Drive Time
7h 14m
Distance
509.5 mi
820 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
Photo: Hameen Reynolds
The drive from Pecos, TX to Corpus Christi, TX covers 509.5 miles and takes about 7h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Cedar Street, Interstate 10 West, I 10 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $77.83 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
254.7 miles from Pecos, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 37m into the drive .
At 509.5 miles and 7h 14m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are South Cedar Street and Interstate 10 West.
At 7h 14m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 14m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pecos, TX to Corpus Christi, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Cedar Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Interstate 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| McDermott Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Rosa Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Pecos-La Trinidad | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dolorosa Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Pecos, TX and Corpus Christi, TX.
Start on East 6th Street
Turn right onto South Cedar Street
Turn left onto Interstate 10 West
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Merge slight left onto La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
Keep slight right
Keep slight right to continue on McDermott Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
Keep slight right to continue on North Pecos-La Trinidad
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Continue on West Market Street
Continue on East Market Street
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
Take the ramp slight left toward I 37 South, US 281 South
Merge slight left onto William J Bordelon Freeway
Continue on Lucian Adams Freeway
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
Continue on Interstate Highway 37
Continue straight
Arrive at your destination
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 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 112 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 254.7 miles or 3h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Corpus Christi, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Pecos, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pecos, TX
This is one driving day of about 509.5 miles and 7h 14m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 254.7 mi from Pecos, TX · 3h 37m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
168 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Meal stop
336 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 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 254.7 miles from Pecos, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$77.83 one way
$155.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $85.29 | $170.58 |
| premium | $4.59 | $92.09 | $184.18 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $113.19 | $226.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 178.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 152.9 | 1 | $53.50 | $24.46 |
| Efficient EV | 127.4 | 1 | $44.58 | $20.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 203.8 | 2 | $71.33 | $32.61 |
Gas CO2
178 kg
EV CO2
60 kg (66% 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
Evening in Pecos on Saturday
Local time
5:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Corpus Christi on Saturday
Local time
5:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
62°F
Kerrville, TX
168 mi in
81°F
San Antonio, TX
336 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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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