Trip from Killeen, TX to Vernon, TX

Drive Time

5h 30m

Distance

288.7 mi

465 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Killeen, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Vernon, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

Spanning 288.7 miles across the Texas Great Plains, this drive from Killeen to Vernon takes approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes to complete. You will primarily utilize East Veterans Memorial Boulevard, the Central Texas Expressway, and US 190 to navigate between these two points. Given the duration, this route is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $43 for fuel, making this a relatively affordable excursion. Because both locations sit firmly within the Great Plains region, you can anticipate consistent terrain throughout your journey.

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

144.4 miles from Killeen, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route keeps you engaged with its winding nature and lack of long, uninterrupted highway stretches. In fact, there are 0 miles of straight-line cruising on East Veterans Memorial Boulevard, emphasizing the technical, local feel of the transit. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating surface roads for the entirety of the 288.7-mile trip. Expect the pace to feel steady and deliberate rather than fast-moving.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

South Benson Street is the longest continuous segment at about 67.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 288.7 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 7.9 miles (TX 9 / Highway 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

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.

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

241.8 mi into trip | ~4h 38m in | US 287 / Northwest Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 3A Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo

286.7 mi into trip | ~5h 25m in | US 287 Business

Take the exit onto US 287 Business toward US 287 Business: Vernon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward US 287 Business: Vernon

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Killeen, TX to Vernon, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Amarillo along the way.

Amarillo

241.8 mi in | ~4h 38m | via US 287

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
US Highway 287 East	39.6 mi	41m
FM 116	22.4 mi	28m
FM 1241	19.9 mi	21m
West Main Street	11.6 mi	11m
Northwest Freeway	5.3 mi	5m

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 Vernon, TX.

Start on this road

74 ft · 10 sec · this road

Turn left

83 ft · 8 sec

Turn right onto US 190 Bus

2.6 mi · 4 min · East Veterans Memorial Boulevard

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 14; US 190

4.3 mi · 4 min · Central Texas Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 190 Bus

0.5 mi · 35 sec · US 190 Bus

Toward US 190 Business: Copperas Cove

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.

Turn right onto FM 116

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Farm-to-Market Road 116

Continue on FM 116

22 mi · 28 min · FM 116

At end of road, turn left onto US 84

12 mi · 11 min · West Main Street

Turn right onto FM 932

1.7 mi · 1 min · Farm-to-Market Road 932

Turn left onto FM 1241

20 mi · 21 min · FM 1241

Continue on FM 932

0.6 mi · 1 min · Farm-to-Market Road 932

Continue on FM 932

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Baker Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 281

1.8 mi · 2 min · South Rice Street

Continue on US 281

19 mi · 20 min · North US Highway 281

Continue on US 281

0.6 mi · 42 sec · South Walnut Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 281; TX 6

0.4 mi · 26 sec · North 2nd Street

Continue on US 281; TX 6

18 mi · 20 min · North US Highway 281

Continue on US 281

1.1 mi · 1 min · East Road

Continue on US 281

40 mi · 44 min · Morgan Mill Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 281

2.9 mi · 3 min · South Oak Avenue

Continue on US 281; FM 3027

15 mi · 17 min · North US Highway 281

Continue on US 281

67 mi · 1 hr 17 min · South Benson Street

Continue on US 281

3.6 mi · 4 min · Henry S Grace Freeway

Merge onto US 82; US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway

Continue on US 281; US 287

0.8 mi · 58 sec · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287

2.4 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 287

5.3 mi · 5 min · Northwest Freeway

Exit 3A Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Continue on US 287

40 mi · 41 min · US Highway 287 East

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 287 Business

1.7 mi · 3 min · US 287 Business

Toward US 287 Business: Vernon Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Commerce Street

0.2 mi · 46 sec · Commerce Street

Turn left

0.1 mi · 55 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since you have a 5-hour and 30-minute drive ahead, try to depart early in the morning to beat local traffic patterns. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the turn-heavy nature of the roads can be more taxing than standard highway driving. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, keeping that $43 estimate in mind as you plan your refueling strategy along the way. Because this is a shorter trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace to suit your comfort level. A key tip for this specific route is to stay vigilant on navigation, as the reliance on local roads rather than major interstates means you will encounter more turns and intersections than a typical cross-country haul.

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 144.4 miles from Killeen, TX, or about 2h 45m 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 144.4 miles or 2h 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vernon, 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 288.7 miles and 5h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 144.4 mi from Killeen, TX · 2h 45m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Worth, TX

144 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

Fort Worth, TX

Fuel and coffee

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

Fort Worth, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 144.4 miles from Killeen, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before South Benson Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.3 miles.

Arriving in Vernon, TX

The final approach into Vernon, 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 Vernon, 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

$44.10 one way

$88.20 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$48.33	$96.66
premium	$4.59	$52.18	$104.36
diesel	$5.64	$64.14	$128.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 101 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	86.6	1	$30.31	$13.86
Efficient EV	72.2	0	$25.26	$11.55
EV Truck/SUV	115.5	1	$40.42	$18.48

Gas CO2

101 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 2 days ago

Origin

Killeen, TX

Afternoon in Killeen on Sunday

Local time

2:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Vernon, TX

Afternoon in Vernon on Sunday

Local time

2:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°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

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

5h 30m 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 Killeen, TX to Vernon, TX covers 288.7 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South Benson Street, North US Highway 281, Morgan Mill Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 144.4 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 $44.10 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.