Midland, TX to Killeen, TX is 296.2 miles and takes about 5h 35m via US 87 and US 190, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip is a straightforward drive across the heart of Texas, moving from the Great Plains region into a similar landscape. Expect a highway-focused journey with minimal deviations, making it a practical choice for reaching your destination efficiently. Given the relatively short duration, it's easily achievable as a single-day trip, allowing for maximum flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
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
148.1 miles from Midland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
104.4 mi
1h 55m
East State Highway 158
61.4 mi
1h 9m
United States Highway 190
61 mi
1h 9m
Central Texas Expressway
16.9 mi
18m
US 183
15.2 mi
15m
US Highway 87 South
14.6 mi
14m
FM 1715
6.4 mi
8m
West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 104.4 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Midland, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on Loop 269
44 ft·6 sec·West Wall Street
2
Turn left onto TX 349 Bus
0.6 mi·48 sec·South Big Spring Street
3
Turn left onto TX 140
1.0 mi·1 min·West Florida Avenue
4
Continue on TX 140
2.7 mi·4 min·Garden City Highway
5
Continue on TX 158
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·East State Highway 158
6
Merge onto US 87; TX 158; TX 163
2.6 mi·2 min·US Highway 87 North
7
Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163
1.2 mi·2 min·4th Street
8
Continue on US 87
15 mi·14 min·US Highway 87 South
9
Continue on US 87
104 mi·1 hr 55 min·US 87
10
Turn left onto US 190; US 377
154 ft·2 sec·Church Street
11
Turn right onto US 190; US 377
327 ft·14 sec·Main Street
12
Turn left onto US 190; US 377
0.7 mi·52 sec·Bridge Street
13
Turn right onto US 190
0.1 mi·8 sec·Boy Street
14
Continue on US 190
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·United States Highway 190
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 183; US 190
15 mi·15 min·US 183; US 190
16
Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281
260 ft·4 sec·North US Highway 281
17
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
0.4 mi·38 sec·North Key Avenue
18
Turn left onto FM 580
1.1 mi·1 min·East Avenue J
19
Continue on FM 580
2.6 mi·2 min·East FM 580
20
Turn right onto FM 1715
6.4 mi·8 min·FM 1715
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 190
17 mi·18 min·Central Texas Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward T.J. Mills BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
23
Continue on US 190 Bus
3.0 mi·5 min·West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
24
Turn left
83 ft·8 sec
25
Turn right
74 ft·5 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 35-minute drive, starting early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. While the drive is manageable in one day, consider breaking it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Keep an eye on fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major town could be over 100 miles. A good time to refuel would be before leaving Midland or upon reaching San Angelo, which is roughly a third of the way to Killeen and offers ample services.
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 148.1 miles from Midland, TX, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.4 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 65 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.1 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 33m
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 Midland, 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 Midland, TX
This is one driving day of about 296.2 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Midland, 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 US 87 for about 104.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 296.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 349 Bus / South Big Spring Street
Turn left onto TX 349 Bus / South Big Spring Street
Navigation decision point
5
250.4 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|US 183; US 190
At end of road, turn right onto US 183; US 190
Navigation decision point
6
276.1 mi into trip|~5h 10m in|US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
At end of road, turn left onto US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
293 mi into trip|~5h 29m in
Take the exit toward T.J. Mills Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward T.J. Mills Boulevard
5
296.2 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.76 one way
$89.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$48.99
$97.98
premium
$4.54
$52.88
$105.77
diesel
$5.61
$65.40
$130.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.9
1
$31.10
$14.22
Efficient EV
74.1
0
$25.92
$11.85
EV Truck/SUV
118.5
1
$41.47
$18.96
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 20, 2026
Origin
Midland, TX
Late night
in Midland on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 15 mph41% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 19 at 7:18PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Destination
Killeen, TX
Late night
in Killeen on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Brady, TX
148 mi in
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
33 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
5h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey utilizing major roads like US 87 and US 190. You'll encounter long stretches of open road, including one segment of 104.4 miles on US 87. The character of the drive is consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over winding scenic byways. Expect a smooth and predictable driving experience as you navigate primarily through the Great Plains region of Texas.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.4 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and East State Highway 158. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 349 Bus / South Big Spring Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 349 Bus / South Big Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 250.4 miles (US 183; US 190): Navigation decision point; at 276.1 miles (US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.
Midland is a city in the Permian Basin region of Texas. Its warm climate, friendly people, and central location are the primary reasons for the city's popularity. It is home to about 133,000 people (census, 1 April 2020) Twenty minutes to the west is Odessa, with a population of about 100,000. Nearly a quarter of a million people reside in the Midland/Odessa metropolitan area.
Top landmarks
•George W. Bush Childhood Home — historic place in Midland, Midland County, Texas
•Tower Petroleum Building — historic place in Midland, Midland County, Texas
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
The longest stretch is about 104.4 miles on US 87. 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.
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 (TX 349 Bus / South Big Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 250.4 miles (US 183; US 190): Navigation decision point; at 276.1 miles (US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Killeen, TX before the return drive.
