Trip from Pecos, TX to Corpus Christi, TX

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

Drive Time

8h 30m

Distance

508 mi

818 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$70

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

8h 23m ★

6 AM

8h 30m

8 AM

8h 45m

10 AM

8h 36m

12 PM

8h 34m

3 PM

8h 36m

5 PM

8h 45m

8 PM

8h 26m

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 in and county seat of Reeves County, Texas, United States

Pecos, TX

Wikimedia Commons

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

Corpus Christi, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Pecos to Corpus Christi is a significant 508-mile journey that spans approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes of drive time. Because of the length, you should plan to split this trip over two days to avoid driver fatigue. Expect to spend around $78 on fuel for the trek, which takes you entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas. You will navigate via the La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor, the Lucian Adams Freeway, and South Cedar Street. While doable in a single, grueling push, breaking the drive into two days allows for a much more manageable pace across the state.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

254 miles from Pecos, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 11m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor	292.5 mi	4h 38m
Lucian Adams Freeway	140.3 mi	2h 23m
South Cedar Street	51.1 mi	58m
I 10	17.4 mi	19m
McDermott Freeway	1.7 mi	2m
William J Bordelon Freeway	1.4 mi	1m
North Pecos-La Trinidad	0.7 mi	1m
Dolorosa Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor — 292.5 mi, about 4h 38m

Traffic on I-37

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,281 veh/hr typical · worst 2,827

Quietest

2 AM

~200 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

11.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Pecos, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.

Start on East 6th Street

67 ft · 4 sec · East 6th Street

Turn right onto US 285

51 mi · 58 min · South Cedar Street

Turn left onto Interstate 10 West

425 ft · 11 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward I 10 East: San Antonio

Merge onto I 10; US 67

292 mi · 4 hr 38 min · La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

17 mi · 19 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

1.7 mi · 2 min · McDermott Freeway

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 569C Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad

0.2 mi · 16 sec · North Pecos-La Trinidad

Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Pecos-La Trinidad

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Dolorosa Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on West Market Street

0.4 mi · 42 sec · West Market Street

Continue on East Market Street

0.4 mi · 40 sec · East Market Street

Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Tower of the Americas Way

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 37 South, US 281 South

Merge onto I 37; US 281

1.4 mi · 1 min · William J Bordelon Freeway

Continue on I 37; US 281

140 mi · 2 hr 23 min · Lucian Adams Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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 this 508-mile trip as smooth as possible, plan for at least two dedicated stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route covers such a large distance, leaving early in the morning is essential to avoid finishing your drive in the dark. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 292.5-mile segment on the La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor, as services may be spaced out. Given the total duration of 8 hours and 30 minutes, prioritizing an overnight stay halfway is the best way to ensure you arrive in Corpus Christi feeling alert and ready to enjoy your destination.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 254 miles from Pecos, TX, or about 4h 11m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 292.5 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 112 miles or 1h 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 254 miles or 4h 11m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 254 miles or 4h 11m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 28m

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 Pecos, 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.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Pecos, TX

Aim for roughly 254 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Corpus Christi, TX

Aim for roughly 254 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from Pecos, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

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

The longest stretch is on La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor for about 292.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Kimble County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Junction, TX

168 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

335 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kerrville, TX

254 mi · about 4.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 254 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Big Lake, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kerrville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 254 miles from Pecos, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 292.5 miles.

Overnight split

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Corpus Christi, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+13618267529

Visit website

West of the Pecos Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Pecos, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14324455076

Visit website

Harbor Playhouse

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Corpus Christi, Texas

+13618825500

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Corpus Christi, Texas

Hours: 12–5 pm

+13618818827

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 51.5 and 364.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

51.5 mi into trip | ~59m in | I 10; US 67 / La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor

Merge onto I 10; US 67 / La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

344 mi into trip | ~5h 37m in | I 10; US 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

363.1 mi into trip | ~5h 58m in

Take the exit toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 569C Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown

363.7 mi into trip | ~6h in | North Pecos-La Trinidad

Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

364.3 mi into trip | ~6h 1m in | Dolorosa Street

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$69.58 one way

$139.16 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 178 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$77.72	$155.44
premium	$4.23	$84.50	$169.00
diesel	$4.80	$95.92	$191.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$70

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$200–$310

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 177.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	152.4	1	$53.34	$24.38
Efficient EV	127	1	$44.45	$20.32
EV Truck/SUV	203.2	2	$71.12	$32.51

Gas CO2

178 kg

EV CO2

59 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 Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Pecos, TX

Morning in Pecos on Sunday

Local time

9:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

88°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

E 5 mph 28% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Corpus Christi, TX

Morning in Corpus Christi on Sunday

Local time

9:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

88°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 18 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

8h 30m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 367.8

View on nps.gov

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...

26 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 315.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a long-distance experience that requires endurance, as this route is characterized by vast, open stretches. You will spend roughly 32% of your time on highways, though the character of the road shifts as you transition between corridor segments. Prepare for a significant commitment on the La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor, which accounts for a 292.5-mile stretch—the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. The road environment varies from high-speed transit to local navigation, demanding your full attention as you cross the Texas landscape.

32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

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

Longest single stretch: 292.5 mi on La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

At 8h 30m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 51.5 miles in near I 10; US 67 / La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 508 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 51.5 miles (I 10; US 67 / La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 344 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 363.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

2,895 ft 1,912 ft

Total Climb

311 ft

Total Descent

982 ft

Highest Point

2,895 ft

~63.5 mi in

Elevation Range

982 ft

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 Pecos, TX to Corpus Christi, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.

Downtown

363.1 mi in | ~5h 58m

About the Cities

Starting in Pecos, TX

Full guide →

Pecos is a town in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. The town claims to have been the site of the first rodeo, on July 4, 1883.

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?

Solo Traveler

8h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 292.5 miles on La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 254 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 52 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 52 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.0 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, 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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