El Paso, TX to Kerrville, TX is 490.1 miles and takes about 7h 52m via I 10, with a fuel budget near $77 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward, mostly highway experience. You'll be covering a significant distance, so be prepared for a full day of driving. It's a practical route for getting from West Texas to the Hill Country without major detours. Plan for a single-day trip, keeping in mind the need for a timely start.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
245 miles from El Paso, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
485.2 mi
7h 42m
Holdsworth Drive
1.8 mi
3m
Harper Road
1.1 mi
1m
Sidney Baker Street
0.7 mi
2m
North Mesa Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Franklin Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 485.2 mi, about 7h 42m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,307 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,681
Quietest
2 AM
~154 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Paso, TX and Kerrville, TX.
1
Start on North Mesa Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Mesa Street
2
Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·East Franklin Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 10 East
4
Merge onto I 10; US 180
167 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 10; US 180
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
318 mi·4 hr 59 min·I 10
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 505Toward FM 783: Kerrville, Harper
7
Turn right onto RM 783
1.1 mi·1 min·Harper Road
8
Turn left onto Holdsworth Drive
1.8 mi·3 min·Holdsworth Drive
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto TX 16
0.7 mi·2 min·Sidney Baker Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto TX 27
69 ft·1 sec·Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
TX 27
Trip Plan
Since this 490.1-mile drive can be completed in under 8 hours, starting early from El Paso is key to maximizing daylight. You'll have two recommended stops, which are perfect for stretching your legs and refueling. Given the long stretch on I 10, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially in more remote sections. The $77 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting. Arriving in Kerrville before dark will make navigating the final surface roads much easier and more pleasant.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 245 miles from El Paso, TX, or about 3h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 485.2 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 108 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 245 miles or 3h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 51m
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 El Paso, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from El Paso, TX
This is one driving day of about 490.1 miles and 7h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from El Paso, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 485.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 489.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Franklin Avenue
Turn right onto East Franklin Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|I 10; US 180
Merge onto I 10; US 180
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
167.6 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
486 mi into trip|~7h 44m in
Take the exit toward FM 783: Kerrville, Harper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 505
Toward FM 783: Kerrville, Harper
6
489.3 mi into trip|~7h 50m in|TX 16 / Sidney Baker Street
Turn right onto TX 16 / Sidney Baker Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.13 one way
$134.26 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg172 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$74.98
$149.96
premium
$4.23
$81.52
$163.05
diesel
$4.80
$92.54
$185.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$67
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$92–$117
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 171.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
147
1
$51.46
$23.52
Efficient EV
122.5
1
$42.88
$19.60
EV Truck/SUV
196
2
$68.61
$31.37
Gas CO2
171 kg
EV CO2
57 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
El Paso, TX
Morning
in El Paso on Sunday
Local time
8:42 AM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 7 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Kerrville, TX
Morning
in Kerrville on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 to 10 mph61% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
22 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
7h 52m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Chamizal National Memorial
National Memorial
Chamizal is more than just an urban park to recreate or enjoy a quiet afternoon. These grounds are a reminder of the harmonious settlement of a 100-year boundary dispute between the United States and...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is almost entirely on the highway, with 99% of the 490.1 miles being on major roads like I 10. You'll experience a very long stretch of continuous highway driving, with 485.2 miles on I 10 before you transition to surface roads like Holdsworth Drive and Harper Road near Kerrville. Expect consistent rural cruising with potentially dense exit patterns as you approach your destination. This means minimal time on slower, local roads until the very end.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 485.2 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Holdsworth Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East Franklin Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 52m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East Franklin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 10; US 180): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.6 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
El Paso is the sixth largest city in Texas, with 679,000 residents (2020). It is on the United States-Mexico border. The city on the other side of the border is Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. El Paso is often called the Sun City. Collectively, the city of El Paso and other nearby cities, such as Juarez and Las Cruces, New Mexico are referred to as The Borderland.
Top landmarks
•El Paso Museum of Art — art museum in El Paso, Texas
•Union Depot — historic place in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
•Plaza Theatre — building in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
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.
The longest stretch is about 485.2 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 40 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 40 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East Franklin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (I 10; US 180): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.6 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 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.
