This 194.4-mile drive from Jacksonville, TX to Killeen, TX is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 38 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via the Purple Heart Trail, US Highway 175, and West State Highway 31. With a projected fuel cost of around $29, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Great Plains region of Texas. Expect a mixed driving profile, making it a practical option for those looking to reach their destination without needing an overnight stay. The relatively short duration means you can depart at your convenience and still have ample daylight upon arrival.
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
97.2 miles from Jacksonville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi
39m
US Highway 175
19.8 mi
21m
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
State Highway 31 East
9.9 mi
11m
US Highway 175 West
9.6 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 37.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on US 69
0.7 mi·1 min·South Jackson Street
2
Turn left onto US 175
0.2 mi·19 sec·Alexander Boulevard
3
Continue on US 175
0.6 mi·56 sec·Frankston Highway
4
Continue on US 175
9.6 mi·10 min·US Highway 175 West
5
Turn slight right
3.8 mi·4 min
6
Merge onto US 175
1.9 mi·2 min·East Pine Street
7
Continue on US 175
20 mi·21 min·US Highway 175
8
Take the exit onto US 175
0.5 mi·1 min·US 175
9
Merge onto TX 19; Loop 7
6.8 mi·7 min·Dewitt C Greer Loop
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
11
Keep slight left at fork
120 ft·5 sec
12
Turn left onto TX 31
4.1 mi·4 min·State Highway 31 West
13
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi·6 min·East Royall Boulevard
14
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi·11 min·State Highway 31 East
15
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi·10 min·Northwest 2nd Street
16
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi·13 min·Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
17
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi·21 min·West State Highway 31
18
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi·5 min·Hubbard Bypass
19
Continue on TX 31
17 mi·17 min·State Highway 31
20
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi·2 min·East US Highway 84
21
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi·4 min·Bellmead Drive
22
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi·1 min·East Waco Drive
23
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft·12 sec·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
25
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi·6 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
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.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 287Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter LoopUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi·3 min·West Central Texas Expressway
30
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·South W.S. Young Drive
31
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
1.0 mi·1 min·East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
32
Turn right
83 ft·8 sec
33
Turn right
74 ft·5 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 38-minute trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily break up the 194.4 miles at your leisure. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your time in Killeen, or a mid-morning start to enjoy a more relaxed pace. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 37.9-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services can be more spread out in certain sections. The estimated fuel cost of $29 makes budgeting straightforward for this relatively short Texas road trip.
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 97.2 miles from Jacksonville, TX, or about 1h 51m 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 43 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.2 miles or 1h 51m 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
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 Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, TX
This is one driving day of about 194.4 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Jacksonville, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 36.5 and 188.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
36.5 mi into trip|~41m in|US 175
Take the exit onto US 175
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
44.1 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
175.8 mi into trip|~3h 17m 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
188.9 mi into trip|~3h 30m 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
$29.37 one way
$58.75 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$32.15
$64.31
premium
$4.54
$34.71
$69.42
diesel
$5.61
$42.92
$85.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.3
0
$20.41
$9.33
Efficient EV
48.6
0
$17.01
$7.78
EV Truck/SUV
77.8
0
$27.22
$12.44
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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 16, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, TX
Afternoon
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Killeen, TX
Afternoon
in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
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
24 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
3h 38m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 134.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is a mixed bag, with 54% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving interspersed with more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 37.9 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, which should provide a good sense of consistent travel before potential changes in scenery or speed limits. This profile suggests a drive that won't feel like a monotonous interstate grind but also won't be exclusively slow, two-lane country roads. You'll likely experience a dynamic driving experience as you transition between different types of roadways.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 36.5 miles in near US 175.
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 17 significant decision points across 194.4 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 36.5 miles (US 175): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 44.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 72.8 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 Jacksonville, 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 3h 38m. Total distance: 194.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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 36.5 miles (US 175): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 44.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 72.8 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Killeen, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
