Origin
Watauga, TX
Late night in Watauga on Friday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Watauga, TX to Killeen, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
158.2 mi
255 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 41m
★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Watauga, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Killeen, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Watauga, TX to Killeen, TX covers 158.2 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Shipp Drive, Denton Highway, Northeast Loop 820 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.1 miles from Watauga, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 158.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 52m drive with frequent turns across 158.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Shipp Drive 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Watauga, TX to Killeen, TX is easy. At 2h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Watauga, TX to Killeen, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Shipp Drive | — | — |
| Denton Highway | — | — |
| Northeast Loop 820 | — | — |
| I 820 West | — | — |
| Northeast Loop | — | — |
| I 35W | — | — |
| I 35W South | — | — |
| North Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Shipp Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watauga, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on Whitley Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Whitley Road
2
Turn right onto Shipp Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Shipp Drive
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto Denton Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Denton Highway
4
Turn right onto Northeast Loop 820
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Loop 820
5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 820 West
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 820 West
6
Merge slight left onto Northeast Loop
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Northeast Loop
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 35W, US 287: Fort Worth, Denton
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 35W, US 287: Fort Worth, Denton
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 35W South, US 287 South: Downtown, Ft Worth
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35W South, US 287 South: Downtown, Ft Worth
9
Merge slight right onto North Freeway
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Freeway
10
Take the exit slight left toward I 35W Express Toll South
0.6 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 35W Express Toll South
11
Merge slight left onto I 35W TEXpress
4.0 mi
·
3 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
12
Merge slight right onto North South Freeway
85 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
North South Freeway
13
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
14
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
15
Keep slight right to continue on Central Texas Expressway
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
16
Take the exit slight right toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop
17
Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Central Texas Expressway
18
Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South W.S. Young Drive
19
Turn left onto East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Veterans Memorial Boulevard
20
Turn right
82 ft
·
8 sec
21
Turn right
75 ft
·
5 sec
22
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.1 miles from Watauga, TX, or about 1h 26m 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 35 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.1 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
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 Watauga, 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 Watauga, TX
This is one driving day of about 158.2 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Watauga, 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 79.1 mi from Watauga, TX · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.1 miles from Watauga, 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
$23.90 one way
$47.81 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $26.17 | $52.33 |
| premium | $4.54 | $28.25 | $56.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.93 | $69.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.61 | $7.59 |
| Efficient EV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.84 | $6.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.3 | 0 | $22.15 | $10.12 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Late night in Killeen on Friday
Local time
4:02 AM
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
1 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
2h 52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Watauga, TX to Killeen, TX covers 158.2 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Shipp Drive, Denton Highway, Northeast Loop 820. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.1 miles from Watauga, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.90 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Watauga, TX to Killeen, TX is easy. At 2h 52m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Watauga, TX to Killeen, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Watauga, TX to Killeen, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Killeen, TX
More trips to Killeen, TX
Explore more options from Watauga, TX or browse trips ending in Killeen, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.