Origin
Nederland, TX
Afternoon in Nederland on Sunday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nederland, TX to Killeen, TX
Drive Time
5h 27m
Distance
281.1 mi
452 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
Nederland, TX
Job1505 De waal
Killeen, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Nederland, TX to Killeen, TX covers 281.1 miles and takes about 5h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on TX 6, East Grand Parkway North, US 90 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.8 miles on TX 6. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.94 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
140.6 miles from Nederland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 27m highway drive covering 281.1 miles, with most of the trip on TX 6 and East Grand Parkway North. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.8 miles on TX 6.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
TX 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
823 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
977 ft
Total Descent
173 ft
Highest Point
823 ft
~281.1 mi in
Elevation Range
810 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 6 and East Grand Parkway North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.2 miles in near US 69; US 96; US 287.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 281.1 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: at 11.2 miles (US 69; US 96; US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles (US 69; US 96; US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 33 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
11.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 69; US 96; US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287 toward I 10 East, US 69 North, US 96 North, US 287 North: Lake Charles, Lufkin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10 East, US 69 North, US 96 North, US...
6
11.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 69; US 96; US 287
Keep slight left at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287 toward I 10 East, US 69 North, US 96 North, US 287 North: Lake Charles, Lufkin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10 East, US 69 North, US 96 North, US...
7
108.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward TX 249: Boudreaux Road, Rocky Road
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.
Toward TX 249: Boudreaux Road, Rocky Road
8
262.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 5m in
|
I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos
8
275.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
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 287
Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter...
Towns Along This Route
Between Nederland, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Tbt Toll North and Fort Cavazos.
Tbt Toll North
109.2 mi in
|
~2h 8m
Fort Cavazos
262.5 mi in
|
~5h 5m
|
via I 14; US 190
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 6 | 49.8 mi | 53m |
| East Grand Parkway North | 44 mi | 46m |
| US 90 | 39.6 mi | 45m |
| Aggie Expressway | 24.8 mi | 27m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 485 | 20.4 mi | 25m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 979 | 15.3 mi | 19m |
| TX 53 | 13.1 mi | 16m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 13.1 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
TX 6
— 49.8 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nederland, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on Boston Avenue
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Boston Avenue
2
Turn left onto TX 347
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Twin City Highway
3
Continue on TX 347
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Highway 347
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 69, US 96, US 287 North
5
Merge onto US 69; US 96; US 287
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
US 69; US 96; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 69; US 96; US 287
Toward I 10 East, US 69 North, US 96 North, US 287 North: Lake Charles, Lufkin
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 69; US 96; US 287
Toward I 10 East, US 69 North, US 96 North, US 287 North: Lake Charles, Lufkin
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 851
Toward US 90: Liberty
9
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 South Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Interstate 10 South Frontage Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto College Street
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
College Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on US 90
40 mi
·
45 min
·
US 90
12
Turn right onto TX 321
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Cleveland Street
13
Turn left onto FM 1960
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
West Clayton Street
14
Turn right onto East Grand Parkway North
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Grand Parkway North
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
16
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
44 mi
·
46 min
·
East Grand Parkway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward TX 249: Boudreaux Road, Rocky Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on North Grand Parkway West
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Grand Parkway West
19
Turn right onto TX 249
447 ft
·
7 sec
·
Tomball Parkway
20
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward TBT Toll North
21
Merge onto TBT
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Tomball Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on TX 249 Toll
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
MCTRA 249 Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on TX 249 Toll
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Aggie Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on TX 105
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 105
25
Turn right onto TX 105
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
State Highway 6
26
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
27
Merge onto TX 6
50 mi
·
53 min
·
TX 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North State Highway 6
29
Continue on TX 6
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
30
Turn left onto FM 979
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Browning Street
31
Continue on FM 979
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 979
32
At end of road, turn right onto FM 485
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 485
33
At end of road, turn left onto TX 53
13 mi
·
16 min
·
TX 53
34
Turn left onto North General Bruce Drive
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North General Bruce Drive
35
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35 South
36
Merge onto I 35
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 14; US 190
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 287
Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
Use the slight right lane.
39
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Central Texas Expressway
40
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South W.S. Young Drive
41
Turn left onto US 190 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
42
Turn right
83 ft
·
8 sec
43
Turn right
74 ft
·
5 sec
44
Arrive at 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 140.6 miles from Nederland, TX, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.8 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.6 miles or 2h 43m 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 25m
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 Nederland, 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 Nederland, TX
This is one driving day of about 281.1 miles and 5h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Nederland, 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 TX 6 for about 49.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 140.6 mi from Nederland, TX · 2h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140.6 miles from Nederland, 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
$42.94 one way
$85.88 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $47.06 | $94.11 |
| premium | $4.59 | $50.81 | $101.62 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $62.45 | $124.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
Tomball Tollway
(4.9 mi)
$0.34
MCTRA 249 Tollway
(3.6 mi)
$0.25
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.4 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 | 84.3 | 1 | $29.52 | $13.49 |
| Efficient EV | 70.3 | 0 | $24.60 | $11.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.4 | 1 | $39.35 | $17.99 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Destination
Killeen, TX
Afternoon in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 to 15 mph
47% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 12 at 12:53AM CDT until April 12 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
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
1 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 27m 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 Nederland, TX to Killeen, TX covers 281.1 miles and takes about 5h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TX 6, East Grand Parkway North, US 90. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140.6 miles from Nederland, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.94 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 demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 281.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.2 miles (US 69; US 96; US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles (US 69; US 96; US 287): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Nederland, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Tbt Toll North and Fort Cavazos.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 13 ft to 823 ft elevation with about 977 ft of total climbing.
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