141.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.1 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,983 ft7 ft
Total Climb
4,734 ft
Total Descent
757 ft
Highest Point
3,983 ft
~725.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,977 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Corpus Christi, TX and Dalhart, TX, road signs point toward Alamodome, Menard, Lubbock and Fm 2590.
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".
Dalhart is a city in the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle. It is known as the "Gateway to the Rockies" because it is an important stopover and resting place for many Texans on their way to the ski slopes of northeast New Mexico and Colorado.
Top landmarks
•Dallam County Courthouse — historic place in Dalhart, Dallam County, Texas
The longest stretch is about 140.1 miles on I 37. 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 363 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 54 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 Dalhart, 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. There are 54 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 141.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.1 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 12.7 hours each way, a round trip means 25.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dalhart, TX before the return drive.
