This straightforward, highway-focused drive from Cleburne, TX, to Killeen, TX, covers 127 miles and takes approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes. It's perfectly suited as a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about finding an overnight stop. The route primarily utilizes I 35W and the Central Texas Expressway, with about 66% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $19 for this drive. Since both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, you'll experience a consistent landscape throughout your travels. This option is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.5 miles from Cleburne, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35W
48.9 mi
49m
Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi
39m
Central Texas Expressway
13.1 mi
13m
East FM 4
11.7 mi
19m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
7m
West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi
3m
South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi
2m
East 2nd Street
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 48.9 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleburne, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on US 67 Bus
49 ft·8 sec·East Henderson Street
2
Turn left onto TX 171; TX 174; FM 4
0.5 mi·1 min·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto FM 4
1.1 mi·1 min·East 2nd Street
4
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 4
12 mi·19 min·East FM 4
5
Continue on FM 4; FM 916
0.6 mi·1 min·McDuff Avenue
6
Continue on FM 4; FM 916
0.7 mi·1 min·East Criner Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
8
Merge onto I 35W
49 mi·49 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 14; US 190
13 mi·13 min·Central Texas Expressway
Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort CavazosUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 287Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter LoopUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi·3 min·West Central Texas Expressway
14
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·South W.S. Young Drive
15
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
1.0 mi·1 min·East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
16
Turn right
83 ft·8 sec
17
Turn right
74 ft·5 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 23 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving Cleburne in the morning, perhaps after breakfast, will allow you ample time to reach Killeen without feeling rushed. You won't need to plan for extensive stops, but it's always wise to take a short break if you feel tired, especially during the 48.9-mile stretch on I 35W. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, with an estimated cost of $19, it’s a manageable expense for this journey.
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 63.5 miles from Cleburne, TX, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.9 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.5 miles or 1h 14m 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 56m
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 Cleburne, 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 Cleburne, TX
This is one driving day of about 127 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Cleburne, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35W for about 48.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 126.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main Street
Turn left onto TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
15 mi into trip|~25m in|I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
108.4 mi into trip|~2h 1m 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
121.4 mi into trip|~2h 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...
5
126.9 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.19 one way
$38.38 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$21.01
$42.01
premium
$4.54
$22.68
$45.35
diesel
$5.61
$28.04
$56.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.1
0
$13.33
$6.10
Efficient EV
31.8
0
$11.11
$5.08
EV Truck/SUV
50.8
0
$17.78
$8.13
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Cleburne, TX
Late night
in Cleburne on Sunday
Local time
2:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Killeen, TX
Late night
in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
2:30 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
13 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
2h 23m 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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 65.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, this route will see you spending about 66% of your time on major roadways, including I 35W and the Central Texas Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 48.9 miles on I 35W, offering a good opportunity to make steady progress. While not overly technical, the drive is characterized by its efficiency rather than scenic detours. You'll experience the typical flow of highway travel, punctuated by transitions between different expressway systems as you make your way south.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.9 mi on I 35W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and Purple Heart Trail. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 127 miles you will encounter 11 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 (TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.4 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Cleburne, TX to Killeen, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Cavazos along the way.
Cleburne is one of those fun close-minded towns named after a Confederate general in the Cross Timbers region. It was first a rendezvous point for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, mostly under Patrick Cleburne, then a watering hole on the Chisholm Trail, then a stop along multiple railroads. But today it's more or less a conservative suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with a couple of museums and a reservoir known as Lake Cleburne.
Top landmarks
•Johnson County Courthouse — historic place in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 127 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.9 miles on I 35W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 171; TX 174; FM 4 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.4 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.
