Trip from Corpus Christi, TX to Heath, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 27m

Distance

412.3 mi

663 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$62

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

7h 18m ★

6 AM

7h 28m

8 AM

7h 48m

10 AM

7h 35m

12 PM

7h 33m

3 PM

7h 36m

5 PM

7h 47m

8 PM

7h 22m

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 and county seat of Nueces County, Texas, United States

Corpus Christi, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Heath, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

Corpus Christi, TX to Heath, TX is 412.3 miles and takes about 7h 27m via Purple Heart Trail, Pickle Parkway, and I 35E, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, primarily staying within the state. Expect a largely highway-based drive, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. With only two recommended stops and a manageable duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel.

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

206.1 miles from Corpus Christi, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	97.7 mi	1h 39m
Pickle Parkway	58.5 mi	54m
I 35E	47.5 mi	49m
US Highway 181 South	40.2 mi	45m
State Highway 80 North	30.8 mi	35m
State Highway 80	23.6 mi	25m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway	18.7 mi	20m
US Highway 181	16 mi	18m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on I 37

0.2 mi · 21 sec · I 37

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Turn right onto North Brownlee Boulevard

122 ft · 2 sec · North Brownlee Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Merge onto US 181; TX 35

10 mi · 11 min · New Harbor Bridge

Keep slight right at fork onto US 181

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 181

Keep slight left at fork onto US 181

14 mi · 15 min · US 181

Continue on TX 89

4.1 mi · 4 min · State Highway 89

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · South 8th Street

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · US Highway 181 South

Continue on US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive

Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

47 mi · 49 min · I 35E

Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 57 sec

Exit 418B Toward I 20 East: Shreveport Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 20

12 mi · 12 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 635

6.8 mi · 7 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Exit 480 Toward I 635 North: Mesquite, Garland Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Exit 6B Toward US 80 East: Terrell Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 80

7.6 mi · 8 min · US 80

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward FM 460: Clements Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto West US Highway 80

0.1 mi · 17 sec · West US Highway 80

Toward Clements Drive

Turn left onto FM 460

1.1 mi · 1 min · Clements Drive

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn left onto FM 740

3.6 mi · 5 min · FM 740

Use the left lane.

Continue on FM 740

0.9 mi · 1 min · Bois D'Arc

Arrive at destination

FM 740

Trip Plan

Given the 7-hour drive time, leaving Corpus Christi early in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Heath before dark. You have two stops planned, so consider taking one around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The longest stretch without a town break is 97.7 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but sticking to the recommended stops will help you maintain a good pace.

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 206.1 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, or about 3h 52m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 91 miles or 1h 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 206.1 miles or 3h 52m 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 21m

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Corpus Christi, TX

This is one driving day of about 412.3 miles and 7h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Corpus Christi, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Austin, TX

206 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

Floresville, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Round Rock, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 206.1 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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

0.8 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 23

5 decision points cluster between mile 226.9 and 398.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

226.9 mi into trip | ~4h 12m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 North: Waco

331.7 mi into trip | ~6h in | I 35E

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 35E: Dallas

379.2 mi into trip | ~6h 49m in

Take the exit toward I 20 East: Shreveport

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 418B Toward I 20 East: Shreveport

391.5 mi into trip | ~7h 2m in | I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway toward I 635 North: Mesquite, Garland

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

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 480 Toward I 635 North: Mesquite, Garland

398.3 mi into trip | ~7h 10m in

Take the exit toward US 80 East: Terrell

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6B Toward US 80 East: Terrell

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$62.30 one way

$124.60 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 144 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$68.19	$136.38
premium	$4.54	$73.61	$147.23
diesel	$5.61	$91.03	$182.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$62

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$87–$112

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 144.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	123.7	1	$43.29	$19.79
Efficient EV	103.1	1	$36.08	$16.49
EV Truck/SUV	164.9	2	$57.72	$26.39

Gas CO2

144 kg

EV CO2

48 kg (67% 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Corpus Christi, TX

Late night in Corpus Christi on Tuesday

Local time

5:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Heath, TX

Late night in Heath on Tuesday

Local time

5:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°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

1 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

7h 27m 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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 298.5

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

The majority of this 412.3-mile drive, 69% of it, will be on highways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, covering 97.7 miles. After the highway segments, you'll transition to other roads for the remainder of your trip. Be prepared for a significant amount of highway cruising.

69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and Pickle Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 226.9 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 412.3 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 226.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 331.7 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 379.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Heath, TX, road signs point toward Waco and Garland.

Waco

168 mi in | ~3h 16m

Garland

391.5 mi in | ~7h 2m | via I 635

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

Arriving in Heath, TX

Full guide →

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 27m. Total distance: 412.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 32 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 Heath, 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 32 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 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Heath, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Corpus Christi, TX to Heath, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Quality Services Towing & Tires

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

TA

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Circle K

Flying J Travel Center

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

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

Corpus Christi, TX

Heath, TX

Same local time

1 degrees cooler at arrival

7h 27m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Corpus Christi, TX

Arriving in Heath, 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

Continue From Heath, TX

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