Highland Village to Killeen is 182.1 miles and takes about 3h 17m via South R L Thornton Freeway, Purple Heart Trail, and North Stemmons Freeway, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a highway-focused drive primarily within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a straightforward, single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways, so expect relatively quick travel times. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Dallas-Fort Worth area down towards Central Texas without a lot of fuss.
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
91 miles from Highland Village, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway
89.9 mi
1h 32m
Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi
39m
North Stemmons Freeway
27.6 mi
32m
Central Texas Expressway
13.1 mi
13m
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
Highland Village Road
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland Village, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on Greenbriar Lane
115 ft·7 sec·Greenbriar Lane
2
Turn right onto Lakevista West
0.1 mi·29 sec·Lakevista West
3
At end of road, turn right onto Highland Village Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Highland Village Road
4
Turn right onto North Stemmons Freeway
1.1 mi·1 min·North Stemmons Freeway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 35E South, US 77
6
Merge onto I 35E
16 mi·18 min·North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E
10 mi·12 min·North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi·44 sec·South R L Thornton Freeway
9
Continue on I 35E
89 mi·1 hr 31 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426Toward Dallas ZooUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 287Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter LoopUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi·3 min·West Central Texas Expressway
15
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·South W.S. Young Drive
16
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
1.0 mi·1 min·East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
17
Turn right
83 ft·8 sec
18
Turn right
74 ft·5 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short, single-day drive of just over 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in Killeen with ample time to settle in or start your activities. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, it's wise to ensure your tank is full before you depart to avoid needing to stop for gas on this efficient route. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you navigate through the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in the initial stages of your journey.
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 91 miles from Highland Village, TX, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 40 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91 miles or 1h 39m 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 40m
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 Highland Village, 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 Highland Village, TX
This is one driving day of about 182.1 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Highland Village, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 176.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Lakevista West
Turn right onto Lakevista West
Navigation decision point
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in|I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Merge onto I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
19.1 mi into trip|~23m in|I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
163.5 mi into trip|~2h 55m 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
176.6 mi into trip|~3h 8m 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
$27.52 one way
$55.03 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$30.12
$60.24
premium
$4.54
$32.51
$65.03
diesel
$5.61
$40.21
$80.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.6
0
$19.12
$8.74
Efficient EV
45.5
0
$15.93
$7.28
EV Truck/SUV
72.8
0
$25.49
$11.65
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Highland Village, TX
Late night
in Highland Village on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Killeen, TX
Late night
in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
2:36 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 17m 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 119.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 77% of the journey on major roadways. You'll encounter stretches like the 89.9-mile segment on South R L Thornton Freeway, which means extended periods of consistent speed and traffic flow. Expect a practical, utilitarian driving experience rather than scenic vistas. The route is designed for efficiency, so it's less about the journey's visual appeal and more about covering ground quickly on established freeways.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Lakevista West.
Driving Effort6/10
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 182.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Lakevista West): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Highland Village, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Dallas Zoo and Fort Cavazos.
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 3h 17m. Total distance: 182.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. 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: near the start (Lakevista West): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.1 miles (I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Killeen, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
