Origin
Sulphur Springs, TX
Late night in Sulphur Springs on Sunday
Local time
2:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sulphur Springs, 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
8h 29m
Distance
470.3 mi
757 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 22m
★
6 AM
8h 29m
8 AM
8h 45m
10 AM
8h 35m
12 PM
8h 33m
3 PM
8h 35m
5 PM
8h 44m
8 PM
8h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sulphur Springs, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Corpus Christi, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Sulphur Springs, TX to Corpus Christi, TX is 470.3 miles and takes about 8h 29m via South R L Thornton Freeway and I 30, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains and ending in the same region. It's a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a good option if you prefer consistent speed and minimal navigation. Given the duration, most travelers will want to break this into two days for a more relaxed pace.
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
235.1 miles from Sulphur Springs, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| I 30 | 78.1 mi | 1h 22m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sulphur Springs, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.
1
Start on US 67 Bus; TX 154
116 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jefferson Street West
2
Turn left onto TX 154
254 ft
·
4 sec
·
Gilmer Street
3
Turn straight onto TX 154
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Gilmer Street
4
Continue on TX 154
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Broadway Street
5
Turn right onto Industrial Drive West
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Industrial Drive West
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
7
Merge onto I 30; US 67
78 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 30; US 67
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 46A
Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
10
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
13
Continue on I 35E
89 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
26 mi
·
26 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
18
Continue on TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 470
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 183
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
United States Highway 183
21
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
North Colorado Street
22
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
23
Continue on US 183
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North Magnolia Avenue
24
Continue on TX 80
51 mi
·
56 min
·
TX 80
25
Turn slight left onto FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 792
26
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
27
Turn left onto US 181
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sunset Strip Drive
28
Continue on US 181
40 mi
·
45 min
·
South US Highway 181
29
Continue on US 181
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
North 8th Street
30
Continue on US 181
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US Highway 181 South
31
Continue on TX 89
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 89
32
Continue on US 181
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 181
33
Continue on US 181
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Avenue
34
Continue on US 181
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US Highway 181
35
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
36
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
37
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
38
Merge onto I 37
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 37
39
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
387 ft
·
10 sec
·
Interstate Highway 37
40
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
444 ft
·
15 sec
·
Interstate Highway 37
41
Continue on I 37
483 ft
·
9 sec
·
I 37
42
Arrive at destination
I 37
Trip Plan
With an estimated duration of over 8 hours, it's highly recommended to split this trip into two days. Aim to depart early from Sulphur Springs to maximize daylight. Plan for about two stops along the way, ensuring you refuel when your tank is around half full, as the longest stretch without services could be significant. Consider breaking the drive roughly in half, perhaps around the Waco area, to avoid fatigue and allow for a more enjoyable travel experience.
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 235.1 miles from Sulphur Springs, TX, or about 4h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 103 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 235.1 miles or 4h 7m 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 235.1 miles or 4h 7m
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 19m
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 Sulphur Springs, 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 Sulphur Springs, TX
Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Corpus Christi, TX
Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Sulphur Springs, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
235 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 Round Rock, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
235 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Round Rock, TX after about 235 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 235.1 miles from Sulphur Springs, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 235 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 79.9 and 301.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
79.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
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 46A
Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
9
80.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
80.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Waco
7
241.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 14m 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
301.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m 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
$71.06 one way
$142.13 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
165 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $77.78 | $155.57 |
| premium | $4.54 | $83.97 | $167.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $103.84 | $207.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 164.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 141.1 | 1 | $49.38 | $22.57 |
| Efficient EV | 117.6 | 1 | $41.15 | $18.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 188.1 | 2 | $65.84 | $30.10 |
Gas CO2
165 kg
EV CO2
55 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.
Destination
Corpus Christi, TX
Late night in Corpus Christi on Sunday
Local time
2:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
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.
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
3 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
8h 29m 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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 162.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the journey utilizing major roads. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. While much of the drive will be on interstates, you'll also encounter TX 130 Toll, which can offer a faster alternative. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficiency over winding backroads.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 30. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79.9 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 15 significant decision points across 470.3 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 79.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Sulphur Springs, TX and Corpus Christi, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton and Dallas Zoo.
Waco
79.9 mi in
|
~1h 25m
Denton
80.5 mi in
|
~1h 27m
Dallas Zoo
81.6 mi in
|
~1h 28m
|
via I 35E
About the Cities
Starting in Sulphur Springs, TX
Full guide →Sulphur Springs was founded in 1854, though it was then known as "Bright Star", and is in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. Though the springs that brought about the name have more or less vanished, it is now known as "The Dairy Capital of Texas", with a museum cultured to that very point, even if the dairy industry has waned a bit around here in the early 21st century.
Top landmarks
- • Hopkins County Courthouse — historic place in Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas
- • Hopkins County Museum and Heritage Park — local history museum in Sulphur Springs, Texas
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. 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 235 miles on day one.
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 79.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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