Origin
Ennis, TX
Morning in Ennis on Tuesday
Local time
8:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ennis, TX to Killeen, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 30m
Distance
133.3 mi
215 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 21m
★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ennis, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 133.3-mile drive from Ennis, TX, to Killeen, TX, is a manageable 2.5-hour journey, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily travel on I-35E and the Central Texas Expressway, with about 62% of the route being highway. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $20. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward path through the Great Plains region of Texas, it's perfectly suited for a single day of travel without the need for an overnight stop. The drive offers a practical transit experience with one designated stop.
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
66.7 miles from Ennis, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 48.3 mi | 48m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 13.1 mi | 13m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 34 | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| West State Highway 34 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| West Lake Bardwell Drive | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| West Central Texas Expressway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 48.3 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ennis, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on this road
31 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
87 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn right onto I 45 Bus
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kaufman Street
4
Turn right onto TX 34
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Creechville Road
5
Continue on TX 34
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Bardwell Drive
6
Continue on TX 34
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
West Lake Bardwell Drive
7
Continue on TX 34
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Sycamore Street
8
Continue on TX 34
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
West State Highway 34
9
Continue on TX 34
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest State Highway 34
10
Turn straight onto TX 34
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
11
Continue on TX 34
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 34
12
Continue on TX 34
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Main Street
13
Continue on TX 34
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Dale Evans Drive
14
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
16
Merge onto I 35E
48 mi
·
48 min
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 287
Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Central Texas Expressway
22
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South W.S. Young Drive
23
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
24
Turn right
83 ft
·
8 sec
25
Turn right
74 ft
·
5 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this straightforward 2.5-hour trip, leaving Ennis, TX, in the morning or early afternoon offers flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 133.3 miles, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. The estimated fuel cost of $20 is minimal, but it’s always wise to start with a full tank. Pay attention to your GPS as you transition between I-35E and the Central Texas Expressway, as signage can sometimes be less clear on these connecting routes. Enjoy the efficient journey to Killeen, TX.
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 66.7 miles from Ennis, TX, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.3 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 29 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.7 miles or 1h 18m 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 3m
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 Ennis, 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 Ennis, TX
This is one driving day of about 133.3 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Ennis, 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 I 35E for about 48.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.7 miles from Ennis, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 133.3 — 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
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
21.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 35E
Merge onto I 35E
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
114.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m 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
127.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m 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
133.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.14 one way
$40.28 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $22.05 | $44.09 |
| premium | $4.54 | $23.80 | $47.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.43 | $58.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40 | 0 | $14.00 | $6.40 |
| Efficient EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.66 | $5.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.3 | 0 | $18.66 | $8.53 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Killeen, TX
Morning in Killeen on Tuesday
Local time
8:34 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
18 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 30m 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
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 69
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 133.3-mile route. With 62% of the journey on major roads like I-35E, you'll experience stretches of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 48.3 miles on I-35E, providing a good opportunity to settle in. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of the Purple Heart Trail and Central Texas Expressway suggests some variation in the road's feel as you approach your destination. It’s a route designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.3 mi on I 35E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and Purple Heart Trail. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 30m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.7 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
823 ft
462 ft
Total Climb
804 ft
Total Descent
520 ft
Highest Point
823 ft
~133.3 mi in
Elevation Range
360 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 Ennis, TX to Killeen, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Cavazos along the way.
Fort Cavazos
114.7 mi in
|
~2h 8m
|
via I 14; US 190
About the Cities
Starting in Ennis, TX
Full guide →Founded 1872
Ennis is in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Ennis High School — building in Ennis, Ellis County, Texas
Arriving in Killeen, TX
Full guide →Founded 1872
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
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 2h 30m. Total distance: 133.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.3 miles on I 35E. 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: Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.7 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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