Trip from Sulphur Springs, 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 20, 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

$64

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

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.

Best Time

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Sulphur Springs, TX

Wikimedia Commons

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

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

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,007 veh/hr typical · worst 4,783

Quietest

2 AM

~579 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.9×

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 Sulphur Springs, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.

Start on US 67 Bus; TX 154

116 ft · 3 sec · Jefferson Street West

Turn left onto TX 154

254 ft · 4 sec · Gilmer Street

Turn straight onto TX 154

1.2 mi · 1 min · Gilmer Street

Continue on TX 154

0.3 mi · 30 sec · South Broadway Street

Turn right onto Industrial Drive West

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Industrial Drive West

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Merge onto I 30; US 67

78 mi · 1 hr 22 min · I 30; US 67

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 46A Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec

Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the left / right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

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.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · TX 130 Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Magnolia Avenue

Continue on TX 80

51 mi · 56 min · TX 80

Turn slight left onto FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Turn left onto US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · South US Highway 181

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · North 8th Street

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South

Continue on TX 89

4.1 mi · 4 min · State Highway 89

Continue on US 181

5.9 mi · 6 min · US Highway 181

Continue on US 181

1.3 mi · 1 min · Railroad Avenue

Continue on US 181

17 mi · 19 min · US Highway 181

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

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

San Antonio, TX

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 San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

235 mi · about 4.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 235 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

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 check

Top up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.

Overnight split

2.5 mi from route

Bayfront Park

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

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 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

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 15

5 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.

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

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

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

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

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

$64.42 one way

$128.83 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 165 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$71.95	$143.90
premium	$4.23	$78.23	$156.46
diesel	$4.80	$88.80	$177.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$194–$304

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, 2026-07-13.

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.

Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Sulphur Springs, TX

Late night in Sulphur Springs on Monday

Local time

2:24 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

S 0 to 5 mph 34% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:26PM CDT until July 17 at 11:37AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Destination

Corpus Christi, TX

Late night in Corpus Christi on Monday

Local time

2:24 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSE 13 to 18 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:26PM CDT until July 17 at 11:37AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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.

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

9 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

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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

907 ft 7 ft

Total Climb

814 ft

Total Descent

1,309 ft

Highest Point

907 ft

~235.1 mi in

Elevation Range

900 ft

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.

Yes — we found about 38 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 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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, 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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Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Sulphur Springs, TX to Corpus Christi, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Quality Services Towing & Tires

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Hopkins County Eastbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Circle K

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Hopkins County Westbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

QuikTrip

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

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

Sulphur Springs, TX

Corpus Christi, TX

Same local time

9 degrees warmer at arrival

8h 29m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Sulphur Springs, TX

Arriving in Corpus Christi, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?