Trip from Corpus Christi, TX to Ozona, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 49m

Distance

348.2 mi

560 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 36m ★

6 AM

5h 49m

8 AM

6h 16m

10 AM

5h 59m

12 PM

5h 56m

3 PM

6h 0m

5 PM

6h 14m

8 PM

5h 42m

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

census designated place and county seat of Crockett County, Texas, United States

Ozona, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Corpus Christi to Ozona is 348.2 miles and takes about 5h 49m via I-37 and I-10, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the Great Plains, remaining within the Lone Star State. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip that's manageable in a single day. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so expect a relatively quick transit if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.

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

174.1 miles from Corpus Christi, TX

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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	188.7 mi	3h 1m
I 37	140.1 mi	2h 22m
McDermott Freeway	15.5 mi	18m
East César E. Chávez Boulevard	1.4 mi	3m
Avenue E	0.3 mi	<1m
14th Street	0.3 mi	<1m
11th Street	<0.1 mi	<1m
South Pan Am Expressway	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 188.7 mi, about 3h 1m

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 2,317

Quietest

2 AM

~178 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

10×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Ozona, 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

189 mi · 3 hr 1 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 365 Toward SH 163: Sterling City, Comstock

Continue on 14th Street

0.3 mi · 41 sec · 14th Street

Turn right onto TX 163

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Avenue E

Turn right onto Loop 466

264 ft · 7 sec · 11th Street

Turn right onto Avenue D

10 ft · 0 sec · Avenue D

Arrive at destination

Avenue D

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour and 49-minute estimated drive time, leaving Corpus Christi in the morning will allow you to reach Ozona well before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 188.7-mile stretch on I-10, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. The fuel cost is estimated at $55, so plan accordingly. This is a single-day trip, so you can depart and arrive on the same day without needing an overnight stay.

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 174.1 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, or about 3h into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.7 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 77 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 174.1 miles or 3h in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ozona, 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 348.2 miles and 5h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 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 I 10 for about 188.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

174 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

George West, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 174.1 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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 141.4 and 347.4 — 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.

347.4 mi into trip | ~5h 47m in

Take the exit toward SH 163: Sterling City, Comstock

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

Exit 365 Toward SH 163: Sterling City, Comstock

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.69 one way

$95.38 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 122 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$53.27	$106.54
premium	$4.23	$57.92	$115.84
diesel	$4.80	$65.75	$131.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 121.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	104.5	1	$36.56	$16.71
Efficient EV	87.1	0	$30.47	$13.93
EV Truck/SUV	139.3	1	$48.75	$22.28

Gas CO2

122 kg

EV CO2

41 kg (66% 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 Jul 20, 2026

Origin

Corpus Christi, TX

Evening in Corpus Christi on Monday

Local time

6:48 PM

CDT

Current temp

92°F

Sunny

SSE 9 to 16 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 19 at 11:05PM CDT until July 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 19 at 10:55PM CDT until July 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Ozona, TX

Evening in Ozona on Monday

Local time

6:48 PM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Sunny

S 5 to 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 19 at 11:05PM CDT until July 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 19 at 10:55PM CDT until July 20 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

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

5h 49m 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.

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 132.1

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...

26 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 192.1

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

You'll be on highways for 99% of this 348.2-mile trip, with the longest continuous stretch on I-10 measuring 188.7 miles. The majority of your drive will be on I-37 and I-10, which means you'll experience consistent highway cruising. Expect a high volume of exits and services along I-10, which is a major cross-country corridor. This route is designed for steady progress with minimal interruptions from surface streets.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 188.7 mi on I 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 37. 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 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 348.2 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

Gently rolling terrain

2,351 ft 7 ft

Total Climb

2,669 ft

Total Descent

325 ft

Highest Point

2,351 ft

~348.2 mi in

Elevation Range

2,344 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Corpus Christi, TX to Ozona, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Alamodome along the way.

Alamodome

141.4 mi in | ~2h 23m

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 Ozona, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1891

Ozona, "The Biggest Little Town in the World," is an unincorporated town in Texas, about an hour south-west of San Angelo. It is the county seat (in fact, sole town) of Crockett County.

Top landmarks

• Crockett County Courthouse — historic place in Ozona, Crockett 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 5h 49m. Total distance: 348.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 188.7 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 41 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 Ozona, 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. There are 41 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ozona, 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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