Origin
Waxahachie, TX
Evening in Waxahachie on Sunday
Local time
5:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waxahachie, TX to Killeen, 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 13m
Distance
125.6 mi
202 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 4m
★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 21m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waxahachie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waxahachie, TX to Killeen, TX covers 125.6 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35E, Purple Heart Trail, Central Texas Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.5 miles on I 35E. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.98 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.
Midpoint
62.8 miles from Waxahachie, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 60.5 mi | 1h |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 13.1 mi | 13m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| West Central Texas Expressway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| South W.S. Young Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Highway 77 | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Veterans Memorial Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 60.5 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waxahachie, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on this road
97 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 77
139 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Elm Street
3
Turn left onto Water Street
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
Water Street
4
Turn left onto US 77
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Monroe Street
5
Turn slight right onto US 77
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Highway 77
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco
8
Merge onto I 35E
60 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 287
Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Central Texas Expressway
14
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South W.S. Young Drive
15
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
16
Turn right
83 ft
·
8 sec
17
Turn right
74 ft
·
5 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 62.8 miles from Waxahachie, TX, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.5 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.8 miles or 1h 5m 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 47m
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 Waxahachie, 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 Waxahachie, TX
This is one driving day of about 125.6 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Waxahachie, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35E for about 60.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 62.8 miles from Waxahachie, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35E if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.5 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 125.6 — 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
|
US 77 / North Elm Street
Turn right onto US 77 / North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 35E
Merge onto I 35E
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
107 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m 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
120 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m 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
125.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.98 one way
$37.96 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $20.77 | $41.55 |
| premium | $4.54 | $22.43 | $44.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.73 | $55.46 |
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: 43.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.19 | $6.03 |
| Efficient EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.99 | $5.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.2 | 0 | $17.58 | $8.04 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Killeen, TX
Evening in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
5:07 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
14 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
2h 13m 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?
125.6 mi in 2h 13m, mostly highway — 60.5 mi of that is on I 35E.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.5 mi on I 35E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and Purple Heart Trail. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 77 / North Elm Street.
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 125.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 (US 77 / North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 107 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Waxahachie, TX to Killeen, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Cavazos along the way.
Fort Cavazos
107 mi in
|
~1h 51m
|
via I 14; US 190
About the Cities
Starting in Waxahachie, TX
Full guide →Founded 1850
Waxahachie is a city in Blackland Prairie region of Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Joshua Chapel A.M.E. Church — historic place in Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas
- • Saint Paul's Episcopal Church — building in Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas
- • Chautauqua Auditorium — historic place in Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas
Arriving 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 13m. Total distance: 125.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.5 miles on I 35E. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 77 / North Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 35E): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 107 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Killeen, 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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