Spanning 100.7 miles, this route from Kerrville to Austin is a straightforward journey through the heart of the Texas Great Plains. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 5 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $15, the drive is both time-efficient and budget-friendly. Since the entire trip stays within the same region, you won't experience drastic shifts in landscape, but you will enjoy a consistent drive between these two Texas hubs. Whether you are heading to the capital for business or a weekend getaway, this route provides a reliable connection without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.3 miles from Kerrville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East US Highway 290
58.1 mi
1h 8m
South State Highway 16
14.2 mi
15m
Fredericksburg Road
5.7 mi
6m
South US Highway 281
5.4 mi
6m
South Mopac Expressway
4 mi
4m
Friendship Lane
2.9 mi
5m
West US Highway 290
2.3 mi
2m
Sidney Baker Street
2.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
East US Highway 290
— 58.1 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kerrville, TX and Austin, TX.
1
Start on TX 27
69 ft·6 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto TX 16
2.3 mi·5 min·Sidney Baker Street
3
Continue on TX 16
5.7 mi·6 min·Fredericksburg Road
4
Continue on TX 16
14 mi·15 min·South State Highway 16
5
Turn right onto Friendship Lane
2.9 mi·5 min·Friendship Lane
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 290
0.3 mi·28 sec·East Main Street
7
Continue on US 290
27 mi·30 min·East US Highway 290
8
Continue on US 290
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
9
Take the exit onto US 290
0.1 mi·18 sec·US 290
10
Merge onto US 281; US 290
5.4 mi·6 min·South US Highway 281
11
Turn slight left onto US 290
31 mi·37 min·East US Highway 290
Toward US 290: AustinUse the left lane.
12
Continue on US 290
0.3 mi·18 sec·West US Highway 290
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
14
Continue on West US Highway 290
2.0 mi·2 min·West US Highway 290
15
Continue on US 290; TX 71
1.6 mi·1 min·US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward Loop 1 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto Loop 1
4.0 mi·4 min·South Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard, Cesar Chavez StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward West 5th Street, Lake Austin BoulevardUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
120 ft·2 sec
Toward 5th StreetUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto West 5th Street
1.6 mi·3 min·West 5th Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Arrive at destination
East 5th Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid peak traffic in Austin. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise despite the modest $15 cost. Since the route lacks mandatory breaks, you can easily complete the 100.7-mile distance in one go. If you are traveling during busy periods, monitor the conditions on East US Highway 290, as it serves as the primary artery for the majority of your travel. Aim to depart mid-morning to ensure you arrive at your destination refreshed and ready for your next move.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.3 miles from Kerrville, TX, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.1 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.3 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Austin, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kerrville, 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 Kerrville, TX
This is one driving day of about 100.7 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Kerrville, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East US Highway 290 for about 58.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 94.1 and 99.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
94.1 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward Loop 1 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Loop 1 North
5
94.8 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|Loop 1 / South Mopac Expressway
Merge onto Loop 1 / South Mopac Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
98.8 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard, Cesar Chavez Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard, Cesar...
9
98.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward West 5th Street, Lake Austin Boulevard
8
99.1 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 5th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 5th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.22 one way
$30.43 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$16.66
$33.31
premium
$4.54
$17.98
$35.96
diesel
$5.61
$22.23
$44.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.2
0
$10.57
$4.83
Efficient EV
25.2
0
$8.81
$4.03
EV Truck/SUV
40.3
0
$14.10
$6.44
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Kerrville, TX
Night
in Kerrville on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Austin, TX
Night
in Austin on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Johnson City, TX
50 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 5m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 85% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will navigate via South State Highway 16, Fredericksburg Road, and East US Highway 290. The longest uninterrupted portion of your journey covers 58.1 miles on East US Highway 290, which requires steady attention as you maintain highway speeds. While the route is designed for efficiency, the transition between these roads keeps the pace brisk. Expect a blend of fast-moving highway stretches that allow you to cover ground quickly as you move across the plains.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.1 mi on East US Highway 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East US Highway 290 and South State Highway 16. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 94.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 100.7 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 94.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.8 miles (Loop 1 / South Mopac Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.8 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
1,919 ft487 ft
Total Climb
505 ft
Total Descent
1,658 ft
Highest Point
1,919 ft
~4.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,433 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 Kerrville, TX to Austin, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1 North along the way.
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.
Austin is a city of about 1,054,000 (2026) surpassing Fort Worth to become the 4th most populous city in Texas. It is on the southeast edge of the Hill Country region of Texas, making it the fourth-largest city in the state and the 11th-largest in the country. It is the capital of Texas and a college town, and also a center of an alternative culture away from the major cities on the US coasts, though the city is rapidly gentrifying with its rising popularity. Austin's attitude is commonly emblazoned about town on T-shirts and bumper stickers that read: "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is also marketed as the Live Music Capital of the World due to the large number of venues.
Top landmarks
•Texas State Capitol — capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Texas
•Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin,...
•Texas State Cemetery — historic cemetery in Austin, Texas, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 100.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.1 miles on East US Highway 290. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Austin, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 94.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.8 miles (Loop 1 / South Mopac Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.8 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Austin, TX before heading back.
