Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Corpus Christi, TX to Dickinson, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 32m

Distance

231.5 mi

373 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 19m ★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
5h 0m
10 AM
4h 42m
12 PM
4h 40m
3 PM
4h 44m
5 PM
4h 58m
8 PM
4h 25m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city and county seat of Nueces County, Texas, United States

Corpus Christi, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Texas

Dickinson, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Corpus Christi, TX to Dickinson, TX is 231.5 miles and takes about 4h 32m via US Highway 59 South, United States Highway 77, and South Sam Houston Tollway West, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward, highway-focused journey. If you're looking for a drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently, this is a solid option. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip.

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

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

115.7 miles from Corpus Christi, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 59 South 88.6 mi 1h 38m
United States Highway 77 33 mi 37m
South Sam Houston Tollway West 21 mi 24m
Southwest Freeway 20.1 mi 22m
Farm to Market Road 136 17.8 mi 23m
Gulf Freeway 11.8 mi 13m
New Harbor Bridge 10.1 mi 11m
FM 2678 9.6 mi 9m
Longest stretch: US Highway 59 South — 88.6 mi, about 1h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on I 37

0.2 mi · 21 sec · I 37
2

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec
4

Turn right onto North Brownlee Boulevard

122 ft · 2 sec · North Brownlee Boulevard
5

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 16 sec
6

Merge onto US 181; TX 35

10 mi · 11 min · New Harbor Bridge
7

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 35

1.5 mi · 1 min · TX 35
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
9

Turn straight onto State Highway 35

0.6 mi · 1 min · State Highway 35
10

Turn left onto FM 136

18 mi · 23 min · Farm to Market Road 136
11

Continue on FM 2678

9.6 mi · 9 min · FM 2678
12

At end of road, turn left onto FM 774

1.5 mi · 2 min · FM 774
13

Turn right onto US 77

1.9 mi · 3 min · South Alamo Street
14

Turn slight right onto US 77

33 mi · 37 min · United States Highway 77
15

Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91

1.5 mi · 1 min · Spur 91
16

Merge onto US 59

89 mi · 1 hr 38 min · US Highway 59 South
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
18

Continue on 59 Northbound Frontage Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · 59 Northbound Frontage Road
19

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 58 sec · this road
20

Continue on US 59 Northbound Frontage Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
21

Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
22

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 69 North, US 59 North
23

Merge onto I 69; US 59

20 mi · 22 min · Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 17 sec
Exit 115 Toward Sam Houston Tollway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 52 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
26

Merge onto BW 8

0.1 mi · 10 sec · South Sam Houston Parkway West
27

Continue on SHT

21 mi · 24 min · South Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Continue on BW 8

0.2 mi · 16 sec · South Sam Houston Parkway East
29

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Houston, Galveston Use the right lane.
30

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 57 sec
Toward I 45 South: Galveston Use the slight right lane.
31

Merge onto I 45

12 mi · 13 min · Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 19 Toward FM 517: Dickinson
33

Turn straight onto South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
34

Turn left onto FM 517

1.5 mi · 2 min · Pine Drive
35

Continue on FM 517

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Pine Street
36

Arrive at destination

FM 517

Trip Plan

Given the 4h 32m duration, leaving Corpus Christi in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The longest stretch without a major turn is 88.6 miles on US Highway 59 South, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before entering this segment. Keep an eye on the fuel cost estimate of $35, and ensure your vehicle is adequately fueled before departing, as extensive services might be less frequent on some highway portions.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 115.7 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.6 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 51 miles or 1h 2m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 115.7 miles or 2h 15m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dickinson, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Corpus Christi, TX

This is one driving day of about 231.5 miles and 4h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Corpus Christi, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 59 South for about 88.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sugar Land, TX

116 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

Refugio, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sugar Land, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 115.7 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US Highway 59 South if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.6 miles.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 23

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 216.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the exit

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
193.3 mi into trip | ~3h 46m in

Take the exit toward Sam Houston Tollway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 115 Toward Sam Houston Tollway
6
193.5 mi into trip | ~3h 46m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
215.5 mi into trip | ~4h 12m in

Take the exit toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Houston, Galveston

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Houston, Galvest...
7
216.2 mi into trip | ~4h 13m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Galveston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 45 South: Galveston

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.98 one way

$69.96 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $38.29 $76.58
premium $4.54 $41.33 $82.67
diesel $5.61 $51.11 $102.22

Estimated Tolls: $1.68

Sam Houston Tollway (21 mi) $1.68

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 81 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 69.5 0 $24.31 $11.11
Efficient EV 57.9 0 $20.26 $9.26
EV Truck/SUV 92.6 1 $32.41 $14.82

Gas CO2

81 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 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 18, 2026

Origin

Corpus Christi, TX

Morning in Corpus Christi on Sunday

Local time

6:31 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSE 14 to 22 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 12:44AM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Destination

Dickinson, TX

Morning in Dickinson on Sunday

Local time

6:31 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°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.

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

9 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

4h 32m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 74% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 88.6 miles on US Highway 59 South, offering a consistent driving pace. While the bulk of the trip is on faster roads, be prepared for transitions as you navigate through different highway designations. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, designed to cover distance with minimal fuss.

74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.6 mi on US Highway 59 South.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 59 South 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 0.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 23 significant decision points across 231.5 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 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 193.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 193.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Dickinson, TX, road signs point toward Sam Houston Tollway and Galveston.

Sam Houston Tollway

193.3 mi in | ~3h 46m

Galveston

215.5 mi in | ~4h 12m

About the Cities

Starting 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 4h 32m. Total distance: 231.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 88.6 miles on US Highway 59 South. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.68 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Dickinson, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 193.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 193.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Dickinson, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Dickinson, TX

Frisco, TX 295.1 mi · 5h 22m Irving, TX 280.7 mi · 5h 5m Killeen, TX 229.8 mi · 4h 31m Houston, TX 31.2 mi · 39m

More from Corpus Christi, TX

Plains, TX 557.6 mi · 9h 46m Petersburg, TX 553.3 mi · 9h 48m Fort Davis, TX 544 mi · 9h 5m Kermit, TX 525.8 mi · 9h 14m Plains, TX 494 mi · 9h 3m Post, TX 486.7 mi · 8h 27m
Escape planner: Corpus Christi, TX Scenic drives in TX

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.