Origin
Keller, TX
Late night in Keller on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Keller, 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 19m
Distance
400.6 mi
645 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 9m
★
6 AM
7h 19m
8 AM
7h 41m
10 AM
7h 27m
12 PM
7h 25m
3 PM
7h 28m
5 PM
7h 40m
8 PM
7h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Keller, TX
Thomas balabaud
Corpus Christi, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 400.6-mile drive from Keller, TX to Corpus Christi, TX is a straightforward trip that can be completed in about 7 hours and 19 minutes. It's a highway-focused journey, with 84% of it on major roads, making it a solid option for a single-day road trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $61 and a plan for 2 stops, you can efficiently cover the distance. The route primarily traverses the Great Plains region, offering a consistent driving experience across Texas. This drive is designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
200.3 miles from Keller, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North South Freeway | 84.6 mi | 1h 27m |
| TX 130 Toll | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| TX 80 | 51.2 mi | 56m |
| South US Highway 181 | 40.2 mi | 45m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| I 35 | 26.5 mi | 26m |
| US Highway 181 | 23.3 mi | 26m |
| US Highway 181 South | 16.1 mi | 18m |
Longest stretch:
North South Freeway
— 84.6 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Keller, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.
1
Start on this road
16 ft
·
0 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on South Elm Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Elm Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Bear Creek Parkway
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
Bear Creek Parkway
4
Continue on Bear Creek Parkway
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Bear Creek Parkway
5
Turn left onto US 377
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
6
Turn right onto Kroger Drive
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Kroger Drive
7
Continue on Heritage Trace Parkway
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Heritage Trace Parkway
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto North Freeway
510 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Freeway
9
Take the ramp
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35W TEXPress South
10
Merge onto I 35W TEXpress
10 mi
·
10 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 35W
85 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
North South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
26 mi
·
26 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 470
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 183
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
United States Highway 183
19
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
North Colorado Street
20
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
21
Continue on US 183
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North Magnolia Avenue
22
Continue on TX 80
51 mi
·
56 min
·
TX 80
23
Turn slight left onto FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 792
24
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
25
Turn left onto US 181
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sunset Strip Drive
26
Continue on US 181
40 mi
·
45 min
·
South US Highway 181
27
Continue on US 181
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
North 8th Street
28
Continue on US 181
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US Highway 181 South
29
Continue on TX 89
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 89
30
Continue on US 181
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 181
31
Continue on US 181
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Avenue
32
Continue on US 181
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US Highway 181
33
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
34
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
35
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
36
Merge onto I 37
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 37
37
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
387 ft
·
10 sec
·
Interstate Highway 37
38
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
444 ft
·
15 sec
·
Interstate Highway 37
39
Continue on I 37
483 ft
·
9 sec
·
I 37
40
Arrive at destination
I 37
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour, 19-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Keller, TX, to maximize your daylight and arrive in Corpus Christi with time to spare. With 2 planned stops, you can break up the 400.6 miles effectively. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $61, and it's wise to refuel before hitting longer stretches, especially the 84.6-mile segment on the North South Freeway. This route is manageable in one day, but having flexibility for an unscheduled rest stop is always a good idea.
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 200.3 miles from Keller, TX, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.6 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 88 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.3 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 6h 9m
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 Keller, 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 Keller, TX
This is one driving day of about 400.6 miles and 7h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Keller, 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 North South Freeway for about 84.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
200 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 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 200.3 miles from Keller, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North South Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.6 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 231.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Bear Creek Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Bear Creek Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 35W TEXpress
Merge onto I 35W TEXpress
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
145.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
172.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
7
231.4 mi into trip
|
~4h in
Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 470
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.53 one way
$121.06 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
140 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $66.26 | $132.51 |
| premium | $4.54 | $71.52 | $143.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $88.45 | $176.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 120.2 | 1 | $42.06 | $19.23 |
| Efficient EV | 100.2 | 1 | $35.05 | $16.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 160.2 | 2 | $56.08 | $25.64 |
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
Destination
Corpus Christi, TX
Late night in Corpus Christi on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 21 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
8 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 19m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 400-mile journey. You'll spend most of your time on roads like the North South Freeway and TX 130 Toll, contributing to its 84% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 84.6 miles on the North South Freeway, so plan your breaks accordingly. This route emphasizes efficiency over varied scenery, providing a predictable and relatively fast-paced experience behind the wheel.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.6 mi on North South Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North South Freeway and TX 130 Toll. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Bear Creek Parkway.
Driving Effort
7/10
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 400.6 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 0.5 miles (Bear Creek Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.4 miles (I 35W TEXpress): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.7 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 19m. Total distance: 400.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 19m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.6 miles on North South Freeway. 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Bear Creek Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.4 miles (I 35W TEXpress): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.7 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 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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