Before there was a Corpus Christi, there was settlement in the area by the local Karankawa tribe, and was a trading site for native people throughout the area. Early French and Spanish explorers came to the area in the 17th century, and by the early 19th century smugglers used the future site of Corpus Christi as a staging point for moving contraband into Mexico.
Corpus Christi is located south of the Nueces River, and so it was in disputed territory during the Mexican-American War. General Zachary Taylor camped in Corpus Christi for nine months as they established the Rio Grande as the southern border of the United States. During the American Civil War, the city was bombarded by Federal gunboats.
Visitors hoping to see remnants of Old Corpus Christi in their original locations might be a little disappointed, as much of the city was destroyed by the 1919 hurricane.
Corpus Christi Climate
While weather is an attraction in Corpus Christi, it can be very hot. Storms and cold fronts frequently miss the city entirely, leaving Corpus Christi hot, humid, and occasionally oppressive. Winters are very mild, with freezing temperatures exceedingly rare.
During the summer, it is usually possible to cool down a few degrees by heading closer to the water - but it will still be hot and humid.
Wind coming off the Gulf of Mexico is nearly always present, and is sometimes quite strong. This helps to cool visitors, especially at the beach.
All in all, visitors to Corpus Christi will almost never need a winter coat, and will frequently not even need a light sweater.
By air
Corpus Christi is primarily served by Corpus Christi International Airport (IATA: CRP), which is located within city limits. Served by American Eagle, Continental Express, and Southwest Airlines, with nonstop flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston George Bush Intercontinental, and Houston Hobby respectively. Flying into the local airport may be slightly more expensive than flying into cities with larger airports.
Some visitors (and many locals) choose to use San Antonio International Airport (IATA: SAT), or Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (IATA: AUS), which is about two and a half hours by car from Corpus Christi. Frequent flights to many destinations make this a more convenient airport, even given the travel time from the airport to Corpus Christi.
By bus
America's ever-present Greyhound bus service offers transportation to Corpus Christi. Travelers should be aware that there are two bus stations in Corpus Christi. With few exceptions, tourists will want the main Corpus Christi station, and not the Corpus Christi West station, which serves western suburbs containing few attractions for visitors.
By car
By far, most visitors to Corpus Christi drive. The city is at the southern end of Interstate 37, about two hours south of San Antonio. It is also about two hours north of Brownsville and the Mexican border.
From Houston, US-77 will take you south through several small towns. US-77 connects with Interstate 37 just west of Corpus Christi.
While Corpus Christi is ostensibly laid out in a classic city-block style, the adaptation of that system to the local geography can make navigation a little confusing. There are several main roads that traverse nearly the entire city, and these can be used to orient yourself if you find yourself lost.
The Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau has some up-to-date visitor information on the area such as maps, bus routes and accommodations as well as activities ranging from attractions, museums and performing arts to nature and outdoors. Visit the website by following this link.
Most visitors and locals travel around Corpus Christi in cars. Most likely, a rental or personal car is the best way for you to see the city.
The main routes one needs to know to get around efficiently in Corpus Christi are I-37, South Padre Island Drive (TX-358), the Crosstown Expressway (TX-286), and Ocean Drive/Shoreline Boulevard (Ocean Drive is an extension of Shoreline Blvd. for about seven miles along Corpus Christi Bay).
I-37 brings you into town from the west and ends on Shoreline Drive downtown on the Bayfront.
Shoreline Blvd. is a section of about four miles in downtown Corpus Christi along the bay. It begins in the area of the Art Museum of South Texas and leads south, becoming Ocean Drive. Following Ocean Drive takes one through the most scenic part of the city and to its end at the Naval Air Station and Texas A&M.
South Padre Island Drive does not go to South Padre Island (a frequent mistake made by visitors), but is better thought of as the southern section of Padre Island Drive. Along it is the main shopping and dining area for the city. Instead, many read NAS-CCAD (for Naval Air Station and Corpus Christi Army Depot) or TX-358.
Connecting the northern end of S.P.I.D. to the downtown area near where I-37 ends is the Crosstown Expressway.
The Harbor Bridge takes drivers over the ship channel from downtown to Corpus Christi Beach, a popular destination for tourists.
Miradors
Miradors are small, gazebo-like structures found along the Corpus Christi bayfront. They are delightful places to relax in the shade while looking out over the city's downtown waterfront and Corpus Christi Bay.
Mirador de la Flor A memorial to Selena Quintanilla Perez - better known simply as "Selena" - who was murdered in 1995 by her
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