Killeen, TX to Greatwood, TX is 219.9 miles and takes about 3h 58m via Texas State Highway 71, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a single-day trip primarily through the Great Plains region of Texas. You'll mostly be on highways, making for a fairly straightforward drive. Given the relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a quick transition between these two Texas locations without requiring an overnight stay.
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
110 miles from Killeen, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 58m. Total distance: 219.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 125.5 miles on Texas State Highway 71, which forms the backbone of this trip. While the majority of the route is on highways, expect some transitions onto local roads like South Fort Hood Street and portions of TX 130 Toll. The overall feel is one of efficient travel across Texas terrain.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Texas State Highway 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 125.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and TX 130 Toll. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort6/10
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 219.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: Navigation decision point; at 72.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 199.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
8
72.3 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward TX 71: Austin, Houston, Barbara Jordan Terminal, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport
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 449
Toward TX 71: Austin, Houston, Barbara Jordan T...
8
199.6 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Take the exit toward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand Parkway
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.
Exit 743B
Toward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand Par...
7
200 mi into trip|~3h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward TX 99 South: Grand Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TX 99 South: Grand Parkway
6
218.5 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
Turn sharp left onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Killeen, TX and Greatwood, TX, road signs point toward Houston, Barbara Jordan Terminal and Austin–Bergstrom International Airport.
Houston
72.3 mi in|~1h 15m
Barbara Jordan Terminal
72.3 mi in|~1h 15m
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport
72.3 mi in|~1h 15m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Texas State Highway 71
125.5 mi
2h 11m
TX 130 Toll
37 mi
35m
South Fort Hood Street
33.8 mi
37m
West Grand Parkway South
17.7 mi
21m
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
0.9 mi
1m
East State Highway 71
0.8 mi
<1m
Greatwood Lake Drive
0.7 mi
2m
State Highway 130
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Texas State Highway 71
— 125.5 mi, about 2h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Killeen, TX and Greatwood, 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
0.9 mi·1 min·East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
4
Turn left onto TX 195
34 mi·37 min·South Fort Hood Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
6
Continue on North Interstate 35
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Interstate 35
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
8
Continue on TX 130 Toll
37 mi·35 min·TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 449Toward TX 71: Austin, Houston, Barbara Jordan Terminal, Austin–Bergstrom International AirportUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto State Highway 130
0.6 mi·1 min·State Highway 130
11
Turn left onto TX 71
412 ft·7 sec·East State Highway 71
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Take the ramp onto TX 71
0.7 mi·48 sec·East State Highway 71
Toward TX 71 East: Houston
13
Continue on TX 71
126 mi·2 hr 11 min·Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 743BToward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward TX 99 South: Grand ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto TX 99
18 mi·21 min·West Grand Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn sharp left onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
0.3 mi·35 sec·Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn slight right onto Greatwood Parkway
0.4 mi·57 sec·Greatwood Parkway
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto Greatwood Lake Drive
0.7 mi·2 min·Greatwood Lake Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Greatwood Lake Drive
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 4 hours, you have the flexibility to leave Killeen at your leisure. Aiming for a morning departure will give you ample daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. While this route is not excessively long, it's wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 125.5-mile stretch on Texas State Highway 71, as services can be more spread out. Plan for one brief stop to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, ensuring you arrive in Greatwood 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 miles from Killeen, TX, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.5 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 48 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110 miles or 1h 56m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greatwood, 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 219.9 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 Texas State Highway 71 for about 125.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110 mi from Killeen, TX
· 1h 56m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.23 one way
$66.45 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$36.37
$72.74
premium
$4.54
$39.26
$78.52
diesel
$5.61
$48.55
$97.10
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: 76.9 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
0
$23.09
$10.56
Efficient EV
55
0
$19.24
$8.80
EV Truck/SUV
88
1
$30.79
$14.07
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
Killeen, TX
Late night
in Killeen on Saturday
Local time
5:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Greatwood, TX
Late night
in Greatwood on Saturday
Local time
5:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°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 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 58m 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 Killeen, TX to Greatwood, TX covers 219.9 miles and takes about 3h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Texas State Highway 71, TX 130 Toll, South Fort Hood Street. 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 miles from Killeen, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.23 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 219.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 72.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 199.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Killeen, TX and Greatwood, TX, road signs point toward Houston, Barbara Jordan Terminal and Austin–Bergstrom International Airport.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
