Spanning 230.9 miles across the Great Plains of Texas, this drive from Henderson to Killeen typically takes about 4 hours and 24 minutes behind the wheel. Given the duration, it is perfectly manageable as a single-day journey, though you should prepare for a turn-heavy experience rather than a straight interstate cruise. You can anticipate a fuel budget of approximately $35 to cover the distance. Because the route relies on local roads like North Main Street, West Depot Street, and North Van Buren Street, it offers a distinct alternative to the standard highway experience. Keep in mind that this is a local-heavy trek, so plan accordingly to ensure you arrive comfortably within a single day of travel.
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
115.4 miles from Henderson, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi
39m
State Highway 31 West
33.7 mi
39m
State Highway 31 East
30.9 mi
35m
West State Highway 31
18.8 mi
21m
State Highway 31
17.2 mi
17m
Central Texas Expressway
13.1 mi
13m
Corsicana Bypass
11.8 mi
13m
Northwest 2nd Street
9.3 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 37.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Henderson, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on US 79 Business; TX 64 Business
45 ft·4 sec·East Main Street
2
Continue on TX 64 Business
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto TX 64 Business
421 ft·8 sec·West Depot Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto TX 64 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·North Van Buren Street
5
Turn right onto FM 2276
2.8 mi·3 min·FM 2276
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 259; FM 2276
5.8 mi·6 min·US 259; FM 2276
7
Turn left onto FM 918
1.7 mi·2 min·FM 918
8
Turn right onto FM 2012
7.1 mi·9 min·FM 2012
9
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
24 mi·28 min·State Highway 31 West
10
Continue on TX 31
1.9 mi·2 min·Chandler Highway
11
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi·6 min·State Highway 31 West
12
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi·2 min·East Highway 31
13
Continue on TX 31
21 mi·23 min·State Highway 31 East
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
15
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi·7 min·Jed Robinson Loop
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
17
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft·14 sec
18
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 31 West
19
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi·6 min·East Royall Boulevard
20
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi·11 min·State Highway 31 East
21
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi·10 min·Northwest 2nd Street
22
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi·13 min·Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
23
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi·21 min·West State Highway 31
24
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi·5 min·Hubbard Bypass
25
Continue on TX 31
17 mi·17 min·State Highway 31
26
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi·2 min·East US Highway 84
27
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi·4 min·Bellmead Drive
28
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi·1 min·East Waco Drive
29
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft·12 sec·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
30
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
31
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi·6 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 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 CavazosUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 287Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter LoopUse 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
For a smooth journey, aim to depart early in the morning to account for the technical nature of these local roads. Since the trip takes over four hours, schedule at least one stop to stretch your legs and stay fresh behind the wheel. Budgeting $35 for fuel is a solid baseline, but always keep an eye on your gauge when navigating smaller town routes where services might be spaced differently than on major highways. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, allowing you to pace the drive to your personal comfort level. Given the turn-heavy profile of the route, stay alert at intersections and follow your GPS closely to ensure you stay on the correct path through each town.
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 115.4 miles from Henderson, TX, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.9 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 51 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.4 miles or 2h 17m 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 39m
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 Henderson, 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 Henderson, TX
This is one driving day of about 230.9 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Henderson, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 37.9 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 225.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 64 Business / West Depot Street
Turn left onto TX 64 Business / West Depot Street
Navigation decision point
5
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
109.3 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
212.3 mi into trip|~4h 2m 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
225.3 mi into trip|~4h 16m 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
$34.89 one way
$69.78 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$38.19
$76.38
premium
$4.54
$41.23
$82.45
diesel
$5.61
$50.98
$101.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.8 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
69.3
0
$24.24
$11.08
Efficient EV
57.7
0
$20.20
$9.24
EV Truck/SUV
92.4
1
$32.33
$14.78
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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 14, 2026
Origin
Henderson, TX
Late night
in Henderson on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Killeen, TX
Late night
in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
3:00 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
7 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
4h 24m 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.
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 167.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that prioritizes community roads over high-speed interstate travel. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be spending your time cruising at high speeds on major expressways. Instead, your navigation will shift between North Main Street, West Depot Street, and North Van Buren Street as you transition through the Texas landscape. This route demands more active attention than a typical highway grind, as you navigate local turns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. It is an ideal choice if you prefer a slower, more engaged pace through the heart of the region rather than the detached feeling of a major interstate.
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: 37.9 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and State Highway 31 West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near TX 64 Business / West Depot Street.
Driving Effort9/10
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 23 significant decision points across 230.9 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 0.2 miles (TX 64 Business / West Depot Street): Navigation decision point; at 80.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 109.3 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): 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.
On the drive from Henderson, 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 24m. Total distance: 230.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
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 0.2 miles (TX 64 Business / West Depot Street): Navigation decision point; at 80.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 109.3 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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.
