Greatwood, TX to Killeen, TX is 220.9 miles and takes about 4 hours via TX 71 and Katy Freeway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward highway-focused journey. You'll primarily be on well-maintained roads designed for efficient travel, making it a practical option for a quick trip or a leg of a larger adventure. Given its manageable length and primarily highway profile, this route is well-suited for a single-day drive.
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
110.4 miles from Greatwood, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 220.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 220.9-mile trip, with 98% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time on TX 71, including a notable stretch of 77.7 miles without needing to make a turn. The Katy Freeway and Pickle Parkway also contribute to the predominantly highway experience. This profile means you'll generally be moving at a consistent pace, with minimal slowdowns, allowing for an efficient transit between Greatwood and Killeen.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
TX 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 77.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 71 and Katy Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near TX 99 Toll / West Grand Parkway South.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 220.9 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 3 miles (TX 99 Toll / West Grand Parkway South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3 mi into trip|~7m in|TX 99 Toll / West Grand Parkway South
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 99 Toll / West Grand Parkway South toward Grand Parkway Toll Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward Grand Parkway Toll Road
7
20.1 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West, I 10 East: San Antonio, Houston
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.
Toward I 10 West, I 10 East: San Antonio, Houst...
7
20.5 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
7
147.3 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|TX 71 / East State Highway 71
Take the exit onto TX 71 / East State Highway 71 toward TX 71 West, TX 45 Toll, TX 130 Toll: Austin, Waco, San Antonio
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.
Toward TX 71 West, TX 45 Toll, TX 130 Toll: Aus...
8
185.5 mi into trip|~3h 19m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Greatwood, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Houston, Austin, Waco and San Antonio.
Houston
20.1 mi in|~27m
Austin
69.6 mi in|~1h 19m|via TX 71
Waco
147.3 mi in|~2h 41m|via TX 71
San Antonio
147.3 mi in|~2h 41m|via TX 71
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
TX 71
77.7 mi
1h 22m
Katy Freeway
48.2 mi
49m
Pickle Parkway
36.9 mi
35m
State Highway 195
34 mi
38m
West Grand Parkway South
17.8 mi
20m
West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
0.9 mi
1m
Greatwood Lake Drive
0.7 mi
2m
Crabb River Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
TX 71
— 77.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greatwood, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on Greatwood Lake Drive
0.7 mi·2 min·Greatwood Lake Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Greatwood Parkway
0.4 mi·1 min·Greatwood Parkway
3
Turn right onto Sansbury Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Sansbury Boulevard
4
Turn right onto FM 2759
0.7 mi·1 min·Crabb River Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on TX 99
0.6 mi·1 min·West Grand Parkway South
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 99 Toll
17 mi·19 min·West Grand Parkway South
Toward Grand Parkway Toll RoadUse the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 10 West, I 10 East: San Antonio, HoustonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 10; US 90
48 mi·49 min·Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.5 mi·33 sec·TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
11
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.3 mi·22 sec·East State Highway 71
Toward TX 71 West, TX 45 Toll, TX 130 Toll: Austin, Waco, San AntonioUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto State Highway 130
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 130
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
15
Merge onto TX 45 Toll; TX 130 Toll
37 mi·35 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward TX 195 North: Florence, KilleenUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on North Interstate 35
0.3 mi·25 sec·North Interstate 35
18
Turn left onto TX 195
34 mi·38 min·State Highway 195
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn slight right
263 ft·9 sec
Use the right lane.
20
Turn slight right onto US 190 Bus
0.9 mi·1 min·West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left
83 ft·8 sec
22
Turn right
74 ft·5 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time of around 4 hours, this route is easily achievable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. You'll encounter one major road, TX 71, for a significant portion, so keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 77.7-mile stretch. While the fuel cost is estimated at $33, it’s always wise to have a bit extra. Given the efficiency of this highway-focused drive, you likely won't need extensive stops, but planning one brief break around the halfway point can help you stay refreshed.
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 110.4 miles from Greatwood, TX, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.7 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 49 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.4 miles or 2h 2m 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 15m
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 Greatwood, 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 Greatwood, TX
This is one driving day of about 220.9 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Greatwood, 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 71 for about 77.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110.4 mi from Greatwood, TX
· 2h 2m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.38 one way
$66.76 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$36.54
$73.07
premium
$4.54
$39.44
$78.88
diesel
$5.61
$48.77
$97.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.3
0
$23.19
$10.60
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.33
$8.84
EV Truck/SUV
88.4
1
$30.93
$14.14
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Greatwood, TX
Late night
in Greatwood on Saturday
Local time
1:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Killeen, TX
Late night
in Killeen on Saturday
Local time
1:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Smithville, TX
110 mi in
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
5 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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Greatwood, TX to Killeen, TX covers 220.9 miles and takes about 4h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TX 71, Katy Freeway, Pickle Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.4 miles from Greatwood, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.38 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 220.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (TX 99 Toll / West Grand Parkway South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Greatwood, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Houston, Austin, Waco and San Antonio.
