Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Baytown, TX to Killeen, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 22m

Distance

225.3 mi

363 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
4h 10m ★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 32m
12 PM
4h 30m
3 PM
4h 34m
5 PM
4h 48m
8 PM
4h 15m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Harris County, Texas, United States

Baytown, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Bell County, Texas, United States

Killeen, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 225.3-mile journey from Baytown, TX, to Killeen, TX, is estimated to take about 4 hours and 22 minutes of driving time. Designed as a single-day trip, it's a straightforward drive with a projected fuel cost of around $34. You'll navigate through Texas's Great Plains region, experiencing a drive that involves frequent turns rather than long highway stretches. With only one recommended stop, this route offers a direct path, making it a practical option for a quick transition between these two Texas cities.

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

112.7 miles from Baytown, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
TX 6 49.8 mi 53m
Aggie Expressway 24.8 mi 27m
Farm-to-Market Road 485 20.4 mi 25m
Farm-to-Market Road 979 15.3 mi 19m
TX 53 13.1 mi 16m
Central Texas Expressway 13.1 mi 13m
East Sam Houston Tollway North 13 mi 15m
North Sam Houston Parkway East 8.7 mi 10m
Longest stretch: TX 6 — 49.8 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Decker Drive

1.3 mi · 1 min · Decker Drive
2

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 27 sec
Toward Spur 330 West
3

Merge onto Spur 330

4.7 mi · 5 min · Decker Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Merge onto I 10

5.6 mi · 6 min · East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 781A Toward BW 8 South, BW 8 North: Sam Houston Tollway, Pasadena, Sam Houston Parkway Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward BW 8 North: Sam Houston Parkway Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto BW 8

3.0 mi · 3 min · East Sam Houston Parkway North
8

Continue on SHT

13 mi · 15 min · East Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on BW 8

8.7 mi · 10 min · North Sam Houston Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on SHT

2.3 mi · 2 min · North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto SHT

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Sam Houston Tollway West
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward TX 249 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn straight onto BW 8

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Sam Houston Parkway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Turn right onto Tomball Parkway Frontage Road

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Tomball Parkway Frontage Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Take the ramp onto Tomball Parkway Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Tomball Parkway Frontage Road
Toward TX 249 North Use the slight left lane.
16

Merge onto TX 249

7.4 mi · 8 min · Tomball Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on TBT

7.3 mi · 8 min · Tomball Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on TX 249 Toll

3.6 mi · 4 min · MCTRA 249 Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on TX 249 Toll

25 mi · 27 min · Aggie Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on TX 105

5.8 mi · 6 min · State Highway 105
21

Turn right onto TX 105

0.2 mi · 16 sec · State Highway 6
22

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec
23

Merge onto TX 6

50 mi · 53 min · TX 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6

5.8 mi · 5 min · North State Highway 6
25

Continue on TX 6

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
26

Turn left onto FM 979

0.7 mi · 1 min · Browning Street
27

Continue on FM 979

15 mi · 19 min · Farm-to-Market Road 979
28

At end of road, turn right onto FM 485

20 mi · 25 min · Farm-to-Market Road 485
29

At end of road, turn left onto TX 53

13 mi · 16 min · TX 53
30

Turn left onto North General Bruce Drive

0.2 mi · 20 sec · North General Bruce Drive
31

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 35 South
32

Merge onto I 35

7.1 mi · 7 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Keep slight right at fork onto I 14; US 190

13 mi · 13 min · Central Texas Expressway
Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Exit 287 Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop Use the slight right lane.
35

Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway

2.9 mi · 3 min · West Central Texas Expressway
36

Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · South W.S. Young Drive
37

Turn left onto US 190 Bus

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
38

Turn right

83 ft · 8 sec
39

Turn right

74 ft · 5 sec
40

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour and 22-minute duration, departing Baytown in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one stop factored in, you have flexibility to choose when and where you'd like to take a break, perhaps midway through the 225.3 miles. Pay close attention to local traffic patterns and speed limits, as this is a turn-heavy route. The estimated fuel cost of $34 is a good baseline, but always consider filling up before leaving Baytown to ensure you start with a full tank for this primarily local road journey.

