Drive Time
5h 34m
Distance
292.9 mi
471 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
Photo: Jeff Stapleton
The drive from Port Arthur, TX to Killeen, TX covers 292.9 miles and takes about 5h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Gulfway Drive, Dowling Road, TX 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.74 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
146.5 miles from Port Arthur, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 34m drive with frequent turns across 292.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 34m 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 Port Arthur, TX to Killeen, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gulfway Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dowling Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| TX 99 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Freeway Frontage Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Grand Parkway North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| TX 249 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Grand Parkway West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tomball Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Port Arthur, TX and Killeen, TX.
Start on Augusta Avenue
Turn right onto Gulfway Drive
Continue on Dowling Road
Turn right
Continue straight
Turn straight
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward TX 99 Toll: Grand Parkway
Turn straight onto East Freeway Frontage Road
Turn right onto East Grand Parkway North
Take the ramp straight
Merge slight left onto East Grand Parkway North
Take the exit slight right toward TX 249: Boudreaux Road, Rocky Road
Continue on North Grand Parkway West
Turn right onto Tomball Parkway
Take the ramp slight left toward TBT Toll North
Merge slight left onto Tomball Tollway
Continue on MCTRA 249 Tollway
Continue on Aggie Expressway
Continue on State Highway 105
Turn right onto State Highway 6
Take the ramp slight left
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on North State Highway 6
Continue on South Main Street
Turn left onto Browning Street
Continue on Farm-to-Market Road 979
At the end of the road, turn right onto Farm-to-Market Road 485
At the end of the road, turn left
Turn left onto North General Bruce Drive
Take the ramp straight toward I 35 South
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right to continue on Central Texas Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
Turn left onto East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Turn right
Turn right
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.5 miles or 2h 47m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Killeen, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Port Arthur, 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 Port Arthur, TX
This is one driving day of about 292.9 miles and 5h 34m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146.5 mi from Port Arthur, TX · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 146.5 miles from Port Arthur, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$44.74 one way
$89.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $49.03 | $98.06 |
| premium | $4.59 | $52.94 | $105.88 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $65.07 | $130.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.9 | 1 | $30.75 | $14.06 |
| Efficient EV | 73.2 | 0 | $25.63 | $11.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.2 | 1 | $41.01 | $18.75 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Port Arthur on Saturday
Local time
5:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Killeen on Saturday
Local time
5:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
70°F
Houston, TX
146 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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