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Trip from Sulphur Springs, TX to Killeen, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 9m

Distance

234 mi

377 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 56m ★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m

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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city in Hopkins County, Texas, USA

Sulphur Springs, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Bell County, Texas, United States

Killeen, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Sulphur Springs, TX to Killeen, TX covers 234 miles and takes about 4h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South R L Thornton Freeway, I 30, Purple Heart Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.36 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

117 miles from Sulphur Springs, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway 89.9 mi 1h 32m
I 30 78.1 mi 1h 22m
Purple Heart Trail 37.9 mi 39m
Central Texas Expressway 13.1 mi 13m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway 6.6 mi 7m
West Central Texas Expressway 2.9 mi 3m
South W.S. Young Drive 1.3 mi 2m
Gilmer Street 1.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sulphur Springs, TX and Killeen, TX.

1

Start on US 67 Bus; TX 154

116 ft · 3 sec · Jefferson Street West
2

Turn left onto TX 154

254 ft · 4 sec · Gilmer Street
3

Turn straight onto TX 154

1.2 mi · 1 min · Gilmer Street
4

Continue on TX 154

0.3 mi · 30 sec · South Broadway Street
5

Turn right onto Industrial Drive West

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Industrial Drive West
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
7

Merge onto I 30; US 67

78 mi · 1 hr 22 min · I 30; US 67
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 46A Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
10

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the left / right lanes.
12

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway
13

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

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.
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Exit 287 Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop Use the slight right lane.
18

Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway

2.9 mi · 3 min · West Central Texas Expressway
19

Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · South W.S. Young Drive
20

Turn left onto US 190 Bus

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
21

Turn right

83 ft · 8 sec
22

Turn right

74 ft · 5 sec
23

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 117 miles from Sulphur Springs, TX, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 51 miles or 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 117 miles or 2h 5m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 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 Sulphur Springs, 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 Sulphur Springs, TX

This is one driving day of about 234 miles and 4h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Sulphur Springs, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Ellis County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Italy, TX

117 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

Rockwall, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waxahachie, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 117 miles from Sulphur Springs, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Great Escape of Central Texas

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 234

Killeen, Texas

Hours: 3:30–9:30 pm

+12546802686

Visit website

Lions Club Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 234

Killeen, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12545016390

Visit website

City Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 83.6

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19724823055

Visit website

Xcape Adventures

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 66.9

Mesquite, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19729822073

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 79.9 and 228.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
79.9 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in

Take the exit toward I 35E: Denton, 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 46A Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
9
80.6 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
80.6 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes. Toward I 35E South: Waco
8
215.4 mi into trip | ~3h 47m 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
228.5 mi into trip | ~4h 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...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.36 one way

$70.72 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 82 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $38.70 $77.40
premium $4.54 $41.78 $83.56
diesel $5.61 $51.66 $103.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 70.2 0 $24.57 $11.23
Efficient EV 58.5 0 $20.47 $9.36
EV Truck/SUV 93.6 1 $32.76 $14.98

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Sulphur Springs, TX

Afternoon in Sulphur Springs on Saturday

Local time

2:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 15 mph 74% chance Live forecast

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 19 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Destination

Killeen, TX

Afternoon in Killeen on Saturday

Local time

2:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

59°F

Italy, TX

117 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

2 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

4h 9m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 169.4
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

234 mi in 4h 9m, mostly highway — 89.9 mi of that is on South R L Thornton Freeway.

81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 30. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 79.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 234 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 79.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Sulphur Springs, TX and Killeen, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton, Dallas Zoo and Fort Cavazos.

Waco

79.9 mi in | ~1h 25m

Denton

80.5 mi in | ~1h 27m

Dallas Zoo

81.6 mi in | ~1h 28m | via I 35E

Fort Cavazos

215.4 mi in | ~3h 47m | via I 14; US 190

About the Cities

Starting in Sulphur Springs, TX

Full guide →

Sulphur Springs was founded in 1854, though it was then known as "Bright Star", and is in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. Though the springs that brought about the name have more or less vanished, it is now known as "The Dairy Capital of Texas", with a museum cultured to that very point, even if the dairy industry has waned a bit around here in the early 21st century.

Arriving in Killeen, TX

Full guide →

Killeen is a city in the Central Hill Country of Texas. It is home to U.S. Army installation Fort Cavasos, one of the largest military bases in the world.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 234 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Killeen, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 79.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Killeen, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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