Origin
Killeen, TX
Morning in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Killeen, TX to Selma, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 21m
Distance
127.5 mi
205 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 22m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 29m
12 PM
2h 27m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Selma, TX
Heber Vazquez
Trip Overview
This 127.5-mile drive from Killeen, TX to Selma, TX, will take you about 2 hours and 21 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. You'll primarily travel on the Purple Heart Trail and Interstate Highway 35, with a significant portion, 88.7 miles, on the Purple Heart Trail. The journey remains within the Great Plains region of Texas. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.7 miles from Killeen, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 88.7 mi | 1h 36m |
| South Fort Hood Street | 33.8 mi | 37m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| East Veterans Memorial Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Interstate 35 North | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Evans Road | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 88.7 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Killeen, TX and Selma, 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
Continue on North Interstate 35
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Interstate 35
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 35 South: Austin
9
Merge onto I 35
28 mi
·
30 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
11
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 174A
Toward FM 1518: Selma
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto Interstate 35 North
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate 35 North
15
Turn left onto North Evans Road
29 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Evans Road
16
Arrive at destination
North Evans Road
Trip Plan
For this 127.5-mile drive, leaving Killeen, TX, in the morning is recommended to maximize your day. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the advantage of flexibility with stops. The $19 fuel cost is quite reasonable, so plan for one fuel stop if needed, but you likely won't require many. Keep an eye out for the transition between the Purple Heart Trail and Interstate Highway 35, as this is where the driving character changes. Enjoy the straightforward journey to Selma, TX.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 63.7 miles from Killeen, TX, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.7 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.7 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Selma, 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 127.5 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Killeen, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 88.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.7 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 88.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 126.5 — 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
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
TX 195 / South Fort Hood Street
Turn left onto TX 195 / South Fort Hood Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
36 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge onto I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
63.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
7
126.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward FM 1518: Selma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 174A
Toward FM 1518: Selma
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.27 one way
$38.53 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $21.09 | $42.18 |
| premium | $4.54 | $22.76 | $45.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.15 | $56.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.39 | $6.12 |
| Efficient EV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.16 | $5.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51 | 0 | $17.85 | $8.16 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Selma, TX
Morning in Selma on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
17 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
2h 21m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for a good portion of this route. While 70% of your journey (highway_share: 3) will be on highways, the character shifts. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 88.7 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a more continuous experience before transitioning. You'll encounter a mix of faster highway travel and more involved local road segments, requiring your attention throughout the 2 hour and 21 minute duration. This dynamic driving experience means you'll need to stay engaged.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 127.5 miles you will encounter 9 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (TX 195 / South Fort Hood Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Killeen, TX
Full guide →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.
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 21m. Total distance: 127.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (TX 195 / South Fort Hood Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Selma, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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