Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Nacogdoches, TX to Killeen, 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
4h 37m
Distance
231.2 mi
372 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
18 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 24m
★
6 AM
4h 37m
8 AM
5h 4m
10 AM
4h 47m
12 PM
4h 44m
3 PM
4h 48m
5 PM
5h 3m
8 PM
4h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nacogdoches, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 231.2-mile journey from Nacogdoches, TX, to Killeen, TX, is a straightforward drive that can comfortably be completed in about 4 hours and 37 minutes. Primarily following TX 21, West State Highway 7, and Farm-to-Market Road 485, this route is designed for a single day trip, making it a convenient option for many travelers. You can expect to spend around $35 on fuel for this drive, and with only one recommended stop, the travel time is quite efficient. The drive begins in the Great Plains region of Texas and concludes in the same region, offering a consistent feel throughout its span. It's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
115.6 miles from Nacogdoches, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 21 | 71.4 mi | 1h 20m |
| West State Highway 7 | 51.7 mi | 1h 4m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 485 | 20.4 mi | 25m |
| North State Highway 6 | 19.9 mi | 21m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 979 | 15.3 mi | 19m |
| TX 53 | 13.1 mi | 16m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 13.1 mi | 13m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 7.1 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
TX 21
— 71.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nacogdoches, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on TX 7 Bus; TX 21 Bus
218 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 59 Bus; TX 7 Bus
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Street
3
Turn right onto TX 7 Bus
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Fredonia Street
4
Continue on TX 7
52 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
West State Highway 7
5
Turn right onto US 287; TX 7
129 ft
·
2 sec
·
5th Street
6
Turn left onto US 287; TX 7; TX 19; TX 21
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Houston Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 287; TX 7; TX 19; TX 21
289 ft
·
8 sec
·
South 4th Street
8
Turn right onto TX 7; TX 21
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Goliad Avenue
9
Turn left onto TX 21
71 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
TX 21
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto US 190
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Earl Rudder Freeway Frontage Road
11
Take the ramp onto US 190
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 190
12
Merge onto US 190; TX 6
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
North Earl Rudder Freeway
13
Continue on US 190; TX 6
14 mi
·
14 min
·
North State Highway 6
14
Continue on US 190; TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Market Street
15
Continue on US 79; TX 6
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
North State Highway 6
16
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North State Highway 6
17
Continue on TX 6
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
18
Turn left onto FM 979
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Browning Street
19
Continue on FM 979
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 979
20
At end of road, turn right onto FM 485
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 485
21
At end of road, turn left onto TX 53
13 mi
·
16 min
·
TX 53
22
Turn left onto North General Bruce Drive
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North General Bruce Drive
23
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35 South
24
Merge onto I 35
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 14; US 190
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 287
Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
Use the slight right lane.
27
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Central Texas Expressway
28
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South W.S. Young Drive
29
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
30
Turn right
83 ft
·
8 sec
31
Turn right
74 ft
·
5 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given its 4-hour and 37-minute duration, this drive is best tackled as a single-day trip, allowing for maximum flexibility. Aim to depart Nacogdoches in the morning to take advantage of daylight and arrive in Killeen with ample time. With only one suggested stop, plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically; the longest stretch on TX 21 is a good place to consider a brief pause if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer, less populated segments of the route. A practical tip for this drive is to check local traffic conditions around the larger towns you'll pass through on TX 21 before you leave, as unexpected delays can impact your estimated arrival time.
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 115.6 miles from Nacogdoches, TX, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.4 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 51 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.6 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 46m
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 Nacogdoches, 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 Nacogdoches, TX
This is one driving day of about 231.2 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Nacogdoches, 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 21 for about 71.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 115.6 miles from Nacogdoches, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 21 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.4 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
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Durst Taylor Museum
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.2 mi from route
Nacogdoches, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+19365604443
Visit websitePecan Acres Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Nacogdoches, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+19365592960
Visit websiteGreat Escape of Central Texas
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Killeen, Texas
Hours: 3:30–9:30 pm
+12546802686
Visit websiteLions Club Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Killeen, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+12545016390
Visit websiteAggieland Safari
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Halfway reset
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
Bryan, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+19795995440
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 56 and 231.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
56 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
TX 21
Turn left onto TX 21
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
205.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 7m 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
212.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m in
|
I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos
8
225.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 28m in
Take the exit toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 287
Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter...
5
231.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.93 one way
$69.87 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $38.24 | $76.48 |
| premium | $4.54 | $41.28 | $82.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.05 | $102.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
18 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger
Temple, TX
Tesla
48 DCFC
Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger
Madisonville, TX
Tesla
24 DCFC
H-E-B - Tesla Supercharger
Bryan, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Hearne TX
Hearne, TX
SHELL_RECHARGE
12 DCFC
Market Heights - Tesla Supercharger
Harker Heights, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Gateway Travel Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Nacogdoches, TX
Tesla
8 DCFC
Madisonville
Madisonville, TX
SHELL_RECHARGE
7 DCFC
Walmart 446 (Madisonville, TX)
Madisonville, TX
Electrify America
4 DCFC
Tesla: 5
ChargePoint Network: 5
MERCEDES_BENZ: 5
SHELL_RECHARGE: 2
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.28 | $11.10 |
| Efficient EV | 57.8 | 0 | $20.23 | $9.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.5 | 1 | $32.37 | $14.80 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Nacogdoches, TX
Late night in Nacogdoches on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Killeen, TX
Late night in Killeen on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph
85% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 20 at 10:56PM CDT until April 22 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 20 at 8:24PM CDT until April 22 at 10:26AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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
24 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
4h 37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 77% of the route utilizing faster roadways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 71.4 miles on TX 21, which means you can settle in for some solid driving time. While the profile suggests a predominantly highway experience, the inclusion of Farm-to-Market roads indicates that some segments might involve more local road driving. Overall, expect a driving rhythm that balances efficient highway travel with potentially slower, more rural sections as you progress toward Killeen.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.4 mi on TX 21.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 21 and West State Highway 7. You will hit about 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 56 miles in near TX 21.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 231.2 miles you will encounter 22 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: at 56 miles (TX 21): Lane positioning matters here; at 205.6 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 212.6 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
823 ft
258 ft
Total Climb
647 ft
Total Descent
126 ft
Highest Point
823 ft
~231.2 mi in
Elevation Range
565 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Nacogdoches, TX to Killeen, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Cavazos along the way.
Fort Cavazos
212.6 mi in
|
~4h 15m
|
via I 14; US 190
About the Cities
Starting in Nacogdoches, TX
Full guide →Nacogdoches is a city in the Piney Woods of Texas. It is the oldest city in the state.
Top landmarks
- • Sterne-Hoya House Museum and Library — historic place in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas
- • Woodmen of the World Building — building in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas, United States
Arriving 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
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 4h 37m. Total distance: 231.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.4 miles on TX 21. 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 Killeen, 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 56 miles (TX 21): Lane positioning matters here; at 205.6 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 212.6 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Killeen, 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, 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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