The drive from Kerrville, TX to Killeen, TX covers 139.3 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North US Highway 281, East US Highway 290, Central Texas Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.4 miles on North US Highway 281.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.7 miles from Kerrville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Kerrville is a city of 24,000 people (2020) in the Texas Hill Country. It is known for its parks that line the Guadalupe River, which runs through the city.
Killeen is a city in the Central Hill Country of Texas. It is home to U.S. Army installation Fort Cavasos, one of the largest military bases in the world.
This is a 2h 48m highway drive covering 139.3 miles, with most of the trip on North US Highway 281 and East US Highway 290. The longest continuous stretch is about 35.4 miles on North US Highway 281.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North US Highway 281 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North US Highway 281 and East US Highway 290. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 16 / Sidney Baker Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kerrville, TX to Killeen, TX is easy. At 2h 48m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 16 / Sidney Baker Street): Navigation decision point; at 25 miles (US 290 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 53.1 miles (Spur 356 / North Nugent Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 16 / Sidney Baker Street
Turn right onto TX 16 / Sidney Baker Street
Navigation decision point
4
25 mi into trip|~32m in|US 290 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 290 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
53.1 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|Spur 356 / North Nugent Avenue
Turn left onto Spur 356 / North Nugent Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
136.1 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward T.J. Mills Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward T.J. Mills Boulevard
5
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North US Highway 281
35.4 mi
37m
East US Highway 290
27.2 mi
30m
Central Texas Expressway
25.7 mi
29m
South US Highway 281
17.1 mi
22m
South State Highway 16
14.2 mi
15m
Fredericksburg Road
5.7 mi
6m
South Water Street
3.6 mi
5m
West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
North US Highway 281
— 35.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kerrville, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on TX 27
69 ft·6 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto TX 16
2.3 mi·5 min·Sidney Baker Street
3
Continue on TX 16
5.7 mi·6 min·Fredericksburg Road
4
Continue on TX 16
14 mi·15 min·South State Highway 16
5
Turn right onto Friendship Lane
2.9 mi·5 min·Friendship Lane
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 290
0.3 mi·28 sec·East Main Street
7
Continue on US 290
27 mi·30 min·East US Highway 290
8
Continue on US 290
0.6 mi·1 min·West Main Street
9
Turn left onto Spur 356
0.9 mi·1 min·North Nugent Avenue
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 281
16 mi·17 min·North US Highway 281
11
Continue on US 281
17 mi·22 min·South US Highway 281
12
Continue on US 281
3.6 mi·5 min·South Water Street
13
Continue on US 281
20 mi·20 min·North US Highway 281
14
Turn right onto US 281
0.2 mi·31 sec·E E Ohnmeiss Drive
15
Continue on US 190
26 mi·29 min·Central Texas Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward T.J. Mills BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on US 190 Bus
3.0 mi·5 min·West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
18
Turn left
83 ft·8 sec
19
Turn right
74 ft·5 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.7 miles from Kerrville, TX, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.4 miles.
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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.7 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Killeen, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kerrville, 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 Kerrville, TX
This is one driving day of about 139.3 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Kerrville, 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.
The longest stretch is on North US Highway 281 for about 35.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.7 mi from Kerrville, TX
· 1h 24m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.05 one way
$42.10 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$23.04
$46.08
premium
$4.54
$24.87
$49.74
diesel
$5.61
$30.76
$61.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.8
0
$14.63
$6.69
Efficient EV
34.8
0
$12.19
$5.57
EV Truck/SUV
55.7
0
$19.50
$8.92
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kerrville, TX
Morning
in Kerrville on Saturday
Local time
10:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Killeen, TX
Morning
in Killeen on Saturday
Local time
10:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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.
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
1 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
2h 48m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kerrville, TX to Killeen, TX covers 139.3 miles and takes about 2h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North US Highway 281, East US Highway 290, Central Texas Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.7 miles from Kerrville, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.05 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Kerrville, TX to Killeen, TX is easy. At 2h 48m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 16 / Sidney Baker Street): Navigation decision point; at 25 miles (US 290 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 53.1 miles (Spur 356 / North Nugent Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Kerrville, TX to Killeen, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
