Trip from Corpus Christi, TX to Missouri City, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 50m
Distance
194.4 mi
313 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
30 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Corpus Christi, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Missouri City, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Corpus Christi to Missouri City is 194.4 miles and takes about 3h 50m via US Highway 59 South, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, passing through Great Plains regions on both ends. The route is primarily highway, making it a straightforward drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently. With a recommended one-day duration, it’s a manageable trip for a single driver or can be easily split if you prefer a more relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
97.2 miles from Corpus Christi, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 59 South | 88.6 mi | 1h 38m |
| United States Highway 77 | 33 mi | 37m |
| Farm to Market Road 136 | 17.8 mi | 23m |
| Southwest Freeway | 16.7 mi | 18m |
| New Harbor Bridge | 10.1 mi | 11m |
| FM 2678 | 9.6 mi | 9m |
| Main Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| US 59 Northbound Frontage Road | 2 mi | 4m |
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Corpus Christi, TX and Missouri City, TX.
Start on I 37
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto North Brownlee Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 181; TX 35
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 35
Take the exit
Turn straight onto State Highway 35
Turn left onto FM 136
Continue on FM 2678
At end of road, turn left onto FM 774
Turn right onto US 77
Turn slight right onto US 77
Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91
Merge onto US 59
Take the exit
Continue on 59 Northbound Frontage Road
Continue on this road
Continue on US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 69; US 59
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 90 Alt
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Continue on this road
Continue on this road
Turn right onto Orchard Street
Turn right onto 3rd Street
Turn right onto FM 2234
Take the ramp
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this drive takes under four hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Corpus Christi in the morning will get you to Missouri City by midday, leaving your afternoon free. The longest stretch without a major break is 88.6 miles, so plan a quick stop around that point if needed. Given the relatively short distance and modest fuel cost of $29, you won't need to worry excessively about refueling stops, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your gauge, especially before heading onto US Highway 59 South for its longest segment.
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.
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 43 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.2 miles or 1h 54m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Missouri City, 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 194.4 miles and 3h 50m.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 97.2 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop 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.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Victoria County Southbound Rest Area
Buc-ee's
Pilot Travel Center
Service Plaza
Love's Travel Stop
Bayfront Park
Near the start, right off the route
Corpus Christi, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+13618267529
Visit websiteHarbor Playhouse
Near the start, right off the route
Corpus Christi, Texas
+13618825500
Visit websiteWhataburger Field
Near the start, right off the route
Corpus Christi, Texas
Visit websiteCorpus Christi Museum of Science and History
Near the start, right off the route
Corpus Christi, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13618264667
Visit websiteThe Art Museum of South Texas
Near the start, right off the route
Corpus Christi, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13618253500
Visit websiteTexas State Aquarium
Near the start, right off the route
Corpus Christi, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13618811200
Visit websiteTexas State Museum of Asian Cultures & Education Center
Near the start, right off the route
Corpus Christi, Texas
Hours: 12–5 pm
+13618818827
Visit websiteWater's Edge Park
Near the start, right off the route
Corpus Christi, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+13618263460
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 189.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn left onto FM 774
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 90 Alt: Sugar Land, Stafford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.37 one way
$58.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $32.15 | $64.31 |
| premium | $4.54 | $34.71 | $69.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.92 | $85.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
30 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Sugar Land Hub
Sugar Land, TX
18 DCFC
Circle K - Tesla Supercharger
Refugio, TX
8 DCFC
Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger
Wharton, TX
8 DCFC
Rudy's Country Store and BBQ - Tesla Supercharger
Richmond, TX
8 DCFC
Sweetwater Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Sugar Land, TX
8 DCFC
Sugarland Regional Airport
Sugarland, TX
8 DCFC
La Quinta Inn and Suites - Tesla Supercharger
Victoria, TX
6 DCFC
Helfman Ford
Stafford, TX
6 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.3 | 0 | $20.41 | $9.33 |
| Efficient EV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.01 | $7.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.8 | 0 | $27.22 | $12.44 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Origin
Corpus Christi, TX
Late night in Corpus Christi on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Destination
Missouri City, TX
Late night in Missouri City on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
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
3 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
3h 50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend about 80% of your 194.4 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 88.6 miles on US Highway 59 South. As you approach Missouri City, the dense exits and merging traffic characteristic of urban areas will become more prominent. The latter part of your drive will transition from highway cruising to more surface streets.
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.
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 24 significant decision points across 194.4 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 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 40.8 miles (FM 774): Navigation decision point.
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 Missouri City, 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 3h 50m. Total distance: 194.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Return Trip
Missouri City, TX to Corpus Christi, TXPlan the drive back the other way.
Continue From Missouri City, TX
More trips to Missouri City, TX
Explore more options from Corpus Christi, TX or browse trips ending in Missouri City, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.