Trip from Corpus Christi, TX to Rhode Island, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 25m

Distance

335.5 mi

540 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$50

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

6h 13m ★

6 AM

6h 26m

8 AM

6h 51m

10 AM

6h 34m

12 PM

6h 32m

3 PM

6h 36m

5 PM

6h 49m

8 PM

6h 18m

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

Rhode Island, TX

Beth Fitzpatrick

Trip Overview

Corpus Christi, TX to Rhode Island, TX is 335.5 miles and takes about 6h 25m via United States Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape for much of the trip. Given its single-day duration, it's a straightforward route for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll be on a mix of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for varying speeds and traffic conditions as you transition. It’s a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.

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

167.8 miles from Corpus Christi, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
United States Highway 77	57.9 mi	1h 5m
US 79	51.1 mi	58m
North Navarro Street	40.1 mi	45m
State Highway 21	36.6 mi	40m
I 45	27 mi	26m
Farm to Market Road 136	17.8 mi	23m
North US Highway 77	17.3 mi	19m
US 59	13.2 mi	14m

Longest stretch: United States Highway 77 — 57.9 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Corpus Christi, TX and Rhode Island, 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 left at fork onto TX 35

1.5 mi · 1 min · TX 35

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Turn straight onto State Highway 35

0.6 mi · 1 min · State Highway 35

Turn left onto FM 136

18 mi · 23 min · Farm to Market Road 136

Continue on FM 2678

9.6 mi · 9 min · FM 2678

At end of road, turn left onto FM 774

1.5 mi · 2 min · FM 774

Turn right onto US 77

1.9 mi · 3 min · South Alamo Street

Turn slight right onto US 77

33 mi · 37 min · United States Highway 77

Keep slight right at fork onto US 77

1.2 mi · 1 min · US Highway 77 South

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 59; US 77

13 mi · 14 min · US 59; US 77

Take the exit onto US 77

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 77

Turn left onto US 77

40 mi · 45 min · North Navarro Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

At end of road, turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Fairwinds Street

Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt

0.3 mi · 25 sec · West 4th Street

Turn left onto US 77

1.4 mi · 1 min · North Texana Street

Continue on US 77

0.2 mi · 14 sec · United States Highway 77

Continue on US 77

6.8 mi · 7 min · US 77

Continue on US 77; FM 532

25 mi · 28 min · United States Highway 77

Continue on US 77

2.7 mi · 3 min · South Jefferson Street

Continue on US 77

17 mi · 19 min · North US Highway 77

Continue on US 77

9.5 mi · 10 min · South Main Street

Take the exit

186 ft · 5 sec

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 31 sec · this road

Merge onto TX 21

37 mi · 40 min · State Highway 21

Turn left onto TX OSR

8.1 mi · 10 min · West Old San Antonio Road

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Merge onto US 190; TX 6

11 mi · 12 min · South State Highway 6

Continue on US 190; TX 6

2.1 mi · 2 min · South Market Street

Continue on US 79; TX 6

0.3 mi · 22 sec · North State Highway 6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 79

51 mi · 58 min · US 79

Turn left

0.4 mi · 46 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 45

27 mi · 26 min · I 45

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward FM 833

Turn right onto FM 833

1.0 mi · 2 min · FM 833

At end of road, turn right onto TX 75; FM 833

52 ft · 1 sec · North State Highway 75

Turn left onto FM 833

0.9 mi · 1 min · East FM 833

Turn right onto County Road 161

10 ft · 0 sec · County Road 161

Arrive at destination

County Road 161

Trip Plan

Since this drive can be completed in under seven hours, leaving Corpus Christi in the morning should give you ample time to reach Rhode Island before evening. The single stop suggests minimal need for extensive breaks, but it's always wise to factor in a quick stretch and fuel top-up. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway stretches where services might be spaced out. The primary roads are United States Highway 77 and US 79, so ensure your navigation is set to prioritize these if you prefer sticking to the most direct path. Given the flexibility of a single-day trip, you can adjust your departure time based on weather forecasts or personal preference.

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 167.8 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, or about 3h 16m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.9 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 74 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 167.8 miles or 3h 16m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rhode Island, 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 335.5 miles and 6h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 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 United States Highway 77 for about 57.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Houston, TX

168 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

Aransas Pass, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Houston, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 167.8 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 30

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 305.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.

0.5 mi into trip | ~0m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

78.4 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Take the exit

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

Use the left lane.

92.5 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | US 77 / North Navarro Street

Turn left onto US 77 / North Navarro Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

305.9 mi into trip | ~5h 53m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$50.36 one way

$100.73 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 117 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$55.73	$111.45
premium	$4.57	$60.30	$120.60
diesel	$6.28	$82.90	$165.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$50

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$75–$100

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 117.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	100.7	1	$35.23	$16.10
Efficient EV	83.9	0	$29.36	$13.42
EV Truck/SUV	134.2	1	$46.97	$21.47

Gas CO2

117 kg

EV CO2

39 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 Oct 21, 2026

Origin

Corpus Christi, TX

Late night in Corpus Christi on Friday

Local time

3:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Mostly Clear then Slight Chance Rain Showers

NE 13 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Destination

Rhode Island, TX

Late night in Rhode Island on Friday

Local time

3:48 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Clear

0 mph 0% chance 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

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

6h 25m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll be on highways for 71% of this 335.5-mile trip, with United States Highway 77 being the main artery for the longest stretch at 57.9 miles. The transition to surface roads begins on North Navarro Street, introducing a different pace after prolonged highway cruising. Expect a mostly highway profile, meaning you'll encounter fewer intersections and more consistent speeds for significant portions of your drive. The route is largely characterized by open cruising, with the highway sections allowing for steady progress.

71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 57.9 mi on United States Highway 77.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on United States Highway 77 and US 79. 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 30 significant decision points across 335.5 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 0.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 78.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

451 ft 4 ft

Total Climb

546 ft

Total Descent

160 ft

Highest Point

451 ft

~191.7 mi in

Elevation Range

448 ft

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 Rhode Island, TX

Full guide →

“The Ocean State” · Founded 1790

Rhode Island (RI) is the smallest state of the United States of America, tucked between Massachusetts and Connecticut in New England. Nonetheless, it has over 400 mi (640 km) of coastline, courtesy of Narragansett Bay and islands such as Aquidneck Island, home to Newport, the "City by the Sea". While Rhode Island contains the name "island" in its name, most of its area is not on an island.

Top landmarks

• Block Island Southeast Light — lighthouse in Rhode Island, United States
• German corvette Hiddensee — Tarantul-class corvette in East German Navy ship, brought to US for analysis; no...
• Barrington Civic Center Historic District — historic district in Rhode Island, United States

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 6h 25m. Total distance: 335.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 57.9 miles on United States Highway 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 7 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 Rhode Island, 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rhode Island, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Corpus Christi, TX to Rhode Island, 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

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Road Ranger

TA Express

290 Travel Plaza

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

Rhode Island, TX

Same local time

19 degrees cooler at arrival

6h 25m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Corpus Christi, TX

Arriving in Rhode Island, 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?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Rhode Island, TX

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