Trip from Jacksonville, TX to Corpus Christi, TX

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

Drive Time

7h 6m

Distance

367.5 mi

591 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$56

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

6h 55m ★

6 AM

7h 6m

8 AM

7h 28m

10 AM

7h 14m

12 PM

7h 12m

3 PM

7h 15m

5 PM

7h 27m

8 PM

7h 0m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Cherokee County, Texas, United States

Jacksonville, TX

Wikimedia Commons

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

Corpus Christi, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 367.5-mile drive from Jacksonville, TX, to Corpus Christi, TX, is estimated to take about 7 hours and 6 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. You'll primarily travel on US 79 and United States Highway 77, with TX 21 also playing a role. With an estimated fuel cost of $56, this highway-focused journey should be straightforward. The route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent driving experience across Texas. You'll encounter two planned stops, with the longest stretch between services being 75.4 miles on US 79.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

183.7 miles from Jacksonville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 30m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 79	75.4 mi	1h 25m
United States Highway 77	67.1 mi	1h 16m
TX 21	36.6 mi	40m
US Highway 77 South	34 mi	38m
South US Highway 77	24.7 mi	28m
US Highway 79 West	22.9 mi	25m
Farm to Market Road 136	17.7 mi	23m
TX 35	12.1 mi	13m

Longest stretch: US 79 — 75.4 mi, about 1h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on US 69

112 ft · 5 sec · South Jackson Street

Turn right onto US 79

1.2 mi · 1 min · East Rusk Street

Continue on US 79

23 mi · 25 min · US Highway 79 West

Continue on US 79

3.5 mi · 5 min · East Palestine Avenue

Continue on US 79; US 84

12 mi · 13 min · West Oak Street

Turn straight onto US 79

75 mi · 1 hr 25 min · US 79

Continue on US 190; TX 6

11 mi · 12 min · South State Highway 6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward TX OSR

Continue on South State Highway 6

0.3 mi · 37 sec · South State Highway 6

Turn right onto TX OSR

8.0 mi · 10 min · West Old San Antonio Road

Turn right onto TX 21

37 mi · 40 min · TX 21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Keep slight left at fork

103 ft · 2 sec

Turn left onto US 77

27 mi · 30 min · United States Highway 77

Continue on US 77

2.7 mi · 3 min · North Jefferson Street

Continue on US 77

25 mi · 28 min · South US Highway 77

Continue on US 77

6.8 mi · 7 min · US 77

Continue on US 77

0.2 mi · 14 sec · United States Highway 77

Continue on US 77

1.3 mi · 1 min · North Texana Street

Turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt

0.3 mi · 20 sec · West 4th Street

Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Fairwinds Street

Turn left onto US 77

40 mi · 45 min · United States Highway 77

Take the exit

278 ft · 7 sec

Turn straight onto US 77

405 ft · 8 sec · Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway

Take the ramp onto US 77

0.3 mi · 43 sec · US 77

Merge onto US 77

1.4 mi · 1 min · Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway

Continue on US 77

12 mi · 13 min · Northwest Zac Lentz Parkway

Take the exit onto US 77

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 77

Turn left

170 ft · 6 sec

Turn right onto US 77

34 mi · 38 min · US Highway 77 South

Turn straight onto US 77

1.9 mi · 3 min · Alamo Street

Turn left onto FM 774

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Empresario Street

Turn right onto FM 2678

9.6 mi · 9 min · FM 2678

Use the right lane.

Continue on FM 136

18 mi · 23 min · Farm to Market Road 136

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Merge onto TX 35

12 mi · 13 min · TX 35

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec

Turn slight right

0.3 mi · 56 sec

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 37

0.3 mi · 29 sec · I 37

Continue on Interstate Highway 37

387 ft · 10 sec · Interstate Highway 37

Continue on Interstate Highway 37

444 ft · 15 sec · Interstate Highway 37

Continue on I 37

483 ft · 9 sec · I 37

Arrive at destination

I 37

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Jacksonville, TX, to maximize daylight and allow ample time for your two planned stops. The longest stretch without services is over 75 miles on US 79, so ensure your fuel tank is adequately filled before embarking on that segment. Given the manageable duration, this trip can comfortably be completed in a single day, offering flexibility in your timing for breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into that longer stretch.

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 183.7 miles from Jacksonville, TX, or about 3h 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 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 81 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 183.7 miles or 3h 30m 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 52m

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 Jacksonville, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Jacksonville, TX

This is one driving day of about 367.5 miles and 7h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Jacksonville, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on US 79 for about 75.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Brazos County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

College Station, TX

184 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

College Station, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

College Station, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 183.7 miles from Jacksonville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.4 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.

Bayfront Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 367.5

Corpus Christi, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+13618267529

Visit website

Harbor Playhouse

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 367.5

Corpus Christi, Texas

+13618825500

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 367.5

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 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 326.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 79 / East Rusk Street

Turn right onto US 79 / East Rusk Street

Navigation decision point

125.9 mi into trip | ~2h 24m in

Take the exit toward TX OSR

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward TX OSR

171.1 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

324.6 mi into trip | ~6h 13m in | FM 774 / East Empresario Street

Turn left onto FM 774 / East Empresario Street

Navigation decision point

326.1 mi into trip | ~6h 15m in | FM 2678

Turn right onto FM 2678

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$55.53 one way

$111.06 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 129 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$60.78	$121.56
premium	$4.54	$65.61	$131.23
diesel	$5.61	$81.14	$162.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$56

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$81–$106

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 128.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	110.3	1	$38.59	$17.64
Efficient EV	91.9	1	$32.16	$14.70
EV Truck/SUV	147	1	$51.45	$23.52

Gas CO2

129 kg

EV CO2

43 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 Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Jacksonville, TX

Morning in Jacksonville on Sunday

Local time

6:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Corpus Christi, TX

Morning in Corpus Christi on Sunday

Local time

6:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSE 17 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 10:11PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 8:59PM CDT until April 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo 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

17 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

7h 6m 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?

This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 86% of it on major roadways. You can expect a consistent pace for most of the journey, punctuated by the longest stretch of 75.4 miles on US 79. While largely highway-focused, the inclusion of US 79, United States Highway 77, and TX 21 suggests a mix of faster travel and potentially some more local road sections as you navigate through Texas. The drive's character remains largely highway-oriented throughout.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 75.4 mi on US 79.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 79 and United States Highway 77. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 79 / East Rusk Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 367.5 miles you will encounter 19 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: near the start (US 79 / East Rusk Street): Navigation decision point; at 125.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 171.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 Jacksonville, TX to Corpus Christi, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Tx Osr along the way.

Tx Osr

125.9 mi in | ~2h 24m

About the Cities

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 7h 6m. Total distance: 367.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 75.4 miles on US 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Corpus Christi, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Jacksonville, TX or browse trips ending in Corpus Christi, TX.

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Trip from Jacksonville, TX to Corpus Christi, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

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

Jacksonville, TX

Corpus Christi, TX

Same local time

17 degrees warmer at arrival

7h 6m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Corpus Christi, 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

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