Origin
Vernon, TX
Afternoon in Vernon on Sunday
Local time
2:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vernon, TX to Killeen, TX
Drive Time
5h 29m
Distance
288.7 mi
465 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
Vernon, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Killeen, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Traveling from Vernon to Killeen covers 288.7 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 29 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should budget approximately $43 for fuel to complete the journey. It is easily manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Both ends of your trip sit within the Great Plains, so expect a consistent regional landscape as you traverse the Texas interior. This route is best suited for those who prefer navigating local roads over long, straight highway stretches.
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
144.3 miles from Vernon, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a hands-on experience behind the wheel, as this 288.7-mile trek is defined by its turn-heavy local road profile rather than high-speed interstate cruising. You will navigate via Highway 287 East, the Northwest Freeway, and the Central Freeway, which require constant attention compared to a standard highway haul. Because the highway share is 0% and there are no long, uninterrupted stretches, the drive requires you to remain engaged with the road layout throughout the journey. The lack of a major highway rhythm means your pace will fluctuate, making the drive feel more like a series of connected local segments.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 287 East 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 5h 29m 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 Vernon, TX to Killeen, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 287 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lloyd Ruby Overpass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central East Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Henry S Grace Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 281 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Highway 287 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vernon, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on the route
144 ft
·
16 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
47 sec
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto US Highway 287 East
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 287 East
4
Take the ramp straight
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
5
Continue on US Highway 287 East
41 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 287 East
6
Continue on Northwest Freeway
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on Northwest Freeway
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Northwest Freeway
8
Merge slight left onto Central Freeway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Freeway
9
Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
10
Continue on Central East Freeway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Henry S Grace Freeway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Henry S Grace Freeway
12
Keep slight left to continue on Henry S Grace Freeway
61 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Henry S Grace Freeway
13
Continue straight
65 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
14
Continue on East Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Road
15
Continue on South US Highway 281
18 mi
·
20 min
·
South US Highway 281
16
Continue on North 2nd Street
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
North 2nd Street
17
Turn right onto North Walnut Street
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Walnut Street
18
Turn straight onto North US Highway 281
19 mi
·
20 min
·
North US Highway 281
19
Continue on North Rice Street
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Rice Street
20
Turn left onto East Baker Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Baker Street
21
Continue on Farm-to-Market Road 932
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 932
22
Turn straight
20 mi
·
21 min
23
At the end of the road, turn right onto Farm-to-Market Road 932
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 932
24
Continue on Farm-to-Market Road 932
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
·
Farm-to-Market Road 932
25
Turn left
12 mi
·
11 min
26
Take the exit right
164 ft
·
7 sec
27
Turn straight onto FM 116
22 mi
·
28 min
·
FM 116
28
Continue on Farm-to-Market Road 116
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Farm-to-Market Road 116
29
Keep slight right to continue on Farm-to-Market Road 116
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Farm-to-Market Road 116
30
Turn left onto Highway 9
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 9
31
Merge slight right
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
32
Continue on Central Texas Expressway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
33
Take the exit slight right toward T.J. Mills Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
T.J. Mills Boulevard
34
Continue on West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
35
Turn left
82 ft
·
8 sec
36
Turn right
75 ft
·
5 sec
37
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 29-minute travel time, plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the turns. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to navigate the local roads during daylight hours, which helps with visibility on the winding sections. Since you are looking at a $43 fuel budget, it is smart to check your tank before leaving Vernon to avoid unnecessary stops in smaller, unfamiliar towns. Keep your navigation system active and ready, as the turn-heavy nature of this route means you will need to pay close attention to your GPS throughout the entire 288.7-mile trip.
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 144.3 miles from Vernon, TX, or about 2h 44m 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.3 miles or 2h 44m 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 30m
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 Vernon, 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 Vernon, TX
This is one driving day of about 288.7 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Vernon, 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 144.3 mi from Vernon, TX · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 144.3 miles from Vernon, 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
$44.10 one way
$88.20 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $48.33 | $96.66 |
| premium | $4.59 | $52.18 | $104.36 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $64.14 | $128.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101 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 | 86.6 | 1 | $30.31 | $13.86 |
| Efficient EV | 72.2 | 0 | $25.26 | $11.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.5 | 1 | $40.42 | $18.48 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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
2:41 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
5 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
5h 29m 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 Vernon, TX to Killeen, TX covers 288.7 miles and takes about 5h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 287 East, Northwest Freeway, Central Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 144.3 miles from Vernon, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.10 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 5h 29m 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 Vernon, TX to Killeen, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Vernon, TX to Killeen, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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