Trip from Corpus Christi, TX to Hale Center, TX

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

Drive Time

9h 56m

Distance

568.9 mi

915 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$87

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 47m ★

6 AM

9h 56m

8 AM

10h 14m

10 AM

10h 3m

12 PM

10h 1m

3 PM

10h 3m

5 PM

10h 13m

8 PM

9h 51m

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

Best Time

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

Corpus Christi, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Hale Center, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

Corpus Christi to Hale Center is 568.9 miles and takes about 9h 56m via I 37, I 10, and US 84, with a fuel budget near $83 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive primarily within Texas, moving from the coastal plains region towards the Texas Panhandle. Given its length, it's best suited for an overnight trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward, if lengthy, transit across the state.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

284.4 miles from Corpus Christi, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 37	140.1 mi	2h 22m
I 10	98.7 mi	1h 37m
US 84	74.5 mi	1h 14m
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway	42.9 mi	43m
Frisco Avenue	41.9 mi	44m
State Highway 153	29.5 mi	33m
North Main Street	29.3 mi	30m
Highway 84	20 mi	19m

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

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Hale Center, TX.

Start on I 37

17 mi · 17 min · I 37

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

1.3 mi · 1 min

Continue on I 37

123 mi · 2 hr 4 min · I 37

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 140B Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard

1.4 mi · 3 min · East César E. Chávez Boulevard

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 10 West, I 35 North

Merge onto I 10; I 35; US 87

93 ft · 1 sec · South Pan Am Expressway

Take the exit onto I 10; US 87

0.9 mi · 1 min · McDermott Freeway

Exit 156 Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87

15 mi · 17 min · McDermott Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Take the exit onto US 83

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 83

Exit 456 Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard

Turn right onto US 83; US 377

29 mi · 30 min · North Main Street

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 83

42 mi · 44 min · Frisco Avenue

Continue on US 83

17 mi · 18 min · Roberts Avenue

Turn right onto US 67; US 83

387 ft · 18 sec · Hutchings Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto TX 158

6.3 mi · 7 min · North Broadway Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto FM 2111

12 mi · 13 min · FM 2111

Turn left onto TX 153

29 mi · 33 min · State Highway 153

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70

Continue on TX 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue

Take the ramp

340 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 20 West: Midland

Merge onto I 20; US 84

6.0 mi · 5 min · I 20; US 84

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84

Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.6 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 5 min · Slaton Road

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Turn slight right onto Interstate 27

321 ft · 6 sec · Interstate 27

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Merge onto I 27; US 87

40 mi · 40 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Toward County Road

Turn straight onto East Service Road

362 ft · 11 sec · East Service Road

Turn right

148 ft · 8 sec

Turn left onto County Road 155

0.2 mi · 27 sec · County Road 155

Turn right

0.5 mi · 2 min

Turn right onto County Road R

0.2 mi · 23 sec · County Road R

Turn right onto West Service Road

0.2 mi · 31 sec · West Service Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Merge onto I 27; US 87

3.0 mi · 2 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

Arrive at destination

I 27; US 87

Trip Plan

With a drive time of nearly 10 hours, this trip is best split over two days. Plan to depart Corpus Christi in the morning to make good progress before stopping for the night. Consider stopping around the halfway point or where lodging is readily available. The longest stretch without exits is over 140 miles on I 37, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before entering it. Budgeting around $83 for fuel is a good estimate for the 568.9-mile journey.

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 284.4 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, or about 4h 52m 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 125 miles or 2h 7m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 284.4 miles or 4h 52m 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 284.4 miles or 4h 52m

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 8h 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hale Center, 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 284 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Hale Center, TX

Aim for roughly 284 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 125 miles from Corpus Christi, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 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.

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Kerrville, TX

188 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

city in and county seat of Nolan County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Sweetwater, TX

375 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Sweetwater, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Live Oak, TX

284 mi · about 5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Live Oak, TX after about 284 miles or 5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Antonio, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 125 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Live Oak, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 284.4 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 I 37 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 140.1 miles.

Overnight split

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route

Lubbock, Texas

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+18067752673

Visit website

Bayfront Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

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 start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Corpus Christi, Texas

+13618825500

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Corpus Christi, Texas

Hours: 12–5 pm

+13618818827

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 38

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.

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...

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

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.

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.

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

$87.10 one way

$174.21 round trip

$3.89/gal 25.4 MPG avg 199 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.29	$96.13	$192.26
premium	$4.64	$103.88	$207.76
diesel	$6.18	$138.40	$276.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$87

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$217–$327

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 199 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $60 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	170.7	2	$59.73	$27.31
Efficient EV	142.2	1	$49.78	$22.76
EV Truck/SUV	227.6	2	$79.65	$36.41

Gas CO2

199 kg

EV CO2

67 kg (66% 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 Monday

Local time

10:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

NNE 6 to 9 mph 16% chance Live forecast

Destination

Hale Center, TX

Morning in Hale Center on Monday

Local time

10:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Partly Cloudy

SSW 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

82°F

Sweetwater, TX

375 mi in

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

19 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

9h 56m 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...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 137.3

View on nps.gov

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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 ~67 min detour Free near mile 196.2

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This route is 73% highway, meaning you'll be on interstates for a significant portion of the 568.9 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 140.1 miles, encountered on I 37. Expect a shift from interstate cruising to surface roads as you near your destination. You'll notice a change in exit density as you transition from more populated areas to sparser, rural landscapes.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

49 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

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 37 and I 10. 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 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 38 significant decision points across 568.9 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

3,403 ft 7 ft

Total Climb

3,747 ft

Total Descent

351 ft

Highest Point

3,403 ft

~568.9 mi in

Elevation Range

3,396 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 Hale Center, TX, road signs point toward Alamodome, Menard and Lubbock.

Alamodome

141.4 mi in | ~2h 23m

Menard

257.4 mi in | ~4h 23m | via US 83

Lubbock

410.9 mi in | ~7h 9m | via US 84

About the Cities

Starting in Corpus Christi, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1839

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
• Old Nueces County Courthouse — historic place in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas

Arriving in Hale Center, TX

Full guide →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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 284 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 49 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 Hale Center, 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 49 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.9 hours each way, a round trip means 19.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hale Center, 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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