Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Killeen, TX to Bedford, 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 53m
Distance
159.2 mi
256 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
29 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Bedford, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Killeen to Bedford covers 159.2 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 53 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Your journey will take you across the Great Plains, utilizing East Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Edwards Drive, and I-14 East to navigate the distance. Expect to spend approximately $24 on fuel for the trip. This route works well for those looking for a direct transit between these two Texas locations, offering a straightforward travel experience.
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
79.6 miles from Killeen, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 70.8 mi | 1h 12m |
| I 35W | 52.1 mi | 55m |
| Airport Freeway | 11.4 mi | 13m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 10.7 mi | 11m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| East Veterans Memorial Boulevard | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| Bedford Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Edwards Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 70.8 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Killeen, TX and Bedford, TX.
1
Start on this road
74 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
83 ft
·
11 sec
3
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
4
Turn slight right onto Edwards Drive
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Edwards Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 14 East, US 190 East
6
Merge onto I 14; US 190
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 35; US 190
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
52 mi
·
55 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 377
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 377
Exit 52B
Toward TX 121 North, US 377 North: DFW Airport, Belknap Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto TX 121
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121; TX 183
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Airport Freeway
Exit 22A
Toward TX 121 North, TX 183 East: DFW Airport, Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward Bedford Road, Forest Ridge Drive
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto Airport Freeway
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Airport Freeway
16
Turn left onto Bedford Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bedford Road
17
Turn right onto Forest Ridge Drive
95 ft
·
2 sec
·
Forest Ridge Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Forest Ridge Drive
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth trip, plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly three-hour drive. Leaving during off-peak hours will help you manage the turn-heavy local roads more comfortably. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on, as local roads can lead to unpredictable consumption compared to consistent highway driving. Since the trip is short and flexible, you have the advantage of choosing your own pace without the pressure of a long-haul itinerary. Make sure to double-check your navigation before departing Killeen, as the heavy reliance on local streets like Edwards Drive makes it easy to miss a turn.
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 79.6 miles from Killeen, TX, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.8 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.6 miles or 1h 26m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, 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 159.2 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 70.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.6 miles from Killeen, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Bicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Early stretch
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteGreat Escape of Central Texas
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Killeen, Texas
Hours: 3:30–9:30 pm
+12546802686
Visit websiteFort Worth Herd
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
Visit websiteLions Club Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Killeen, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+12545016390
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~9 min detour
First break
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteiFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Hurst, Texas
Hours: 10:30 am–6:30 pm
+18178184359
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 158.1 — 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
Turn left
Navigation decision point
7
94.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
8
146.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 37m in
|
US 377
Take the exit onto US 377 toward TX 121 North, US 377 North: DFW Airport, Belknap Street
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 52B
Toward TX 121 North, US 377 North: DFW Airport,...
9
155 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
|
TX 121; TX 183 / Airport Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121; TX 183 / Airport Freeway toward TX 121 North, TX 183 East: DFW Airport, Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22A
Toward TX 121 North, TX 183 East: DFW Airport,...
7
158.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward Bedford Road, Forest Ridge Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Bedford Road, Forest Ridge Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.06 one way
$48.11 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $26.33 | $52.66 |
| premium | $4.54 | $28.42 | $56.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.15 | $70.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
29 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger
Temple, TX
Tesla
48 DCFC
Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger
Hillsboro, TX
Tesla
24 DCFC
Collin Street Bakery - Tesla Supercharger
Bellmead, TX
Tesla
22 DCFC
Lorena Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger
Lorena, TX
Tesla
20 DCFC
Market Heights - Tesla Supercharger
Harker Heights, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
TA, State Highway 77, Hillsboro, TX
Hillsboro, TX
BP_PULSE
12 DCFC
Rudy's Country Store & BBQ - Tesla Supercharger
Burleson, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Lone Star Ranch Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger
Edgecliff Village, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Tesla: 9
MERCEDES_BENZ: 5
eVgo Network: 3
ChargePoint Network: 2
CIRCLE_K: 1
IONNA: 1
FCN: 1
Non-Networked: 1
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1
EV Connect: 1
Electrify America: 1
BP_PULSE: 1
IN_CHARGE: 1
WALMART: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.72 | $7.64 |
| Efficient EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.93 | $6.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.29 | $10.19 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Origin
Killeen, TX
Late night in Killeen on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bedford, TX
Late night in Bedford on Tuesday
Local time
4:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph
78% chance
Live forecast
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 20 at 11:56PM CDT until April 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 20 at 11:56PM CDT until April 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
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
29 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
2h 53m 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 60.4
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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you will spend your time navigating through local routes and connecting roads rather than sustained high-speed highway stretches. The personality of this drive is dictated by its technical nature, requiring your full attention as you transition between local segments. Because the route relies on local infrastructure, the pace remains steady but requires more frequent adjustments than a typical freeway haul. Stay alert for the constant shifts in road direction as you move toward your destination.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.8 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 159.2 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 94.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.5 miles (US 377): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
836 ft
442 ft
Total Climb
434 ft
Total Descent
664 ft
Highest Point
836 ft
~11.4 mi in
Elevation Range
394 ft
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Bedford, TX
Full guide →Bedford is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
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 53m. Total distance: 159.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.8 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Bedford, 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: Navigation decision point; at 94.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 146.5 miles (US 377): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Bedford, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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