Trip from Celina, TX to Corpus Christi, TX

Drive Time

6h 44m

Distance

467.4 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Celina, TX to Corpus Christi, TX covers 467.4 miles and takes about 6h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Louisiana Drive, West Walnut Street, FM 455 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $69.54 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

233.7 miles from Celina, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 44m drive with frequent turns across 467.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 49 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North Louisiana Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Louisiana Drive	0 mi	0m
West Walnut Street	0 mi	0m
FM 455	0 mi	0m
FM 428	0 mi	0m
South Dallas Parkway	0 mi	0m
Dallas North Tollway	0 mi	0m
I 35E South	0 mi	0m
North Stemmons Freeway	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: North Louisiana Drive — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on West Pecan Street

2

Turn left onto North Louisiana Drive

3

Turn right onto West Walnut Street

4

Continue on West FM 455

5

Turn left onto FM 428

6

Keep slight right to continue on FM 428

7

Turn left onto South Dallas Parkway

8

Continue on South Dallas Parkway

9

Take the ramp slight left

10

Continue on Dallas North Tollway

11

Keep slight right to continue on I 35E South

12

Keep slight right to continue on I 35E South

13

Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway

14

Take the ramp slight left toward I 35E South

15

Merge slight left onto North Stemmons Freeway

16

Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway

17

Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway

18

Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway

19

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

20

Keep slight left

21

Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

22

Continue straight

23

Take the exit slight right toward US 183 South: Lockhart

24

Continue on United States Highway 183

25

Continue on North Colorado Street

26

Continue on US 183

27

Continue on North Magnolia Avenue

28

Turn left onto East Pierce Street

29

Continue on North United States Highway 183

30

Continue on North Esplanade Street

31

Continue on South US Highway 183

32

Continue on South US Highway 183/ US 87

33

Continue on North Jefferson Street

34

Continue on South US Highway 183

35

Continue on North Alamo Street

36

Continue on North Alamo Street

37

Turn left onto East Empresario Street

38

Turn right

39

Continue on Farm to Market Road 136

40

Take the ramp right

41

Merge slight left

42

Take the exit slight right

43

Turn slight right

44

Take the ramp slight left

45

Merge slight left

46

Continue on Interstate Highway 37

47

Continue on Interstate Highway 37

48

Continue straight

49

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 233.7 miles from Celina, TX.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

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

First stop

Around 103 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 233.7 miles

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

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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 Celina, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Celina, TX

This is one driving day of about 467.4 miles and 6h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Celina, TX.

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

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Killeen, TX

234 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Corpus Christi, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Corpus Christi, 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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 233.7 mi from Celina, TX

Grand Prairie, TX

Fuel and coffee

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

Killeen, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 233.7 miles from Celina, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.78	$69.54	$139.08
midgrade	$4.25	$78.24	$156.49
premium	$4.59	$84.48	$168.96
diesel	$3.99	$73.48	$146.95

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 163.5 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Celina, TX to Corpus Christi, TX covers 467.4 miles and takes about 6h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Louisiana Drive, West Walnut Street, FM 455. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 233.7 miles from Celina, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $69.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.