The drive from Killeen, TX to Kerrville, TX covers 139.6 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 South US Highway 281, West US Highway 290, US 190 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.2 miles on South US Highway 281.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.09 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
69.8 miles from Killeen, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
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.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 139.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 48m highway drive covering 139.6 miles, with most of the trip on South US Highway 281 and West US Highway 290. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.2 miles on South 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.
South US Highway 281 is the longest continuous segment at about 53.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South US Highway 281 and West US Highway 290. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 139.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 190 Bus / East Veterans Memorial Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 190 Bus / East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Turn right onto US 190 Bus / East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Merge onto I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.4 mi into trip|~9m in|US 190
Keep slight left at fork onto US 190 toward US 190 West: Lampasas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 190 West: Lampasas
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Killeen, TX to Kerrville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fredericksburg along the way.
Fredericksburg
86 mi in|~1h 42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South US Highway 281
53.2 mi
1h
West US Highway 290
27.2 mi
30m
US 190
21.6 mi
25m
South State Highway 16
14.2 mi
15m
Fredericksburg Road
5.7 mi
6m
Central Texas Expressway
4.3 mi
4m
North Water Street
3.6 mi
5m
Friendship Lane
2.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
South US Highway 281
— 53.2 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Killeen, TX and Kerrville, TX.
1
Start on this road
74 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left
83 ft·8 sec
3
Turn right onto US 190 Bus
2.6 mi·4 min·East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto I 14; US 190
4.3 mi·4 min·Central Texas Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 190
22 mi·25 min·US 190
Toward US 190 West: LampasasUse the slight left lane.
7
Continue on US 281
0.2 mi·34 sec·E E Ohnmeiss Drive
8
Turn left onto US 281
20 mi·20 min·South US Highway 281
9
Continue on US 281
3.6 mi·5 min·North Water Street
10
Continue on US 281
34 mi·40 min·South US Highway 281
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward Fredericksburg
12
Merge onto US 290
1.0 mi·1 min·East Main Street
Toward Fredericksburg
13
Continue on US 290
27 mi·30 min·West US Highway 290
14
Continue on US 290
0.3 mi·33 sec·East Main Street
15
Turn left onto Friendship Lane
2.9 mi·5 min·Friendship Lane
16
Turn left onto TX 16
14 mi·15 min·South State Highway 16
17
Continue on TX 16
5.7 mi·6 min·Fredericksburg Road
18
Continue on TX 16
2.3 mi·5 min·Sidney Baker Street
19
Turn left onto TX 27
69 ft·1 sec·Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
TX 27
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 69.8 miles from Killeen, TX, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.2 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.8 miles or 1h 22m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kerrville, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Killeen, 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 Killeen, TX
This is one driving day of about 139.6 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Killeen, 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 South US Highway 281 for about 53.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.8 mi from Killeen, TX
· 1h 22m into the drive
The midpoint is around 69.8 miles from Killeen, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kerrville, TX
The final approach into Kerrville, 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 Kerrville, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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
$21.09 one way
$42.19 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$23.09
$46.18
premium
$4.54
$24.92
$49.85
diesel
$5.61
$30.82
$61.64
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: 48.8 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
41.9
0
$14.66
$6.70
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.21
$5.58
EV Truck/SUV
55.8
0
$19.54
$8.93
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
Killeen, TX
Morning
in Killeen on Saturday
Local time
8:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kerrville, TX
Morning
in Kerrville on Saturday
Local time
8:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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 cooler 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 Killeen, TX to Kerrville, TX covers 139.6 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 South US Highway 281, West US Highway 290, US 190. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.8 miles from Killeen, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.09 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 139.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 190 Bus / East Veterans Memorial Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Killeen, TX to Kerrville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fredericksburg along the way.
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.
