This 406.8-mile drive from Roma, TX to Killeen, TX is designed for a single day, with an estimated travel time of 7 hours and 10 minutes. You'll be navigating primarily on local roads, indicated by the 0% highway share, suggesting a more turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $62, and with two planned stops, it's a manageable day trip. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent feel throughout your travel. Consider this a practical, no-frills journey that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203.4 miles from Roma, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 42m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Roma, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on US 83
258 ft·8 sec·North Grant Street
2
Turn left onto East Franklin Avenue
294 ft·18 sec·East Franklin Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 83
12 mi·14 min·North Garcia Street
4
Continue on US 83
54 mi·1 hr 1 min·United States Highway 83
5
Continue on US 83
14 mi·15 min·North US Highway 83
6
Continue on US 83
5.4 mi·8 min·South Zapata Highway
7
Turn left onto South Meadow Avenue
2.1 mi·4 min·South Meadow Avenue
8
Turn left onto US 83
1.0 mi·2 min·Guadalupe Street
9
Continue on US 83
0.4 mi·48 sec·Houston Street
10
Turn right onto US 83
278 ft·5 sec·San Dario Avenue
11
Continue on I 35; I 27; US 83
144 mi·2 hr 27 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
8.4 mi·9 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 153Toward I 10 East, US 90 West, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston, Del RioUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: HoustonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 10; US 87; US 90
8.0 mi·9 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 10; US 90
22 mi·23 min·90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on I 10; TX 130
11 mi·10 min·I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 614Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi·1 hr 19 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward TX 195 North: Florence, KilleenUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on North Interstate 35
0.3 mi·25 sec·North Interstate 35
22
Turn left onto TX 195
34 mi·38 min·State Highway 195
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn slight right
263 ft·9 sec
Use the right lane.
24
Turn slight right onto US 190 Bus
0.9 mi·1 min·West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left
83 ft·8 sec
26
Turn right
74 ft·5 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 10-minute drive, starting early is your best bet to avoid potential traffic delays, especially as you get closer to Killeen. With 406.8 miles to cover and two stops factored in, aim to take your breaks strategically to stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes have fewer service stations than major highways; the estimated $62 fuel cost is a good baseline. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the main roads mentioned – East Franklin Avenue, North Garcia Street, and Highway 83 – as they will be your primary guides through the local network.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 203.4 miles from Roma, TX, or about 3h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.4 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 89 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.4 miles or 3h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 7m
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 Roma, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Roma, TX
This is one driving day of about 406.8 miles and 7h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Roma, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 144.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 242.8 and 371.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
242.8 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, US 90 West, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston, Del Rio
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 153
Toward I 10 East, US 90 West, US 90 East, US 87...
8
242.9 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Hous...
5
243.3 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
284.4 mi into trip|~5h 8m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
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 614
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
8
371.4 mi into trip|~6h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward TX 195 North: Florence, Killeen
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward TX 195 North: Florence, Killeen
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.47 one way
$122.94 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg142 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$67.28
$134.56
premium
$4.54
$72.63
$145.26
diesel
$5.61
$89.82
$179.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
122
1
$42.71
$19.53
Efficient EV
101.7
1
$35.60
$16.27
EV Truck/SUV
162.7
2
$56.95
$26.04
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
48 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 18, 2026
Origin
Roma, TX
Night
in Roma on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Killeen, TX
Night
in Killeen on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
34 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
7h 10m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 238.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" on this route, meaning you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through local thoroughfares rather than high-speed highways. With a 0% highway share, this journey is all about local roads, so plan for a slower pace and more engagement with your surroundings. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the nature of local driving suggests you'll be encountering varied road conditions and traffic patterns. This isn't a route for cruising at triple digits; it's more about navigating community streets and connecting roads.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.4 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 242.8 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 406.8 miles you will encounter 16 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 242.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 243.3 miles (I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Roma, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Del Rio, Austin and Waco.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 10m. Total distance: 406.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 144.4 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 242.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 243.3 miles (I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.4 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.
