Trip from Anna, TX to Killeen, TX

Drive Time

3h 35m

Distance

198 mi

319 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 23m ★

6 AM

3h 36m

8 AM

4h 1m

10 AM

3h 44m

12 PM

3h 42m

3 PM

3h 46m

5 PM

3h 59m

8 PM

3h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Anna, TX

Victor Gavela

Killeen, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Anna to Killeen, you are looking at a 198-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes behind the wheel. Because this route stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily complete the drive in a single day, making an overnight stay unnecessary unless you prefer a more relaxed pace. You should budget approximately $30 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Utilizing major corridors like the South R L Thornton Freeway, the Purple Heart Trail, and the Central Expressway, this path is highly efficient for those prioritizing speed. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that connects two distinct points in North and Central Texas without unnecessary detours.

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

99 miles from Anna, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a trip dominated by high-speed interstate travel, as roughly 76% of this 198-mile route consists of highway driving. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the South R L Thornton Freeway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 89.9 miles. The road feels like a classic Texas transit route, favoring efficiency and steady cruising over winding, technical maneuvers. While the drive is largely a functional highway grind, the transition between these major arteries keeps the pace consistent. You will find that the road remains predictable, allowing you to settle into a rhythm as you traverse the plains.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

South R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 89.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 198 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: at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6.8 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 South, TX 121 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South

42.6 mi into trip | ~49m in

Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

44.5 mi into trip | ~53m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton

44.7 mi into trip | ~53m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

179.5 mi into trip | ~3h 13m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos

Towns Along This Route

Between Anna, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo and Fort Cavazos.

Downtown

42.6 mi in | ~49m

Denton

44.5 mi in | ~53m

Waco

44.7 mi in | ~53m

Dallas Zoo

45.6 mi in | ~55m | via I 35E

Fort Cavazos

179.5 mi in | ~3h 13m | via I 14; US 190

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
Central Expressway	35 mi	37m
Central Texas Expressway	13.1 mi	13m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
McKinney Street	3.3 mi	5m
West Central Texas Expressway	2.9 mi	3m
South Powell Parkway	2.4 mi	3m

Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Anna, TX and Killeen, TX.

Start on South Sherley Road

35 ft · 8 sec · South Sherley Road

Turn left onto FM 2862

0.2 mi · 23 sec · West 4th Street

Turn left onto TX 5

2.4 mi · 3 min · South Powell Parkway

Continue on TX 5

3.3 mi · 5 min · McKinney Street

Turn right onto TX 121

1.0 mi · 1 min · Sam Rayburn Highway

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 75; TX 121

35 mi · 37 min · Central Expressway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

501 ft · 12 sec

Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway Use the slight left lane.

Continue on North Central Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Central Expressway

Use the left / straight / none lanes.

Turn right onto Elm Street

304 ft · 10 sec · Elm Street

Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Pearl Expressway

Use the straight / none lanes.

Turn right onto Young Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Young Street

Turn left onto South Harwood Street

315 ft · 8 sec · South Harwood Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Canton Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Canton Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 30 West

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec

Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the left / right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo Use the none lane.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the none lane.

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 none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Exit 287 Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway

2.9 mi · 3 min · West Central Texas Expressway

Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · South W.S. Young Drive

Turn left onto US 190 Bus

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Veterans Memorial Boulevard

Turn right

83 ft · 8 sec

Turn right

74 ft · 5 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For the smoothest experience, plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 3-hour and 35-minute transit to break up the monotony of the highway stretches. Leaving Anna early in the morning can help you avoid potential congestion on the heavier traffic corridors like the Central Expressway. Since you are spending $30 on fuel, check your vehicle’s range before departing to ensure you can reach Killeen without needing to hunt for gas stations in unfamiliar areas. Given the high percentage of highway driving, keep a close watch on your speed and maintain a safe following distance during the 89.9-mile stretch on the South R L Thornton Freeway. Flexibility is your best asset here, so use your single planned stop to stretch your legs and reset before hitting the final leg of your journey.

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 99 miles from Anna, TX, or about 1h 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 99 miles or 1h 50m 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 56m

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 Anna, 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 Anna, TX

This is one driving day of about 198 miles and 3h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Anna, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 99 mi from Anna, TX · 1h 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Grand Prairie, TX

99 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

Grand Prairie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Grand Prairie, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 99 miles from Anna, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.

Arriving in Killeen, TX

The final approach into Killeen, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Killeen, TX.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.25 one way

$60.49 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$33.15	$66.29
premium	$4.59	$35.79	$71.58
diesel	$5.64	$43.99	$87.98

Estimated Tolls: $2.86

Central Expressway (35.7 mi) $2.86

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 69.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	59.4	$20.79	$9.50
Efficient EV	49.5	$17.33	$7.92
EV Truck/SUV	79.2	$27.72	$12.67

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Anna, TX

Afternoon in Anna on Sunday

Local time

2:48 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Killeen, TX

Afternoon in Killeen on Sunday

Local time

2:48 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

2 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 35m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Anna, TX to Killeen, TX covers 198 miles and takes about 3h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South R L Thornton Freeway, Purple Heart Trail, Central Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 99 miles from Anna, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Between Anna, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo and Fort Cavazos.

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Return Trip

Killeen, TX to Anna, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

196.9 mi 3h 35m

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Trip from Anna, TX to Killeen, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Killeen, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Anna, TX

Killeen, TX

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 35m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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