Trip from Rio Grande City, TX to Killeen, TX

Drive Time

7h 25m

Distance

419.8 mi

676 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

7h 15m ★

6 AM

7h 26m

8 AM

7h 46m

10 AM

7h 33m

12 PM

7h 31m

3 PM

7h 34m

5 PM

7h 45m

8 PM

7h 20m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Rio Grande City, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Killeen, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

The drive from Rio Grande City, TX to Killeen, TX covers 419.8 miles and takes about 7h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, Pickle Parkway, United States Highway 83 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 144.4 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $64.13 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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

209.9 miles from Rio Grande City, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Rio Grande City, TX to Killeen, TX covers 419.8 miles and takes about 7h 25m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

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

There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 144.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 255.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 419.8 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 255.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 256.3 miles (I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

255.8 mi into trip | ~4h 39m in

Take the exit toward I 10 East, US 90 West, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston, Del Rio

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. Exit 153 Toward I 10 East, US 90 West, US 90 East, US 87...

255.9 mi into trip | ~4h 39m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Hous...

256.3 mi into trip | ~4h 40m in | I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway

Merge onto I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

297.4 mi into trip | ~5h 23m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

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. Exit 614 Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

384.4 mi into trip | ~6h 44m in

Keep slight right at fork toward TX 195 North: Florence, Killeen

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward TX 195 North: Florence, Killeen

Towns Along This Route

Between Rio Grande City, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Del Rio, Austin and Waco.

Del Rio

255.8 mi in | ~4h 39m

Austin

286.5 mi in | ~5h 12m | via I 10; TX 130

Waco

286.5 mi in | ~5h 12m | via I 10; TX 130

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	144.4 mi	2h 27m
Pickle Parkway	86 mi	1h 19m
United States Highway 83	62 mi	1h 10m
State Highway 195	34 mi	38m
90th Infantry Division Highway	22.2 mi	23m
North US Highway 83	14.2 mi	15m
Garcia Street	12.6 mi	14m
I 10	10.9 mi	10m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 144.4 mi, about 2h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rio Grande City, TX and Killeen, TX.

Start on North Britton Avenue

32 ft · 6 sec · North Britton Avenue

Turn left onto US 83

0.5 mi · 36 sec · West 2nd Street

Continue on US 83

7.7 mi · 8 min · United States Highway 83

Continue on US 83

4.7 mi · 5 min · East Grant Street

Turn slight right onto US 83

13 mi · 14 min · Garcia Street

Continue on US 83

54 mi · 1 hr 1 min · United States Highway 83

Continue on US 83

14 mi · 15 min · North US Highway 83

Continue on US 83

5.4 mi · 8 min · South Zapata Highway

Turn left onto South Meadow Avenue

2.1 mi · 4 min · South Meadow Avenue

Turn left onto US 83

1.0 mi · 2 min · Guadalupe Street

Continue on US 83

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Houston Street

Turn right onto US 83

278 ft · 5 sec · San Dario Avenue

Continue on I 35; I 27; US 83

144 mi · 2 hr 27 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

8.4 mi · 9 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Exit 153 Toward I 10 East, US 90 West, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston, Del Rio Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 87; US 90

8.0 mi · 9 min · Jose Lopez Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; US 90

22 mi · 23 min · 90th Infantry Division Highway

Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 10; TX 130

11 mi · 10 min · I 10; TX 130

Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min

Exit 614 Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

86 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward TX 195 North: Florence, Killeen Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Continue on North Interstate 35

0.3 mi · 25 sec · North Interstate 35

Turn left onto TX 195

34 mi · 38 min · State Highway 195

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn slight right

263 ft · 9 sec

Use the right lane.

Turn slight right onto US 190 Bus

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Veterans Memorial Boulevard

Use the right lane.

Turn left

83 ft · 8 sec

Turn right

74 ft · 5 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 209.9 miles from Rio Grande City, TX, or about 3h 51m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.4 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 92 miles or 1h 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 209.9 miles or 3h 51m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 22m

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 Rio Grande City, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Rio Grande City, TX

This is one driving day of about 419.8 miles and 7h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from Rio Grande City, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 144.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 209.9 mi from Rio Grande City, TX · 3h 51m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

San Antonio, TX

210 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.

Popular next leg

San Antonio, TX to Killeen, TX

145.6 mi · 2h 45m

Pacing Suggestions

Rio Bravo, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 92 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 209.9 miles from Rio Grande City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 144.4 miles.

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

6 mi from route ~16 min detour Free near mile 260.5

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$64.13 one way

$128.25 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 147 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$70.28	$140.55
premium	$4.59	$75.88	$151.76
diesel	$5.64	$93.27	$186.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 146.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	125.9	1	$44.08	$20.15
Efficient EV	105	1	$36.73	$16.79
EV Truck/SUV	167.9	2	$58.77	$26.87

Gas CO2

147 kg

EV CO2

49 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Rio Grande City, TX

Afternoon in Rio Grande City on Monday

Local time

1:05 PM

CDT

Current temp

Unavailable

Destination

Killeen, TX

Afternoon in Killeen on Monday

Local time

1:05 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.

Road read

7h 25m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Rio Grande City, TX to Killeen, TX covers 419.8 miles and takes about 7h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, Pickle Parkway, United States Highway 83. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 209.9 miles from Rio Grande City, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $64.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Rio Grande City, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Del Rio, Austin and Waco.

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Return Trip

Killeen, TX to Rio Grande City, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

419.8 mi 7h 24m

Explore more options from Rio Grande City, TX or browse trips ending in Killeen, TX.

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Trip from Rio Grande City, TX to Killeen, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Killeen, TX

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Rio Grande City, TX

Killeen, TX

Same local time

7h 25m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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Continue From Killeen, TX

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