Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Hudson Bend, TX to Corpus Christi, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
232.2 mi
374 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 5m
★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 44m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 28m
5 PM
4h 43m
8 PM
4h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hudson Bend, TX
Thomas balabaud
Corpus Christi, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hudson Bend to Corpus Christi is 232.2 miles and takes about 4h 17m via I 37, with a fuel budget near $36 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, entirely within the state. With 71% of the trip on the highway, it's a straightforward connection between two points. Expect a mostly highway profile for this relatively short, single-day trip. It’s a practical option if you need to get from the Austin area down to the coast 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
116.1 miles from Hudson Bend, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 37 | 134.1 mi | 2h 16m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 38 mi | 40m |
| Connally Loop | 11 mi | 12m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 10 mi | 11m |
| North FM 1626 | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| Ranch Road 620 North | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| West Highway 71 | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| 45 Southwest Toll Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 37
— 134.1 mi, about 2h 16m
Traffic on I-37
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,146 veh/hr typical · worst 1,732
Quietest
2 AM
~151 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 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 Hudson Bend, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.
1
Start on La Hacienda Drive
139 ft
·
11 sec
·
La Hacienda Drive
2
Turn left onto Hudson Bend Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Hudson Bend Road
3
Turn right onto RM 620
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Ranch Road 620 North
4
Turn left onto TX 71
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
West Highway 71
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on State Highway 71 West
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 71 West
6
Turn slight right
274 ft
·
10 sec
7
Merge onto West US Highway 290 Frontage Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West US Highway 290 Frontage Road
8
Turn left onto RM 1826
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Ranch Road 1826
9
Turn left onto West Slaughter Lane
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Slaughter Lane
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Loop 1 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto Loop 1
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Mopac Expressway
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward 45 Toll East
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto 45 Toll
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
45 Southwest Toll Road
Toward TX 45 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
293 ft
·
7 sec
Toward FM 1626 South
Use the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto FM 1626
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
North FM 1626
16
Turn slight right
172 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 35 South: San Marcos
Use the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto South Interstate 35
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Interstate 35
18
Continue on I 35 Business
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Old Highway 81
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 35 South
20
Merge onto I 35
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Connally Loop
Toward I 410 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto I 37
134 mi
·
2 hr 16 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
387 ft
·
10 sec
·
Interstate Highway 37
29
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
444 ft
·
15 sec
·
Interstate Highway 37
30
Continue on I 37
483 ft
·
9 sec
·
I 37
31
Arrive at destination
I 37
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive well before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 134.1-mile stretch on I 37, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is $36, so plan accordingly. Given the short duration, you can easily complete this trip in one 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 116.1 miles from Hudson Bend, TX, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.1 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 51 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.1 miles or 2h 19m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Corpus Christi, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hudson Bend, 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 Hudson Bend, TX
This is one driving day of about 232.2 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Hudson Bend, 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 37 for about 134.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 116.1 miles from Hudson Bend, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 37 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 134.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
San Patricio County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Parking Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.7 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.7 mi from route
TA
1.7 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.8 mi from route
QuikTrip
2 mi from route
QuikTrip
2.3 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 97.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
22.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward 45 Toll East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward 45 Toll East
7
26 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FM 1626 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward FM 1626 South
7
86.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
I 410 / Connally Loop
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410 / Connally Loop toward I 410 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 410 South
8
97.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
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 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
7
97.5 mi into trip
|
~2h in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.80 one way
$63.61 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $35.52 | $71.05 |
| premium | $4.23 | $38.62 | $77.25 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $43.84 | $87.69 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.24
45 Southwest Toll Road
(3.4 mi)
$0.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.38 | $11.15 |
| Efficient EV | 58.1 | 0 | $20.32 | $9.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.9 | 1 | $32.51 | $14.86 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Hudson Bend, TX
Evening in Hudson Bend on Monday
Local time
7:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Corpus Christi, TX
Evening in Corpus Christi on Monday
Local time
7:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 12 to 18 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
4 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
4h 17m 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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 96.1
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 spend 71% of your time on highways, covering 232.2 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 134.1 miles on I 37. After the highway portion, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Be prepared for merging traffic as you enter and exit highway sections.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 134.1 mi on I 37.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 37 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 232.2 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 22.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.3 miles (I 410 / Connally Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
951 ft
7 ft
Total Climb
300 ft
Total Descent
1,049 ft
Highest Point
951 ft
~16 mi in
Elevation Range
945 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hudson Bend, TX and Corpus Christi, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1 South, 45 Toll East and Fm 1626 South.
Loop 1 South
20.2 mi in
|
~30m
45 Toll East
22.3 mi in
|
~33m
Fm 1626 South
26 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Starting in Hudson Bend, TX
Full guide →Arriving 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 4h 17m. Total distance: 232.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 134.1 miles on I 37. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.24 in tolls one way, starting with 45 Southwest Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 21 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 Corpus Christi, 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.3 miles (I 410 / Connally Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Corpus Christi, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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