Origin
Lake Jackson, TX
Evening in Lake Jackson on Wednesday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake Jackson, TX to Killeen, TX
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 59m
Distance
255.2 mi
411 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 46m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 6m
3 PM
5h 10m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Jackson, TX
Thilina Alagiyawanna
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake Jackson, TX to Killeen, TX covers 255.2 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Center Way, South Yaupon Street, Highway 332 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.56 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
127.6 miles from Lake Jackson, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 59m drive with frequent turns across 255.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Center Way is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake Jackson, TX to Killeen, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Center Way | — | — |
| South Yaupon Street | — | — |
| Highway 332 East | — | — |
| Highway 228 | — | — |
| Nolan Ryan Expressway | — | — |
| South Freeway | — | — |
| Brazoria County Expressway | — | — |
| SHT West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Center Way
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Jackson, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on Magnolia Street
52 ft
·
6 sec
·
Magnolia Street
2
Turn left onto Center Way
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Way
3
Turn left onto South Yaupon Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Yaupon Street
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 332 East
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
State Highway 332 East
5
Continue on State Highway 228
489 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 228
6
Take the ramp slight left
495 ft
·
12 sec
7
Merge slight left onto Nolan Ryan Expressway
34 mi
·
40 min
·
Nolan Ryan Expressway
8
Continue on South Freeway
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
South Freeway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Brazoria County Expressway
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Brazoria County Expressway
10
Take the exit slight right toward SHT West, SHT East: Sam Houston Tollway
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
SHT West, SHT East: Sam Houston Tollway
11
Keep slight left to continue on SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
12
Merge slight left onto South Sam Houston Tollway West
10 mi
·
11 min
·
South Sam Houston Tollway West
13
Continue on South Sam Houston Parkway West
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Sam Houston Parkway West
14
Continue on West Sam Houston Tollway South
12 mi
·
14 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway South
15
Take the exit slight right toward West Sam Houston Tollway North
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Sam Houston Tollway North
16
Merge slight left onto West Sam Houston Tollway North
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Sam Houston Tollway North
17
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
18
Keep slight left to continue on US 290 West: Austin
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 290 West: Austin
19
Merge slight left onto Northwest Freeway
35 mi
·
40 min
·
Northwest Freeway
20
Take the exit slight right toward College Station, Bryan
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
College Station, Bryan
21
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
22
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
23
Continue straight
11 mi
·
12 min
24
Turn straight
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
25
Keep slight right to continue on North State Highway 6
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North State Highway 6
26
Continue on South Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
27
Turn left onto Browning Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Browning Street
28
Continue on Farm-to-Market Road 979
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 979
29
At the end of the road, turn right onto Farm-to-Market Road 485
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 485
30
At the end of the road, turn left
13 mi
·
16 min
31
Turn left onto North General Bruce Drive
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
North General Bruce Drive
32
Take the ramp straight toward I 35 South
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 35 South
33
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
34
Keep slight right to continue on Central Texas Expressway
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
35
Take the exit slight right toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
36
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Central Texas Expressway
37
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South W.S. Young Drive
38
Turn left onto East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
39
Turn right
82 ft
·
8 sec
40
Turn right
75 ft
·
5 sec
41
Arrive at your destination
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 127.6 miles from Lake Jackson, TX, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
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 56 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.6 miles or 2h 29m 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 5m
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 Lake Jackson, 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 Lake Jackson, TX
This is one driving day of about 255.2 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Lake Jackson, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 127.6 mi from Lake Jackson, TX · 2h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127.6 miles from Lake Jackson, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Killeen, TX
The final approach into Killeen, 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 Killeen, 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
$38.56 one way
$77.12 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $42.21 | $84.42 |
| premium | $4.54 | $45.56 | $91.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.34 | $112.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.6 | 0 | $26.80 | $12.25 |
| Efficient EV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.33 | $10.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.1 | 1 | $35.73 | $16.33 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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.
Destination
Killeen, TX
Evening in Killeen on Wednesday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°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 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 59m 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 Lake Jackson, TX to Killeen, TX covers 255.2 miles and takes about 4h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Center Way, South Yaupon Street, Highway 332 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 127.6 miles from Lake Jackson, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.56 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 straightforward 4h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake Jackson, TX to Killeen, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lake Jackson, TX to Killeen, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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