Drive Time
5h 57m
Distance
345.4 mi
556 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
Photo: Thomas balabaud
The drive from Corpus Christi, TX to Ballinger, TX covers 345.4 miles and takes about 5h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, East César E, I 10 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.76 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
172.7 miles from Corpus Christi, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 58m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 57m drive with frequent turns across 345.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 57m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Corpus Christi, TX to Ballinger, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East César E | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Pan Am Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| McDermott Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 83 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Frisco Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Corpus Christi, TX and Ballinger, TX.
Start on the route
Keep slight left
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome
Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West, I 35 North
Merge slight left onto South Pan Am Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
Keep slight left to continue on McDermott Freeway
Keep slight right
Take the exit slight right toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Turn right onto North Main Street
Continue on Frisco Avenue
Continue on Roberts Avenue
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.7 miles or 2h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ballinger, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Corpus Christi, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Corpus Christi, TX
This is one driving day of about 345.4 miles and 5h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 172.7 mi from Corpus Christi, TX · 2h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
173 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 172.7 miles from Corpus Christi, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Ballinger, 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 Ballinger, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$52.76 one way
$105.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $57.82 | $115.64 |
| premium | $4.59 | $62.43 | $124.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $76.74 | $153.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.6 | 1 | $36.27 | $16.58 |
| Efficient EV | 86.4 | 0 | $30.22 | $13.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 138.2 | 1 | $48.36 | $22.11 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Corpus Christi on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Ballinger on Sunday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
81°F
San Antonio, TX
173 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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