US 190 is a major east-west highway that starts in Texas. The highway begins at I-10 about 20 miles west of Iraan. The highway shares overlaps with Interstates 35 and 45. US 190 is a freeway from Fort Hood near Copperas Cove to I-35 in Belton. The freeway is known as Central Texas Expressway. This part of the highway serves as an important route for access to and from Fort Hood.

US 190 starts at I-10 about 20 miles west of the town Iraan near Bakersville. 190 travels east passing through Eldorado, Menard, Brady, and San Saba before overlaping US 183 in Lometa, northwest of Lampasas. The two highways run together to Lampasas where they overlap with US 281 through town. US 281 splits from the two highways on the southside of town. Less than a mile south of the 281 split, US 190 leaves US 183. US 183 travels south to Austin.

After the split of US 183, US 190 travels east towards Fort Hood. Central Texas Expressway begins at this split. US 190 becomes a freeway just east of Copperas Cove. The freeway travels on the south boundary of Fort Hood, then passes through Killeen, Harker Heights, and Nolanville. CTE ends at I-35 in Belton.

US 190 shares an overlap with I-35 that ends in Temple. US 190 travels in a southeast direction to Cameron then Milano, where the highway overlaps with US 79. The two highways overlap each other until Hearne. US 79 travels northeast to Franklin. US 190 travels south with SH 6. The two highways travel to Bryan where US 190 leaves with SH 21 towards Madisonville. In Madisonville, US 190 leaves SH 21 and joins I-45 to Huntsville.

US 190 leaves I-45 in Huntsville and travels east towards Livingston. US 190 then travels through Woodville, Jasper, and Newton before crossing the Sabine River into Louisiana.