Origin
Killeen, TX
Evening in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Killeen, TX to Weatherford, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 3m
Distance
159 mi
256 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 52m
★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Weatherford, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Killeen, TX to Weatherford, TX covers 159 miles and takes about 3h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North US Highway 281, Morgan Mill Road, FM 116 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.9 miles on North US Highway 281. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
79.5 miles from Killeen, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North US Highway 281 | 36.9 mi | 40m |
| Morgan Mill Road | 27.3 mi | 30m |
| FM 116 | 22.4 mi | 28m |
| FM 1241 | 19.9 mi | 21m |
| I 20 | 19 mi | 20m |
| West Main Street | 11.6 mi | 11m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Highway 9 | 3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
North US Highway 281
— 36.9 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Killeen, TX and Weatherford, 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
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto I 14; US 190
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 190 Bus
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 190 Bus
Toward US 190 Business: Copperas Cove
7
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 9
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 9
Toward TX 9: Gatesville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto FM 116
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Farm-to-Market Road 116
9
Continue on FM 116
22 mi
·
28 min
·
FM 116
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
12 mi
·
11 min
·
West Main Street
11
Turn right onto FM 932
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 932
12
Turn left onto FM 1241
20 mi
·
21 min
·
FM 1241
13
Continue on FM 932
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 932
14
Continue on FM 932
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Baker Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 281
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Rice Street
16
Continue on US 281
19 mi
·
20 min
·
North US Highway 281
17
Continue on US 281
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Walnut Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 281; TX 6
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
North 2nd Street
19
Continue on US 281; TX 6
18 mi
·
20 min
·
North US Highway 281
20
Continue on US 281
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Road
21
Continue on US 281
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Morgan Mill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Take the exit
313 ft
·
9 sec
23
Turn straight onto I-20 Service Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I-20 Service Road
24
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 20 East: Fort Worth
25
Merge onto I 20
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 407
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn straight onto West Interstate 20
274 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Interstate 20
28
Keep slight left at fork onto West Interstate 20
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
West Interstate 20
29
Turn left onto FM 1884
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Bethel Road
30
Turn left onto TX 171; FM 51
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
31
Enter roundabout onto FM 51
285 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Main Street
32
Continue on FM 51
48 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Main Street
33
Arrive at destination
FM 51
Trip Plan
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 79.5 miles from Killeen, TX, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.9 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.5 miles or 1h 32m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Weatherford, 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 miles and 3h 3m.
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 North US Highway 281 for about 36.9 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 79.5 miles from Killeen, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 195 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 155.7 — 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
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Merge onto I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
7.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 190 Bus
Keep slight right at fork onto US 190 Bus toward US 190 Business: Copperas Cove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 190 Business: Copperas Cove
7
7.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
TX 9 / Highway 9
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 9 / Highway 9 toward TX 9: Gatesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward TX 9: Gatesville
6
155.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 407
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.03 one way
$48.05 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $26.30 | $52.60 |
| premium | $4.54 | $28.39 | $56.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.11 | $70.21 |
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: 55.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.7 | 0 | $16.69 | $7.63 |
| Efficient EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.91 | $6.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.6 | 0 | $22.26 | $10.18 |
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.
Destination
Weatherford, TX
Evening in Weatherford on Sunday
Local time
5:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
11 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
3h 3m 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?
159 mi in 3h 3m, mostly highway — 36.9 mi of that is on North US Highway 281.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.9 mi on North US Highway 281.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North US Highway 281 and Morgan Mill Road. 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 159 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 3.1 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (US 190 Bus): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Arriving in Weatherford, TX
Full guide →Weatherford is a city in the Cross Timbers region of Texas. It is the county seat of Parker County.
Top landmarks
- • Chandor Gardens — historic place in Weatherford, Parker County, Texas
- • Parker County Courthouse — historic place in Weatherford, Parker County, Texas
- • Weatherford Downtown Historic District — historic district in Weatherford, Parker County, Texas
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 3h 3m. Total distance: 159 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.9 miles on North US Highway 281. 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 Weatherford, 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 3.1 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (US 190 Bus): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Weatherford, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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