This 162.2-mile drive from Colleyville, TX to Killeen, TX is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 57 minutes. Primarily following the North South Freeway, Purple Heart Trail, and Central Texas Expressway, this route is focused on efficient travel. You can expect a fuel cost of around $25 for this journey. Given its relatively short duration and straightforward path through the Great Plains region, it’s a practical option for a quick transit between these Texas locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.1 miles from Colleyville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North South Freeway
85 mi
1h 28m
Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi
39m
Central Texas Expressway
13.1 mi
13m
Airport Freeway
9.5 mi
11m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
7m
West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi
3m
Colleyville Boulevard
1.7 mi
3m
South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
North South Freeway
— 85 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colleyville, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on this road
125 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto TX 26
0.1 mi·15 sec·Colleyville Boulevard
3
Continue on TX 26
1.6 mi·2 min·Colleyville Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on TX 26
1.1 mi·1 min·Grapevine Highway
5
Turn slight left onto FM 3029
1.1 mi·2 min·Precinct Line Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Airport Freeway
431 ft·8 sec·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward TX 121 South, TX 183 WestUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto TX 121; TX 183
2.3 mi·2 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121
0.2 mi·16 sec·Airport Freeway
Exit 25AToward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort WorthUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on TX 121
6.9 mi·8 min·Airport Freeway
Exit 24BToward TX 121 South: Downtown, Ft WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: WacoUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 35W; US 287; US 377
85 mi·1 hr 28 min·North South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 287Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter LoopUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi·3 min·West Central Texas Expressway
18
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·South W.S. Young Drive
19
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
1.0 mi·1 min·East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
20
Turn right
83 ft·8 sec
21
Turn right
74 ft·5 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 162.2-mile journey, leaving in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. With a duration of under three hours, you won't need to split the drive, but planning for one stop around the halfway point might be comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 85 miles on the North South Freeway. The estimated fuel cost is $25.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.1 miles from Colleyville, TX, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85 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 36 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.1 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 24m
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 Colleyville, 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 Colleyville, TX
This is one driving day of about 162.2 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Colleyville, 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 North South Freeway for about 85 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 156.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.9 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward TX 121 South, TX 183 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward TX 121 South, TX 183 West
9
6.5 mi into trip|~10m in|TX 121 / Airport Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121 / Airport Freeway toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25A
Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth
8
13.6 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South:...
8
143.7 mi into trip|~2h 35m 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
156.7 mi into trip|~2h 48m 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
$24.51 one way
$49.02 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$26.83
$53.65
premium
$4.54
$28.96
$57.92
diesel
$5.61
$35.81
$71.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.7
0
$17.03
$7.79
Efficient EV
40.6
0
$14.19
$6.49
EV Truck/SUV
64.9
0
$22.71
$10.38
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Colleyville, TX
Late night
in Colleyville on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Killeen, TX
Late night
in Killeen on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
1 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
2h 57m 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 100.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 162.2-mile trip, with 72% of the route utilizing major roadways. You’ll encounter an 85-mile stretch on the North South Freeway, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is largely about covering ground efficiently, transitioning from the initial freeway segments to the Central Texas Expressway as you approach your destination. It's a route designed for smooth, uninterrupted travel.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85 mi on North South Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North South Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 162.2 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 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles (TX 121 / Airport Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.6 miles: 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 Colleyville, TX to Killeen, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Cavazos along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 162.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85 miles on North South Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles (TX 121 / Airport Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.6 miles: 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.
