This 392.7-mile drive from Killeen, TX to Alton, TX is designed for a single day of travel, taking an estimated 6 hours and 54 minutes. You'll primarily navigate TX 130 Toll and I-37, with a portion on South Nueces Street, covering 69% highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $59. Given the duration and distance, it's a manageable day trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently within the Great Plains region of Texas. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace.
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
196.4 miles from Killeen, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Killeen, TX and Alton, TX.
1
Start on this road
74 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left
83 ft·8 sec
3
Turn right onto US 190 Bus
0.9 mi·1 min·East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
4
Turn left onto TX 195
34 mi·37 min·South Fort Hood Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
6
Continue on North Interstate 35
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Interstate 35
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
8
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi·1 hr 19 min·TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi·11 min·I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi·9 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi·12 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
1.4 mi·1 min·Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 410; TX 130
6.7 mi·7 min·Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 41Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus ChristiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus ChristiUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 37
60 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi·19 min·US 281 South
Toward US 281 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·South Nueces Street
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.5 mi·10 min·I 69C; US 281
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
56 mi·58 min·Falfurrias Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
7.2 mi·7 min·I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·23 sec
Exit 10Toward US 281 Business South: EdinburgUse the slight right lane.
24
Continue on North Expressway 281
0.4 mi·38 sec·North Expressway 281
25
Continue on US 281 Business
3.0 mi·4 min·US 281 Business
26
Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107
377 ft·13 sec·West McIntyre Street
27
Turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107
360 ft·10 sec·North 10th Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
28
Turn right onto TX 107
9.1 mi·13 min·West University Drive
29
Turn left onto TX 107
2.0 mi·3 min·Conway Street
30
Turn left onto FM 676
102 ft·2 sec·Main Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
FM 676
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour, 54-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Killeen, TX, to avoid potential traffic and maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll, you can plan for efficient breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on longer highway segments, as services can be spaced out. The estimated $59 fuel cost is a good baseline for your budget. Being a single-day trip, flexibility is key, allowing you to adjust your pace as needed.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 196.4 miles from Killeen, TX, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 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 86 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196.4 miles or 3h 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 5h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Killeen, 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 Killeen, TX
This is one driving day of about 392.7 miles and 6h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Killeen, 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 TX 130 Toll for about 86.1 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 121.4 and 381.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
121.4 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
162.6 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
7
162.8 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
7
377.7 mi into trip|~6h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 281 Business South: Edinburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10
Toward US 281 Business South: Edinburg
7
381.5 mi into trip|~6h 38m in|US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
Turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.34 one way
$118.68 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg137 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$64.95
$129.90
premium
$4.54
$70.11
$140.23
diesel
$5.61
$86.70
$173.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
117.8
1
$41.23
$18.85
Efficient EV
98.2
1
$34.36
$15.71
EV Truck/SUV
157.1
1
$54.98
$25.13
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Killeen, TX
Late night
in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alton, TX
Late night
in Alton on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°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
32 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
6h 54m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 162.5
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 392.7-mile route. With 69% of the journey on main roads like TX 130 Toll and I-37, you'll experience significant stretches of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted segment is 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll, which means you can settle in for a good period of driving without frequent exits. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of South Nueces Street suggests a brief transition to more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on TX 130 Toll.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 130 Toll and South Nueces Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 121.4 miles in.
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 392.7 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 121.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 162.8 miles: 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.
On the drive from Killeen, TX to Alton, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi 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 6h 54m. Total distance: 392.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 54m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. 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 Alton, 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 121.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 162.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alton, TX before the return drive.
