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Trip from Killeen, TX to Wells Branch, TX

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

54.2 mi

87 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
0h 58m ★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Bell County, Texas, United States

Killeen, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Wells Branch, TX, TX

Wells Branch, TX

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

This 54.2-mile drive from Killeen, TX to Wells Branch, TX is a straightforward, one-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 3 minutes to complete. You'll primarily travel on South Fort Hood Street, Purple Heart Trail, and North Interstate 35. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, this route is an economical option for a short excursion. The drive predominantly stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a familiar landscape. Given its short duration and lack of designated stops, it's best suited for a direct journey without an overnight stay.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this 54.2-mile journey. While 33.8 miles of your route will be on South Fort Hood Street, the overall profile suggests frequent changes in direction and road type. The highway share is about 3, indicating a moderate amount of time spent on faster roads, but the "turn-heavy" description points to a significant portion of the drive involving local streets and intersections. This isn't a monotonous highway cruise; be prepared for a more engaged driving experience with multiple transitions.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Fort Hood Street is the longest continuous segment at about 33.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 3m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 190 Bus / East Veterans Memorial Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (TX 195 / South Fort Hood Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 190 Bus / East Veterans Memorial Boulevard

Turn right onto US 190 Bus / East Veterans Memorial Boulevard

Navigation decision point

5
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | TX 195 / South Fort Hood Street

Turn left onto TX 195 / South Fort Hood Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
36 mi into trip | ~41m in | I 35 / Purple Heart Trail

Merge onto I 35 / Purple Heart Trail

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
52.1 mi into trip | ~58m in

Take the exit toward Grand Avenue Parkway

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

Use the right lane. Exit 248 Toward Grand Avenue Parkway

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Fort Hood Street 33.8 mi 37m
Purple Heart Trail 16.1 mi 17m
North Interstate 35 1 mi 1m
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard 0.9 mi 1m
Wells Port Drive 0.9 mi 2m
Grand Avenue Parkway 0.5 mi <1m
Interstate Highway 35 Service Road North 0.2 mi <1m
Alpha Collier Drive 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: South Fort Hood Street — 33.8 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Killeen, TX and Wells Branch, 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

Continue on North Interstate 35

0.6 mi · 46 sec · North Interstate 35
8

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 35 South: Austin
9

Merge onto I 35

16 mi · 17 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Exit 248 Toward Grand Avenue Parkway Use the right lane.
11

Continue on Interstate Highway 35 Service Road North

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Interstate Highway 35 Service Road North
12

Continue on North Interstate 35

0.2 mi · 24 sec · North Interstate 35
13

Turn right onto Grand Avenue Parkway

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Grand Avenue Parkway
14

Turn left onto Wells Port Drive

0.9 mi · 2 min · Wells Port Drive
15

Turn right onto Alpha Collier Drive

0.1 mi · 35 sec · Alpha Collier Drive
16

Turn right onto Quiet Wood Drive

310 ft · 13 sec · Quiet Wood Drive
17

Arrive at destination

Quiet Wood Drive

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27.1 mi from Killeen, TX · 31m into the drive

city in Williamson County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Florence, TX

27 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

Lone Star, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Florence, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Killeen, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Wells Branch, TX

The final approach into Wells Branch, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.19 one way

$16.38 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $8.96 $17.93
premium $4.54 $9.68 $19.35
diesel $5.61 $11.97 $23.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.3 0 $5.69 $2.60
Efficient EV 13.6 0 $4.74 $2.17
EV Truck/SUV 21.7 0 $7.59 $3.47

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Killeen, TX

Evening in Killeen on Thursday

Local time

5:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wells Branch, TX

Evening in Wells Branch on Thursday

Local time

5:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

60°F

Florence, TX

27 mi in

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

7 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

1h 3m 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 Wells Branch, TX covers 54.2 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Fort Hood Street, Purple Heart Trail, North Interstate 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.1 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 $8.19 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 3m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 190 Bus / East Veterans Memorial Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (TX 195 / South Fort Hood Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Killeen, TX to Wells Branch, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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