Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 25m
Distance
271.4 mi
437 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Kerrville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
This 271.4-mile drive from Arlington, TX to Kerrville, TX is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 5 hours and 25 minutes. With 84% of the route on highways, it's a fairly direct journey focused on getting you to your destination efficiently. You'll primarily travel on South US Highway 281, US 67, and West US Highway 290. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $41, making it an economical choice for a single-day excursion. Given its manageable length and highway-focused profile, this route is well-suited for a one-day adventure without feeling overly rushed.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
135.7 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South US Highway 281 | 96.7 mi | 1h 50m |
| US 67 | 36.2 mi | 41m |
| West US Highway 290 | 27.2 mi | 30m |
| Chisholm Trail Parkway | 21.3 mi | 23m |
| North US Highway 281 | 19 mi | 20m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| South State Highway 16 | 14.2 mi | 15m |
| TX 220 | 13.6 mi | 19m |
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Kerrville, TX.
Start on West Abram Street
Continue on West Abram Street
Turn right onto South Center Street
Turn right onto Spur 303
Turn left onto FM 157
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20
Take the exit
Merge onto CTP
Turn right onto West Katherine P Raines Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 67
Turn slight left onto TX 220
Turn right onto TX 6
Continue on TX 6
Turn left onto US 281
Turn straight onto US 281
Continue on US 281
Continue on US 281
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
Turn right onto US 281 Bus
Continue on US 281
Continue on US 281
Take the exit
Merge onto US 290
Continue on US 290
Continue on US 290
Turn left onto Friendship Lane
Turn left onto TX 16
Continue on TX 16
Continue on TX 16
Turn left onto TX 27
Arrive at destination
Given the 5 hour and 25-minute estimated duration, starting your drive from Arlington in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for a comfortable pace. While this route is manageable as a single-day trip, plan for one stop to break up the journey and refuel. The longest stretch of 96.7 miles on South US Highway 281 means you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. The total fuel cost is estimated at $41, so factor that into your budget.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 60 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.7 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kerrville, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Arlington, 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 Arlington, TX
This is one driving day of about 271.4 miles and 5h 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 135.7 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South US Highway 281 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 96.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 94.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto South Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Spur 303 / West Pioneer Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CTP Toll South: Chisholm Trail Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 281 / North Walnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$41.01 one way
$82.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $44.89 | $89.78 |
| premium | $4.54 | $48.46 | $96.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.92 | $119.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.4 | 1 | $28.50 | $13.03 |
| Efficient EV | 67.9 | 0 | $23.75 | $10.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 108.6 | 1 | $38.00 | $17.37 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in Kerrville on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 271.4-mile trip, with 84% of the journey utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 96.7 miles along South US Highway 281, offering a good period of consistent travel. While primarily highway, the route incorporates US 67 and West US Highway 290, suggesting a mix of faster travel and potentially some more localized highway segments. This profile generally means you'll experience a steady pace with fewer abrupt changes in road type.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South US Highway 281 and US 67. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Center Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 271.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (Spur 303 / West Pioneer Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Arlington, TX to Kerrville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fredericksburg along the way.
Fredericksburg
Founded 1876
Arlington is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex metropolitan area, in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of almost 400,000 (2019), it is Texas' seventh largest, and the third largest in the Metroplex. Arlington is south of the sprawling DFW International Airport.
Top landmarks
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 25m. Total distance: 271.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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