Origin
Killeen, TX
Afternoon in Killeen on Saturday
Local time
2:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Killeen, TX to Wichita Falls, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 36m
Distance
239.9 mi
386 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 23m
★
6 AM
4h 37m
8 AM
5h 3m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 43m
3 PM
4h 47m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Wichita Falls, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Killeen, TX to Wichita Falls, TX covers 239.9 miles and takes about 4h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Benson Street, North US Highway 281, Morgan Mill Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.3 miles on South Benson Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.25 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
120 miles from Killeen, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Benson Street | 67.3 mi | 1h 17m |
| North US Highway 281 | 51.9 mi | 57m |
| Morgan Mill Road | 39.9 mi | 44m |
| FM 116 | 22.4 mi | 28m |
| FM 1241 | 19.9 mi | 21m |
| West Main Street | 11.6 mi | 11m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Henry S Grace Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
South Benson Street
— 67.3 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Killeen, TX and Wichita Falls, TX.
1
Start on this road
74 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
83 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn right onto US 190 Bus
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto I 14; US 190
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 190 Bus
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 190 Bus
Toward US 190 Business: Copperas Cove
7
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 9
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 9
Toward TX 9: Gatesville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto FM 116
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Farm-to-Market Road 116
9
Continue on FM 116
22 mi
·
28 min
·
FM 116
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
12 mi
·
11 min
·
West Main Street
11
Turn right onto FM 932
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 932
12
Turn left onto FM 1241
20 mi
·
21 min
·
FM 1241
13
Continue on FM 932
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 932
14
Continue on FM 932
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Baker Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 281
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Rice Street
16
Continue on US 281
19 mi
·
20 min
·
North US Highway 281
17
Continue on US 281
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Walnut Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 281; TX 6
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
North 2nd Street
19
Continue on US 281; TX 6
18 mi
·
20 min
·
North US Highway 281
20
Continue on US 281
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Road
21
Continue on US 281
40 mi
·
44 min
·
Morgan Mill Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 281
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Oak Avenue
23
Continue on US 281; FM 3027
15 mi
·
17 min
·
North US Highway 281
24
Continue on US 281
67 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
South Benson Street
25
Continue on US 281
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Henry S Grace Freeway
26
Merge onto US 82; US 281; US 287
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
27
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward 6th Street, MPEC
29
Turn straight onto Spur 479
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
6th Street
30
Turn right onto US 287 Bus
98 ft
·
1 sec
·
Scott Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
US 287 Bus
Trip Plan
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 120 miles from Killeen, TX, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.3 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 53 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120 miles or 2h 18m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wichita Falls, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Killeen, 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 Killeen, TX
This is one driving day of about 239.9 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Killeen, 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 Benson Street for about 67.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
120 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 120 miles from Killeen, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Benson Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.3 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 33.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Merge onto I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
7.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 190 Bus
Keep slight right at fork onto US 190 Bus toward US 190 Business: Copperas Cove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 190 Business: Copperas Cove
7
7.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
TX 9 / Highway 9
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 9 / Highway 9 toward TX 9: Gatesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward TX 9: Gatesville
5
33.7 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
US 84 / West Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 84 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.25 one way
$72.50 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $39.68 | $79.36 |
| premium | $4.54 | $42.83 | $85.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.97 | $105.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72 | 0 | $25.19 | $11.52 |
| Efficient EV | 60 | 0 | $20.99 | $9.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96 | 1 | $33.59 | $15.35 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Wichita Falls, TX
Afternoon in Wichita Falls on Saturday
Local time
2:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
17 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
4h 36m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
239.9 mi in 4h 36m — 44% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: South Benson Street.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.3 mi on South Benson Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 239.9 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (US 190 Bus): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,212 ft
806 ft
Total Climb
801 ft
Total Descent
675 ft
Highest Point
1,212 ft
~102.8 mi in
Elevation Range
407 ft
About the Cities
Starting 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.
Arriving in Wichita Falls, TX
Full guide →Wichita Falls is a town in the North Central Plains of Texas, named for Wichita Indians who lived near waterfalls on what is now the Wichita River. In 1882, Fort Worth and Denver Railroad brought the first train to the area, establishing the town as an agricultural and trade center. The oil boom in the early 1900s made city headquarters for north Texas petroleum production, service and manufacturing. The city is the seat for Wichita County and a leading gateway to Texas on I-44. It's a major trade and industrial center with economy based on Sheppard Air Force Base, oil processing and other varied manufacturing.
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 4h 36m. Total distance: 239.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.3 miles on South Benson Street. 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 Wichita Falls, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (US 190 Bus): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Wichita Falls, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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