Trip from Hughes Springs, TX to Corpus Christi, TX

Drive Time

8h 56m

Distance

456 mi

734 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$70

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Hughes Springs, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Corpus Christi, TX

Hameen Reynolds

Trip Overview

Traveling from Hughes Springs to Corpus Christi spans 456 miles, a journey that typically requires about 8 hours and 56 minutes of drive time. Because of the length and the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, this trip is best tackled over two days rather than a single grueling push. You should set aside a fuel budget of approximately $70 to cover the distance. Both your start and end points are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, ensuring a consistent geographic feel throughout the trip. Whether you are heading to the coast for a change of scenery or visiting family, planning for an overnight stay will keep you from feeling exhausted upon arrival.

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

228 miles from Hughes Springs, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a diverse driving experience that balances high-speed transit with technical navigation. While 58% of your journey takes place on highways, you will encounter a turn-heavy local profile that demands your full attention behind the wheel. You will spend a significant chunk of the drive on major arteries like US Highway 59 and the Southwest Freeway, interspersed with the Diboll Relief Route. This relief route provides your longest uninterrupted stretch of 113.5 miles, allowing you to settle into a rhythm before the road transitions back to more localized, winding segments. It is a route that keeps you engaged, requiring frequent adjustments rather than letting you drift into a monotonous interstate grind.

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

There are about 58 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Diboll Relief Route is the longest continuous segment at about 113.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 11; TX 49; FM 250 / 1st Street.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 456 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: near the start (TX 11; TX 49; FM 250 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.8 miles (TX 322; TX 149 / Estes Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 282.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 26 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | TX 11; TX 49; FM 250 / 1st Street

Turn right onto TX 11; TX 49; FM 250 / 1st Street

Navigation decision point

43.8 mi into trip | ~1h in | TX 322; TX 149 / Estes Parkway

At end of road, turn left onto TX 322; TX 149 / Estes Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

282.3 mi into trip | ~5h 32m in

Take the exit toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

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

Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartle...

377.9 mi into trip | ~7h 22m in | US 77 / US Highway 77 South

Merge onto US 77 / US Highway 77 South

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

Use the none lane.

414.6 mi into trip | ~8h 5m in | FM 2678

Turn right onto FM 2678

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Hughes Springs, TX to Corpus Christi, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 10: Cottonwood along the way.

Spur 10: Cottonwood

282.3 mi in | ~5h 32m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Diboll Relief Route	113.5 mi	2h 4m
US Highway 59	74.7 mi	1h 22m
Southwest Freeway	34.7 mi	40m
US Highway 77 South	33.2 mi	37m
South Main Street	28.2 mi	34m
South US Highway 59	19.4 mi	22m
US Route 259	19.3 mi	21m
Farm to Market Road 136	17.7 mi	23m

Longest stretch: Diboll Relief Route — 113.5 mi, about 2h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hughes Springs, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.

Start on Ward

104 ft · 6 sec · Ward

Turn right onto TX 11; TX 49; FM 250

428 ft · 12 sec · 1st Street

Turn left onto FM 161; FM 250

1.0 mi · 1 min · FM 161; FM 250

Turn right onto FM 250

6.0 mi · 10 min · FM 250

Turn left onto US 259

28 mi · 34 min · South Main Street

Continue on US 259

8.6 mi · 12 min · North Eastman Road

Use the none lane.

At end of road, turn left onto TX 322; TX 149

1.9 mi · 2 min · Estes Parkway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto TX 322

1.4 mi · 2 min · Gardiner Mitchell Parkway

Continue on TX 322

15 mi · 16 min · TX 322

Use the straight lane.

