Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Fort Worth, TX to Kerrville, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 8m
Distance
254.3 mi
409 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 55m
★
6 AM
5h 9m
8 AM
5h 36m
10 AM
5h 18m
12 PM
5h 15m
3 PM
5h 19m
5 PM
5h 34m
8 PM
5h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Worth, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Kerrville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fort Worth to Kerrville is 254 miles and takes about 5 hours 8 minutes via South US Highway 281 and US 67, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region of Fort Worth to the Great Plains region near Kerrville. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. The route is practical, with a clear path and predictable travel time, ideal if you're looking for an uncomplicated drive.
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
127.1 miles from Fort Worth, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South US Highway 281 | 96.7 mi | 1h 50m |
| US 67 | 37.7 mi | 42m |
| West US Highway 290 | 27.2 mi | 30m |
| North US Highway 281 | 19 mi | 20m |
| South State Highway 16 | 14.2 mi | 15m |
| TX 220 | 13.6 mi | 19m |
| South Freeway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Fredericksburg Road | 5.7 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
South US Highway 281
— 96.7 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Worth, TX and Kerrville, TX.
1
Start on South Freeway
174 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Freeway
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 35W South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Merge onto I 35W
11 mi
·
12 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 37
Toward TX 174 South: Cleburne, Wilshire Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
5
Continue on Northeast Wilshire Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Wilshire Boulevard
6
Continue on TX 174
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Southwest Wilshire Boulevard
7
Continue on TX 174
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Broadway Street
8
Continue on TX 174
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North Main Street
9
Turn right onto West Katherine P Raines Drive
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Katherine P Raines Drive
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 67 South
11
Merge onto US 67
38 mi
·
42 min
·
US 67
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn slight left onto TX 220
14 mi
·
19 min
·
TX 220
13
Turn right onto TX 6
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
East 2nd Street
14
Continue on TX 6
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West 2nd Street
15
Turn left onto US 281
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Walnut Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn straight onto US 281
19 mi
·
20 min
·
North US Highway 281
17
Continue on US 281
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Rice Street
18
Continue on US 281
43 mi
·
49 min
·
South US Highway 281
19
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Key Avenue
20
Turn right onto US 281 Bus
20 mi
·
21 min
·
South US Highway 281
21
Continue on US 281
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
North Water Street
22
Continue on US 281
34 mi
·
40 min
·
South US Highway 281
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Fredericksburg
24
Merge onto US 290
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
Toward Fredericksburg
25
Continue on US 290
27 mi
·
30 min
·
West US Highway 290
26
Continue on US 290
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Main Street
27
Turn left onto Friendship Lane
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Friendship Lane
28
Turn left onto TX 16
14 mi
·
15 min
·
South State Highway 16
29
Continue on TX 16
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Fredericksburg Road
30
Continue on TX 16
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Sidney Baker Street
31
Turn left onto TX 27
69 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
32
Arrive at destination
TX 27
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour drive time, leaving Fort Worth in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Kerrville with plenty of daylight. You'll cover 254 miles, and with only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $40, and plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially during the longest stretch of 96.7 miles on South US Highway 281. This route's efficiency means you have flexibility; a shorter drive allows for spontaneous breaks if needed.
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 127.1 miles from Fort Worth, TX, or about 2h 34m 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 56 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.1 miles or 2h 34m 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 12m
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 Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX
This is one driving day of about 254.3 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Fort Worth, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127.1 miles from Fort Worth, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Gillespie County US 290 Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Gillespie County Ranch Road 1 Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.3 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.4 mi from route
TXB Market
2.5 mi from route
Dead Man's Hole Historical Landmark
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Marble Falls, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18306932815
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteMarble Falls Walkway of Lights
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.6 mi from route
~7 min detour
Marble Falls, Texas
Hours: 6–10 pm
+18446354448
Visit websiteLyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Stonewall, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+18306442252
Visit websiteFort Worth Herd
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 77 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 35W South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35W South
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 35W / South Freeway
Merge onto I 35W / South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward TX 174 South: Cleburne, Wilshire Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 37
Toward TX 174 South: Cleburne, Wilshire Bouleva...
5
25.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
US 67
Merge onto US 67
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
77 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m 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
$34.83 one way
$69.66 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $38.91 | $77.81 |
| premium | $4.23 | $42.30 | $84.60 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $48.02 | $96.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.3 | 0 | $26.70 | $12.21 |
| Efficient EV | 63.6 | 0 | $22.25 | $10.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.7 | 1 | $35.60 | $16.28 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Fort Worth, TX
Late night in Fort Worth on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
S 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 4:38AM CDT until July 19 at 6:46PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 4:37AM CDT until July 20 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Kerrville, TX
Late night in Kerrville on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Cloudy
S 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 4:38AM CDT until July 19 at 6:46PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 4:37AM CDT until July 20 at 12:00AM 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
2 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 8m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 210.4
Park Closure: Texas White House Complex Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 86% of the 254 miles on main roads like South US Highway 281 and US 67. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 96.7 miles on South US Highway 281, offering extended periods of cruising. Surface roads will make up the remaining 14% of the drive. Be prepared for a significant amount of uninterrupted highway travel for much of the 5-hour duration.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South US Highway 281 and US 67. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 8m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (I 35W / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,646 ft
652 ft
Total Climb
1,772 ft
Total Descent
786 ft
Highest Point
1,646 ft
~236.1 mi in
Elevation Range
993 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Fort Worth, TX to Kerrville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fredericksburg along the way.
Fredericksburg
200.6 mi in
|
~4h 2m
About the Cities
Starting in Fort Worth, TX
Full guide →“Panther city” · Founded 1849
Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 1,020,000, it is Texas' 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.
Top landmarks
- • Amon Carter Museum of American Art — art museum in Fort Worth, Texas
- • Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth — art museum
- • St. Patrick Cathedral in Fort Worth — church located in Fort Worth, Texas
Arriving in Kerrville, TX
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 8m. Total distance: 254.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Straightforward navigation.
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.
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: near the start: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (I 35W / South Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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