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Trip from Corpus Christi, TX to Seadrift, TX

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

Drive Time

1h 50m

Distance

78.8 mi

127 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 42m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 45m

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

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

Corpus Christi, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Seadrift, TX, TX

Seadrift, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

This 78.8-mile journey from Corpus Christi to Seadrift, Texas, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it primarily utilizes State Highway 35 North, including a segment over the New Harbor Bridge. With a projected fuel cost of $12, this route offers an economical option for travelers. The drive stays within the Great Plains region, maintaining a consistent feel throughout. It's a practical choice for a quick excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

39.4 miles from Corpus Christi, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 35 North 36.5 mi 54m
TX 35 16.6 mi 18m
New Harbor Bridge 10.1 mi 11m
State Highway 185 North 8.5 mi 14m
State Highway 35 Bypass 3.3 mi 3m
FM 3036 1.3 mi 1m
North 9th Street 0.6 mi 1m
Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 35 North — 36.5 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on I 37

0.2 mi · 21 sec · I 37
2

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec
4

Turn right onto North Brownlee Boulevard

122 ft · 2 sec · North Brownlee Boulevard
5

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 16 sec
6

Merge onto US 181; TX 35

10 mi · 11 min · New Harbor Bridge
7

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 35

8.9 mi · 10 min · TX 35
8

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 35

7.7 mi · 8 min · TX 35
9

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward FM 1069, Market Street
10

Keep slight left at fork

352 ft · 9 sec
Toward FM 1069, Market Street
11

Continue on TX 35

3.2 mi · 3 min · State Highway 35 Bypass
12

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 35

0.1 mi · 8 sec · State Highway 35 Bypass
13

Turn straight onto TX 35; FM 3036

1.3 mi · 1 min · TX 35; FM 3036
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Turn left onto TX 35

29 mi · 43 min · State Highway 35 North
Use the left / straight lanes.
15

Continue on TX 35

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Main Street
16

Continue on TX 35

7.5 mi · 11 min · State Highway 35 North
17

Turn right onto TX 185

8.5 mi · 14 min · State Highway 185 North
18

Continue on TX 185

0.6 mi · 1 min · North 9th Street
19

Turn right onto South 4th Street

71 ft · 3 sec · South 4th Street
20

Arrive at destination

South 4th Street

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of just under two hours, this trip offers considerable flexibility. You can depart at your convenience, whether it's a morning start or an afternoon excursion. There are no designated stops provided, so you can decide on breaks as needed, perhaps utilizing small towns along TX 35. The fuel cost is minimal at $12, so you shouldn't need to worry about extensive refueling. A specific tip for this route is to be aware of potential traffic on State Highway 35 North, especially as you cross the New Harbor Bridge, which can be a bottleneck during peak times.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.4 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.5 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 17 miles or 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.4 miles or 49m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 30m

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Corpus Christi, TX

This is one driving day of about 78.8 miles and 1h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Corpus Christi, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 35 North for about 36.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Fulton, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fulton, TX

39 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

Ingleside, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fulton, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.4 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 32.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
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.
5
0.5 mi into trip | ~0m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
27.6 mi into trip | ~31m in

Take the exit toward FM 1069, Market Street

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

Toward FM 1069, Market Street
6
28.3 mi into trip | ~33m in

Keep slight left at fork toward FM 1069, Market Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward FM 1069, Market Street
6
32.9 mi into trip | ~39m in | TX 35 / State Highway 35 North

Turn left onto TX 35 / State Highway 35 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.91 one way

$23.81 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $13.03 $26.07
premium $4.54 $14.07 $28.14
diesel $5.61 $17.40 $34.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.6 0 $8.27 $3.78
Efficient EV 19.7 0 $6.90 $3.15
EV Truck/SUV 31.5 0 $11.03 $5.04

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Corpus Christi, TX

Late night in Corpus Christi on Sunday

Local time

2:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Seadrift, TX

Late night in Seadrift on Sunday

Local time

2:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Fulton, TX

39 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.

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

2 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

1h 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?

The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the route following major roadways. You'll experience a consistent flow on State Highway 35 North, which forms the backbone of this trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 36.5 miles on this same highway, providing a good opportunity for steady progress. While primarily highway, keep an eye out for any transitions as you approach your destination. This road offers a predictable driving experience for most of its length.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.5 mi on State Highway 35 North.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 35 North and TX 35. 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 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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

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 Seadrift, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fm 1069 along the way.

Fm 1069

27.6 mi in | ~31m

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

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 1h 50m. Total distance: 78.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 36.5 miles on State Highway 35 North. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Seadrift, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Seadrift, TX before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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