Origin
Grand Prairie, TX
Afternoon in Grand Prairie on Monday
Local time
1:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grand Prairie, TX to Killeen, TX
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
159.3 mi
256 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Prairie, TX
Ken Jacobsen
Killeen, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Killeen, TX covers 159.3 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northeast 5th Street, East Main Street, South Belt Line Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.33 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.6 miles from Grand Prairie, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 52m drive with frequent turns across 159.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast 5th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Killeen, TX is easy. At 2h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Killeen, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Belt Line Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 20 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35E South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Northeast 5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Prairie, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on the route
220 ft
·
22 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street
190 ft
·
14 sec
·
Northeast 5th Street
3
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Turn right onto South Belt Line Road
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
South Belt Line Road
5
Take the ramp left toward I 20 East
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 20 East
6
Merge slight left onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 35E South: Waco
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 35E South: Waco
8
Merge slight left onto South R L Thornton Freeway
81 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
9
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
10
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
11
Keep slight right to continue on Central Texas Expressway
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
12
Take the exit slight right toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
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 East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
16
Turn right
82 ft
·
8 sec
17
Turn right
75 ft
·
5 sec
18
Arrive at your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.6 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.6 miles or 1h 26m 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 21m
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 Grand Prairie, 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 Grand Prairie, TX
This is one driving day of about 159.3 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Grand Prairie, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.6 mi from Grand Prairie, TX · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.6 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$24.33 one way
$48.67 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.67 | $53.33 |
| premium | $4.59 | $28.79 | $57.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.39 | $70.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.73 | $7.65 |
| Efficient EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.94 | $6.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.7 | 0 | $22.30 | $10.20 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Afternoon in Killeen on Monday
Local time
1:01 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 52m 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 Grand Prairie, TX to Killeen, TX covers 159.3 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast 5th Street, East Main Street, South Belt Line Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.6 miles from Grand Prairie, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Killeen, TX is easy. At 2h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Killeen, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Grand Prairie, TX to Killeen, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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