Continue on TX 322

0.5 mi · 53 sec · TX 322

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto US 259

1.9 mi · 2 min · Kilgore Drive

Continue on US 79; US 259

1.7 mi · 2 min · Highway 79

Turn left onto US 259

16 mi · 18 min · US Route 259

Continue on US 259

2.9 mi · 3 min · North Railroad Avenue

Continue on US 259

3.0 mi · 3 min · US Route 259

Continue on US 259

11 mi · 12 min · US Highway 259

Take the exit

224 ft · 6 sec

Toward US 59 South: Lufkin

Continue on this road

420 ft · 11 sec · this road

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 16 sec · this road

Turn left

104 ft · 4 sec

Turn right onto US 59

0.7 mi · 47 sec · North US Highway 59

Continue on US 59

6.4 mi · 7 min · Northwest Stallings Drive

Continue on US 59; TX 7; TX 21; Loop 224

0.4 mi · 25 sec · Stallings Drive

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Turn straight

223 ft · 6 sec

Merge onto US 59

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Street

Continue on US 59

19 mi · 22 min · South US Highway 59

Take the exit

396 ft · 9 sec

Toward South First Street

Turn straight onto South Medford Drive

0.2 mi · 23 sec · South Medford Drive

Turn left onto US 59 Bus

4.1 mi · 5 min · South First Street

Continue on US 59

1.3 mi · 1 min · US 59

Continue on US 59

114 mi · 2 hr 4 min · Diboll Relief Route

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 69; US 59

35 mi · 40 min · Southwest Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Merge onto US 59

9.2 mi · 10 min · US 59

Keep slight left at fork onto US 59

6.6 mi · 7 min · US 59

Take the exit

1.5 mi · 2 min

Continue on US 59

75 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US Highway 59

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91

1.0 mi · 1 min · Spur 91

Merge onto US 77

33 mi · 37 min · US Highway 77 South

Use the none lane.

Turn straight onto US 77

1.9 mi · 3 min · Alamo Street

Turn left onto FM 774

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Empresario Street

Turn right onto FM 2678

9.6 mi · 9 min · FM 2678

Use the right lane.

Continue on FM 136

18 mi · 23 min · Farm to Market Road 136

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Merge onto TX 35

12 mi · 13 min · TX 35

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

To manage the nearly nine-hour drive effectively, aim to break your trip into two manageable segments, utilizing the two recommended stops to stretch your legs. Getting an early start is essential, as the turn-heavy sections are much easier to navigate in daylight when visibility is at its peak. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the longer stretches; while the $70 estimate is a solid baseline, local road conditions can impact your actual consumption. Since you are dealing with a mix of highway and local roads, prioritize steady pacing over speed to handle the frequent turns safely. Use the Diboll Relief Route to make up time, but stay alert for the transition points where the road character shifts back to local traffic.

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 228 miles from Hughes Springs, TX, or about 4h 30m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.5 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 100 miles or 2h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 228 miles or 4h 30m 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 228 miles or 4h 30m

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 42m

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 Hughes 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 Hughes Springs, TX

Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Corpus Christi, TX

Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 100 miles from Hughes 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 Diboll Relief Route for about 113.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 228 mi from Hughes Springs, TX · 4h 30m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Houston, TX

228 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 Houston, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Houston, TX

228 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Houston, TX after about 228 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Garland, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 100 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Houston, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 228 miles from Hughes Springs, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Diboll Relief Route if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 228 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

Arriving in Corpus Christi, TX

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Corpus Christi, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$69.66 one way

$139.31 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 160 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$76.34	$152.67
premium	$4.59	$82.42	$164.84
diesel	$5.64	$101.31	$202.61

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: 159.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $48 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	136.8	1	$47.88	$21.89
Efficient EV	114	1	$39.90	$18.24
EV Truck/SUV	182.4	2	$63.84	$29.18

Gas CO2

160 kg

EV CO2

53 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Hughes Springs, TX

Afternoon in Hughes Springs on Sunday

Local time

2:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Corpus Christi, TX

Afternoon in Corpus Christi on Sunday

Local time

2:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°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

10 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 56m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Hughes Springs, TX to Corpus Christi, TX covers 456 miles and takes about 8h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Diboll Relief Route, US Highway 59, Southwest Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 228 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 228 miles from Hughes Springs, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $69.66 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

On the drive from Hughes Springs, TX to Corpus Christi, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 10: Cottonwood along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Corpus Christi, TX to Hughes Springs, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

454.6 mi 8h 57m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Explore maps for Hughes Springs, TX or Corpus Christi, TX on MapSof.net.

Trip from Hughes Springs, TX to Corpus Christi, TX

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Hughes Springs, TX

Corpus Christi, TX

Same local time

10 degrees warmer at arrival

8h 56m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Corpus Christi, TX

More from Hughes Springs, TX

More trips to Corpus Christi, TX