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Trip from Killeen, TX to Del Rio, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 32m

Distance

289.8 mi

466 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 19m ★
6 AM
5h 32m
8 AM
5h 59m
10 AM
5h 42m
12 PM
5h 39m
3 PM
5h 43m
5 PM
5h 58m
8 PM
5h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Bell County, Texas, United States

Killeen, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city and the county seat of Val Verde County, Texas, United States

Del Rio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 289.8-mile journey from Killeen, Texas, to Del Rio, Texas, is estimated to take about 5 hours and 32 minutes of driving time. It's a solid day trip, easily manageable within a single day, with a projected fuel cost of around $44. You'll be navigating primarily via East Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Central Texas Expressway, and US 190 West, with no highway driving involved. The route offers a turn-heavy local road experience, making it feel more like navigating through communities than a high-speed transit. Both Killeen and Del Rio are situated within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape throughout your 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

144.9 miles from Killeen, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South US Highway 281 53.2 mi 1h
State Highway 41 50.5 mi 55m
Del Rio Road 49.1 mi 49m
West US Highway 290 27.2 mi 30m
US 277 22 mi 25m
US 190 21.6 mi 25m
I 10 17 mi 16m
South State Highway 16 14.2 mi 15m
Longest stretch: South US Highway 281 — 53.2 mi, about 1h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Killeen, TX and Del Rio, TX.

1

Start on this road

74 ft · 10 sec · this road
2

Turn left

83 ft · 8 sec
3

Turn right onto US 190 Bus

2.6 mi · 4 min · East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
4

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
5

Merge onto I 14; US 190

4.3 mi · 4 min · Central Texas Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 190

22 mi · 25 min · US 190
Toward US 190 West: Lampasas Use the slight left lane.
7

Continue on US 281

0.2 mi · 34 sec · E E Ohnmeiss Drive
8

Turn left onto US 281

20 mi · 20 min · South US Highway 281
9

Continue on US 281

3.6 mi · 5 min · North Water Street
10

Continue on US 281

34 mi · 40 min · South US Highway 281
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Toward Fredericksburg
12

Merge onto US 290

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
Toward Fredericksburg
13

Continue on US 290

27 mi · 30 min · West US Highway 290
14

Continue on US 290

0.3 mi · 33 sec · East Main Street
15

Turn left onto Friendship Lane

2.9 mi · 5 min · Friendship Lane
16

Turn left onto TX 16

14 mi · 15 min · South State Highway 16
17

Continue on TX 16

5.5 mi · 6 min · Fredericksburg Road
18

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
19

Merge onto I 10

17 mi · 16 min · I 10
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 490 Toward TX 41: Mountain Home, Rocksprings
21

Turn left onto TX 41

51 mi · 55 min · State Highway 41
22

At end of road, turn left onto US 377

8.0 mi · 11 min · North US Highway 377
23

Turn right onto US 377; TX 55

0.5 mi · 33 sec · East Main Street
24

Turn slight left onto US 377

49 mi · 49 min · Del Rio Road
25

At end of road, turn left onto US 277; US 377

22 mi · 25 min · US 277; US 377
26

Turn left onto US 90; US 277; US 377

4.5 mi · 7 min · Veterans Boulevard
27

Continue on Spur 297

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Spur 297
28

Turn left onto US 277 Spur

377 ft · 30 sec · East Garfield Street
29

Turn left onto Spur 297

107 ft · 2 sec · Spur 297
30

Arrive at destination

Spur 297

Trip Plan

With a total driving time of 5 hours and 32 minutes, this 289.8-mile trip is well-suited for a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Killeen to maximize your daylight hours and allow for a relaxed pace. Since it's a 'turn-heavy local drive' with no significant highway stretches, factor in extra time for navigating through towns and potential traffic. The estimated fuel cost is $44, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Killeen, as dedicated rest stops might be less frequent than on an interstate route. A single planned stop should be sufficient for this moderate distance.

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 144.9 miles from Killeen, TX, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.2 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 64 miles or 1h 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 144.9 miles or 2h 51m 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 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Del Rio, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Killeen, 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 Killeen, TX

This is one driving day of about 289.8 miles and 5h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Killeen, 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 53.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kerrville, TX

145 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

Lago Vista, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kerrville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 144.9 miles from Killeen, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

Marble Falls Walkway of Lights

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Marble Falls, Texas

Hours: 6–10 pm

+18446354448

Visit website

Great Escape of Central Texas

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Killeen, Texas

Hours: 3:30–9:30 pm

+12546802686

Visit website

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Stonewall, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+18306442252

Visit website

Lions Club Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Killeen, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12545016390

Visit website

Dead Man's Hole Historical Landmark

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Marble Falls, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18306932815

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 263 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

5
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway

Merge onto I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.4 mi into trip | ~9m in | US 190

Keep slight left at fork onto US 190 toward US 190 West: Lampasas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 190 West: Lampasas
6
154.5 mi into trip | ~3h in

Take the exit toward TX 41: Mountain Home, Rocksprings

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 490 Toward TX 41: Mountain Home, Rocksprings
5
263 mi into trip | ~4h 58m in | US 277; US 377

At end of road, turn left onto US 277; US 377

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.79 one way

$87.58 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $47.93 $95.86
premium $4.54 $51.74 $103.48
diesel $5.61 $63.98 $127.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 101.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 86.9 1 $30.43 $13.91
Efficient EV 72.5 0 $25.36 $11.59
EV Truck/SUV 115.9 1 $40.57 $18.55

Gas CO2

101 kg

EV CO2

34 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 Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Killeen, TX

Late night in Killeen on Tuesday

Local time

4:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

N 10 to 15 mph 60% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 9:43AM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 18 at 9:41AM CDT until April 18 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Destination

Del Rio, TX

Late night in Del Rio on Tuesday

Local time

4:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

26 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

5h 32m 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

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...

2 mi from route ~4 min detour Free near mile 99.9
Park Closure: Texas White House Complex Closure
View on nps.gov
Amistad National Recreation Area

Amistad National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

An oasis in the desert, Amistad National Recreation Area consists of the US portion of the International Amistad Reservoir. Amistad, a Spanish word meaning "friendship," is known for excellent water-b...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free near mile 279.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 289.8-mile route, as it features a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating through towns and local roads for the full 5 hours and 32 minutes of travel time. Without any long highway stretches, the longest uninterrupted drive will be dictated by the local road network. The character of the drive will likely involve frequent adjustments to speed and direction as you pass through various communities on your way from Killeen to Del Rio.

75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.2 mi on South US Highway 281.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South US Highway 281 and State Highway 41. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 289.8 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (US 190): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Killeen, TX and Del Rio, TX, road signs point toward Fredericksburg and Rocksprings.

Fredericksburg

86 mi in | ~1h 42m

Rocksprings

154.5 mi in | ~3h

About the Cities

Starting in Killeen, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1872

Killeen is a city in the Central Hill Country of Texas. It is home to U.S. Army installation Fort Cavasos, one of the largest military bases in the world.

Top landmarks

  • • Killeen High School — historic place in Killeen, Bell County, Texas

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 32m. Total distance: 289.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 53.2 miles on South US Highway 281. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (US 190): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park and Amistad National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Del Rio, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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