Origin
Bellmead, TX
Late night in Bellmead on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellmead, 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
1h 10m
Distance
63.8 mi
103 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellmead, TX
Mark Direen
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Bellmead to Killeen, you are looking at a straightforward 63.8-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. This journey sits entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a very manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $9, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. You will primarily navigate via Interstate 35 and the North Jack Kultgen Expressway to reach your destination. Because the total duration is so short, you have the flexibility to head out whenever your schedule permits without needing to worry about complex logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 13.1 mi | 13m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| West Central Texas Expressway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| South W.S. Young Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Veterans Memorial Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 37.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellmead, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on North Interstate 35
294 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Interstate 35
2
Continue on North Interstate 35
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Interstate 35
3
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
5
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 287
Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Central Texas Expressway
10
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South W.S. Young Drive
11
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
12
Turn right
83 ft
·
8 sec
13
Turn right
74 ft
·
5 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.9 miles from Bellmead, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 63.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South, US 77 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 35; US 77 / North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Merge onto I 35; US 77 / North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
45.2 mi into trip
|
~48m 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
58.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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...
5
63.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.64 one way
$19.28 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $10.55 | $21.10 |
| premium | $4.54 | $11.39 | $22.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.09 | $28.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.70 | $3.06 |
| Efficient EV | 16 | 0 | $5.58 | $2.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.93 | $4.08 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Killeen, TX
Late night in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 10m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless highway cruise on this route. While you will utilize I-35 South for portions of your travel, the route is characterized by its local navigation rather than long, uninterrupted highway stretches. In fact, there is no significant stretch of uninterrupted interstate driving, as the path demands your attention through various turns. The road maintains a practical, functional personality as you transition between these two Central Texas communities. You will find that the lack of highway-heavy miles keeps the drive engaging, requiring you to stay alert and focused on the turns ahead.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.9 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
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 63.8 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (I 35; US 77 / North Jack Kultgen Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
837 ft
432 ft
Total Climb
718 ft
Total Descent
330 ft
Highest Point
837 ft
~59.3 mi in
Elevation Range
405 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 Bellmead, TX to Killeen, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Cavazos along the way.
Fort Cavazos
45.2 mi in
|
~48m
|
via I 14; US 190
About the Cities
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 1h 10m. Total distance: 63.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.9 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.3 miles (I 35; US 77 / North Jack Kultgen Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. 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 Killeen, TX before heading back.
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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