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 112.7 miles from Baytown, TX, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.8 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 50 miles or 1h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 112.7 miles or 2h 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 34m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Baytown, 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 Baytown, TX

This is one driving day of about 225.3 miles and 4h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Baytown, 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 TX 6 for about 49.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Brazos County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

College Station, TX

113 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

Conroe, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

College Station, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 112.7 miles from Baytown, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Bicentennial Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12814206597

Visit website

Lakewood Crossing Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 48.3

Houston, Texas

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

ARs Entertainment Hub Baytown

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 4–10 pm

+18889999440

Visit website

Allenbrook Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12814206597

Visit website

Great Escape of Central Texas

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 225.3

Killeen, Texas

Hours: 3:30–9:30 pm

+12546802686

Visit website

Lions Club Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 225.3

Killeen, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12545016390

Visit website

W.L. Jenkins Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12814206597

Visit website

Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 16.1

Houston, Texas

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+12814562800

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 28

5 decision points cluster between mile 12 and 219.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
12 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward BW 8 South, BW 8 North: Sam Houston Tollway, Pasadena, Sam Houston Parkway

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 781A Toward BW 8 South, BW 8 North: Sam Houston Toll...
7
12.3 mi into trip | ~14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward BW 8 North: Sam Houston Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward BW 8 North: Sam Houston Parkway
6
42.3 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward TX 249 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward TX 249 South
8
206.7 mi into trip | ~4h in | I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos
8
219.8 mi into trip | ~4h 14m in

Take the exit toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop

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 287 Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.04 one way

$68.09 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 79 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $37.26 $74.53
premium $4.54 $40.23 $80.45
diesel $5.61 $49.74 $99.49

Estimated Tolls: $2.15

Sam Houston Tollway (17.4 mi) $1.39
Tomball Tollway (7.3 mi) $0.51
MCTRA 249 Tollway (3.6 mi) $0.25

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 78.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 67.6 0 $23.66 $10.81
Efficient EV 56.3 0 $19.71 $9.01
EV Truck/SUV 90.1 1 $31.54 $14.42

Gas CO2

79 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Baytown, TX

Late night in Baytown on Sunday

Local time

2:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Killeen, TX

Late night in Killeen on Sunday

Local time

2:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°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

23 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

4h 22m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 225.3-mile trip, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be on surface streets and local roads for the majority of your 4-hour and 22-minute travel time. While there isn't a defined 'longest stretch' mentioned, the character of the drive suggests a need for constant attention to navigation due to the numerous turns. The route maintains this local feel throughout, making it less about open-road cruising and more about connecting communities via their main thoroughfares like Spur 330 West and East Freeway.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.8 mi on TX 6.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 6 and Aggie Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 28 significant decision points across 225.3 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 12 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Baytown, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Bw 8 South, Bw 8 North: Sam Houston Tollway, Pasadena and Fort Cavazos.

Bw 8 South

12 mi in | ~14m

Bw 8 North: Sam Houston Tollway

12 mi in | ~14m

Pasadena

12 mi in | ~14m

Fort Cavazos

206.7 mi in | ~4h | via I 14; US 190

About the Cities

Starting in Baytown, TX

Full guide →

Baytown is a city in Texas. When you are in Baytown, you can rest assured you are in one of the most industrialized places of the world. With Exxon's Baytown Refinery on the west, Chevron's Cedar Bayou Plant on the northeast, the Covestro Baytown Industrial Plant on the east, and a smattering of other industries in between, you're likely to see flare stacks and storage tanks or tanker cars wherever you go, and might think you need a gas mask. But, in spite of this, there are still natural and cultural attractions to behold. And Garey Busey and Renee Zellweger used to call this place home.

Arriving in Killeen, TX

Full guide →

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.

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 4h 22m. Total distance: 225.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 49.8 miles on TX 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.15 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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.

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 Killeen, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 12 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Killeen, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Killeen, TX

El Paso, TX 585.2 mi · 10h 1m Socorro, TX 570.6 mi · 9h 46m Pampa, TX 450 mi · 8h 32m Canyon, TX 438.9 mi · 7h 52m

More from Baytown, TX

El Paso, TX 768.8 mi · 12h 49m Dallas, TX 261.9 mi · 4h 40m Corpus Christi, TX 234.7 mi · 4h 37m San Antonio, TX 220 mi · 3h 57m Aldine, TX 34.3 mi · 44m Houston, TX 25.9 mi · 33m

More trips to Killeen, TX

Horizon City, TX 570 mi Roma, TX 406.8 mi San Benito, TX 381.3 mi Weslaco, TX 379.7 mi Mission, TX 377.3 mi Harlingen, TX 375.3 mi
Escape planner: Baytown, TX Scenic drives in TX

Explore more options from Baytown, TX or browse trips ending in Killeen, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.