Kilgore, TX Road Trips
Drivers starting from Kilgore, TX have 3 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Great Plains. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 435 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Kilgore, TX head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
755.5 mi
El Paso, TX
Quickest Drive
4h 5m
Killeen, TX
Plan Around Kilgore, TX
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Kilgore, TX is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Kilgore, TX
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Kilgore, TX
Driving from Kilgore, TX
The typical drive from Kilgore, TX covers about 435 miles and takes around 7h 39m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 756 miles (12h 40m), while the shortest is just 215 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Kilgore, TX most often head toward El Paso, TX (755.5 mi, 12h 40m), San Antonio, TX (333.9 mi, 6h 14m), and Killeen, TX (215.1 mi, 4h 5m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in TX currently averages around $3.82 per gallon. For the typical 435-mile trip from Kilgore, TX, budget about $65 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive. These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 3 mapped routes leaving Kilgore, TX and 2 routes heading into Kilgore, TX, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 215 to 756 miles.
The longest mapped route from Kilgore, TX covers 756 miles and takes approximately 12h 40m. Shorter options start at just 215 miles.
The average route from Kilgore, TX runs about 435 miles with a drive time of roughly 7h 39m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.82/gallon for regular), the average 435-mile trip from Kilgore, TX costs roughly $65 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Kilgore, TX include El Paso, TX, San Antonio, TX and Killeen, TX. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Kilgore, TX by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
13,444
Median Income
$58,141
Median Home Value
$154,600
Median Age
33.2
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Kilgore, TX at a Glance
Nickname
“Home of the Rangerettes”
Founded
1872
Elevation
358 ft
Area
16 mi²
Sister Cities
Notable People from Kilgore, TX
A sampling of people born in Kilgore, TX.
Randy Matson
1945
American athletics competitor
Will Jennings
1944–2024
American songwriter (1944–2024)
Robert Patrick
1937–2023
Playwright, poet, lyricist, short story writer, novelist (1937-2023)
Ally Venable
1999
Texas Blues-Rock Artist
City data from Wikidata (Q973998), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Kilgore, TX
Kilgore is in the Central Piney Woods region of East Texas. Home to slightly less than 14,000 residents (2025), Kilgore is often identified as the "Oil Capital of East Texas", due to its proximity near the center of the vast East Texas Oilfield. Residents are proud of their heritage, and evidence of the city's prominence in petroleum production is widespread and accentuated throughout Kilgore.
Kilgore College Rangerettes, Kilgore College. See their website for performance schedule. The Kilgore College Rangerettes is the world’s first precision drill team. Celebrated for their pioneering synchronized choreography and their steadfast adherence to traditions, each show dazzles with precision, innovation, and elegance. Their dynamic routines are a mesmerizing spectacle. (updated Feb 2025) The World's Richest Acre Park. On this 1.2-acre site in Downtown Kilgore once stood the greatest concentration of producing oil wells in the United States. Over 2.5 million barrels of oil were culled from this location. All but one of the original derricks had been dismantled by the 1960s, but the original remains along with 26 steel reproductions and a replica pumpjack. Open year-round. (updated Feb 2025) The East Texas Oil Museum, Highway 259 (at Ross St), ☏ +1 903 983-8295. Tue-Sat 9AM-4PM (Apr-Sep until 5PM), Sun 2-5PM, special holiday schedule between Christmas and New Year's Day. Every aspect of the life of a 1930s oil boom town is recreated in this museum, which includes a full scale reproduction of a muddy Kilgore main street. Highlights include a virtual trip 3,800 feet deep into the Earth's crust to view simulated oil formations, and a restored 1930s-era oil derrick. Driller Park. This small ballpark, built in 1947, was once home to the minor-league Kilgore Drillers. A local treasure and Texas historical landmark, the park now serves as the home field of the Kilgore High School Bulldogs. Rangerette Museum. Mon-Thu 9AM-4PM, Fri Sat 10AM-4PM.
The Texas Shakespeare Festival. East Texas' only professional theatre company, in residence on the campus of Kilgore College. Holiday Trail of Lights. Drive through the World's Richest Acre Park and marvel at the majesty of star-topped oil derricks that highlight Kilgore's skyline. November–January.
Zen Kitchen, 117 South Rusk St, ☏ +1 903-218-6070. Mon–Sat 11AM–9PM, Sun 11:30AM-9PM. Local bakehouse and craft beverage destination that redefines artisanal baking of traditional breads and pastries. It embodies the spirit of “fresh from the kitchen”. (updated Feb 2025) The Back Porch Grill, 904 Broadway Blvd,, ☏ +1 903-984-8141. Local grill & bar offers a vibrant atmosphere with grilled specialties, inventive appetizers, and signature cocktails. The venue had live music and warm, inviting decor. (updated Feb 2025) Downtown D'Lites, 103 N Kilgore St, ☏ +1 903-987-0737. 11AM-8:30PM. Delicious sandwiches on homemade bread, great wraps and soup, and great frozen yogurt. $5-10. The Jalapeño Tree, 1520 Hwy. 259 N., ☏ +1 903-984-1076. 11AM-10PM. Traditional Tex-Mex fare. A local favorite.
Country Tavern (State Highway 31 & FM 2767, on the road to Tyler), ☏ +1 903 984-9954.
Motel 6, 3501 Highway 259 North, ☏ +1 903-983-3456.
The nearest airports serving the area around Kilgore are Tyler Pounds Regional Airport , and East Texas Regional Airport which is mainly a private airfield. However, American Airlines' commuter line, American Eagle, operates daily flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. As well, Kilgore is easily accessible via automobile, and maintains a bus station which serves Greyhound Bus Lines.
Kilgore is just south of the junction of US Highway 259 and IH20, and at the junctions of Texas Highways 31 and 42. US 259 is the city's main thoroughfare; most places of note and interest lie within a few blocks of it. Kilgore's historic (and revitalized) downtown area is easily accessed from Kilgore Street, one of the city's major east-west streets. The side streets can tend to be on the rough side, typical for a small East Texas town, but all are passable in essentially any automobile.
Travel tips adapted from Kilgore on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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