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
.
Main Roads
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
Longest stretch:
South US Highway 281
— 96.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Kerrville, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
93 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
2
Continue on West Abram Street
417 ft·21 sec·West Abram Street
3
Turn right onto South Center Street
2.0 mi·4 min·South Center Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·48 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto FM 157
1.5 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
8
Merge onto I 20
15 mi·16 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 432BToward CTP Toll South: Chisholm Trail ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto CTP
21 mi·23 min·Chisholm Trail Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto West Katherine P Raines Drive
0.2 mi·20 sec·West Katherine P Raines Drive
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 67 South
13
Merge onto US 67
36 mi·41 min·US 67
14
Turn slight left onto TX 220
14 mi·19 min·TX 220
15
Turn right onto TX 6
0.1 mi·8 sec·East 2nd Street
16
Continue on TX 6
0.2 mi·21 sec·West 2nd Street
17
Turn left onto US 281
0.6 mi·38 sec·North Walnut Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn straight onto US 281
19 mi·20 min·North US Highway 281
19
Continue on US 281
2.3 mi·2 min·North Rice Street
20
Continue on US 281
43 mi·49 min·South US Highway 281
21
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
1.6 mi·3 min·North Key Avenue
22
Turn right onto US 281 Bus
20 mi·21 min·South US Highway 281
23
Continue on US 281
3.6 mi·5 min·North Water Street
24
Continue on US 281
34 mi·40 min·South US Highway 281
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward Fredericksburg
26
Merge onto US 290
1.0 mi·1 min·East Main Street
Toward Fredericksburg
27
Continue on US 290
27 mi·30 min·West US Highway 290
28
Continue on US 290
0.3 mi·33 sec·East Main Street
29
Turn left onto Friendship Lane
2.9 mi·5 min·Friendship Lane
30
Turn left onto TX 16
14 mi·15 min·South State Highway 16
31
Continue on TX 16
5.7 mi·6 min·Fredericksburg Road
32
Continue on TX 16
2.3 mi·5 min·Sidney Baker Street
33
Turn left onto TX 27
69 ft·1 sec·Main Street
34
Arrive at destination
TX 27
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 135.7 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.7 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 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.
Before You Leave
+
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.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Arlington, 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 96.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
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.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Center Street
Turn right onto South Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|Spur 303 / West Pioneer Parkway
Turn right onto Spur 303 / West Pioneer Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
21 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward CTP Toll South: Chisholm Trail Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 432B
Toward CTP Toll South: Chisholm Trail Parkway
6
94.1 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|US 281 / North Walnut Street
Turn left onto US 281 / North Walnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.17 one way
$74.35 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$41.52
$83.04
premium
$4.23
$45.14
$90.29
diesel
$4.80
$51.25
$102.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
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, 2026-07-13.
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Kerrville, TX
Late night
in Kerrville on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
4 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
5h 25m on the road
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.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 233.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
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.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.7 mi on South US Highway 281.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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.
Driving Effort7/10
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,645 ft604 ft
Total Climb
1,836 ft
Total Descent
800 ft
Highest Point
1,645 ft
~252 mi in
Elevation Range
1,042 ft
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 Arlington, TX to Kerrville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fredericksburg along the way.
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
•Six Flags Over Texas — amusement park
•Mini Mine Train — Steel roller coaster
•Arlington Museum of Art — art museum in Texas, United States
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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.7 miles on South US Highway 281. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kerrville, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kerrville, TX before the return drive.
