Trip from Irving, TX to Sweetwater, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 49m

Distance

217.8 mi

351 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 37m ★

6 AM

3h 50m

8 AM

4h 15m

10 AM

3h 59m

12 PM

3h 56m

3 PM

4h 0m

5 PM

4h 14m

8 PM

3h 42m

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

Best Time

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Irving, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Nolan County, Texas, United States

Sweetwater, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Irving, TX to Sweetwater, TX is 217.8 miles and takes about 3h 49m via I-20, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to a similar landscape. With 98% of the route on highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering distance efficiently. This is a solid choice if you need to get from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to West Texas without a lot of fuss. Consider it a direct path for a quick transit.

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

108.9 miles from Irving, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	172.8 mi	2h 55m
Jim Wright Freeway	12.8 mi	14m
I 820 TEXpress	6.9 mi	6m
Airport Freeway	6.5 mi	6m
West Freeway	6 mi	6m
West Irving Boulevard	2.9 mi	5m
SH 121/183 TEXpress	2.7 mi	2m
I 20 Bus	2.6 mi	5m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 172.8 mi, about 2h 55m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,701 veh/hr typical · worst 2,188

Quietest

2 AM

~196 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Irving, TX and Sweetwater, TX.

Start on North Ohio Street

58 ft · 4 sec · North Ohio Street

Turn right onto West Irving Boulevard

2.9 mi · 5 min · West Irving Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward TX 183: Fort Worth

Merge onto TX 183

6.5 mi · 6 min · Airport Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto Airport Freeway TEXpress

0.3 mi · 16 sec · Airport Freeway TEXpress

Toward TX 121 Express South, TX 183 Express West: Airport Freeway TEXpress West Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto TX 183 TEXpress

2.5 mi · 2 min · SH 183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

2.0 mi · 2 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

0.1 mi · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

0.7 mi · 42 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Continue on I 820 TEXpress

6.9 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress

Toward I 820 Express West Toll Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820

0.4 mi · 24 sec · Northeast Loop

Continue on I 820

13 mi · 14 min · Jim Wright Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 1 min

Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 30

6.0 mi · 6 min · West Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 20

173 mi · 2 hr 55 min · I 20

Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec

Exit 247 Toward I 20 Business, SH 70: Sweetwater, Roby

Continue on I 20 Bus; TX 70

2.6 mi · 5 min · I 20 Bus; TX 70

Turn left onto Pine Street

368 ft · 12 sec · Pine Street

Turn right onto East 1st Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · East 1st Street

Turn right

216 ft · 7 sec

Turn straight onto TX 70 Bus

54 ft · 0 sec · Lamar Street

Arrive at destination

TX 70 Bus

Trip Plan

With a driving time under four hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart Irving in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic. Since the route is primarily highway, plan for one main stop around the halfway point for fuel and a break, perhaps after covering about 100 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can become more spread out as you move west. The budget of $32 for fuel is a good estimate, but always carry a bit extra.

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 108.9 miles from Irving, TX, or about 1h 56m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 172.8 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 48 miles or 54m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108.9 miles or 1h 56m 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 7m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sweetwater, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Irving, 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 Irving, TX

This is one driving day of about 217.8 miles and 3h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Irving, 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 I 20 for about 172.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Palo Pinto and Parker Counties, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mineral Wells, TX

109 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

Annetta, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Stephenville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.9 miles from Irving, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

2.4 mi from route

Mr. Fuel Travel Center

2.4 mi from route

iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hurst, Texas

Hours: 10:30 am–6:30 pm

+18178184359

Visit website

White Settlement Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

White Settlement, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+18172469719

Visit website

Paramount Theatre

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Abilene, Texas

+13256769620

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 1–5 pm

+13256735050

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 214.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Irving Boulevard

Turn right onto West Irving Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

3.4 mi into trip | ~6m in | TX 183 / Airport Freeway

Merge onto TX 183 / Airport Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

9.9 mi into trip | ~13m in | Airport Freeway TEXpress

Take the exit onto Airport Freeway TEXpress toward TX 121 Express South, TX 183 Express West: Airport Freeway TEXpress West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward TX 121 Express South, TX 183 Express Wes...

35.6 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward I 30 West: Weatherford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford

214.7 mi into trip | ~3h 43m in

Take the exit toward I 20 Business, SH 70: Sweetwater, Roby

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 247 Toward I 20 Business, SH 70: Sweetwater, Roby

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.35 one way

$66.69 round trip

$3.89/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.29	$36.80	$73.61
premium	$4.64	$39.77	$79.54
diesel	$6.18	$52.98	$105.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	65.3	0	$22.87	$10.45
Efficient EV	54.5	0	$19.06	$8.71
EV Truck/SUV	87.1	1	$30.49	$13.94

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 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 Oct 19, 2026

Origin

Irving, TX

Morning in Irving on Tuesday

Local time

7:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Sweetwater, TX

Morning in Sweetwater on Tuesday

Local time

7:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Sunny

SSE 5 to 10 mph 1% chance 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

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

3h 49m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

What kind of drive is this?

You'll be on highways for nearly the entire 217.8-mile trip, with 98% of the route utilizing major roads like I-20, Jim Wright Freeway, and I-820 TEXpress. The longest uninterrupted stretch on a highway is 172.8 miles, all on I-20. This means you'll experience extended periods of consistent cruising. Expect relatively few transitions to surface roads until you're very close to your destination.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 172.8 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Jim Wright Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Irving Boulevard.

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 14 significant decision points across 217.8 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: near the start (West Irving Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (TX 183 / Airport Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.9 miles (Airport Freeway TEXpress): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,171 ft 484 ft

Total Climb

1,823 ft

Total Descent

135 ft

Highest Point

2,171 ft

~217.8 mi in

Elevation Range

1,687 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Irving, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1903

Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents. Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.

Top landmarks

• Ruth Paine Home — house in Irving, Texas, United States

Arriving in Sweetwater, TX

Full guide →

Sweetwater is a city on the Northern Edwards Plateau of Texas.

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 3h 49m. Total distance: 217.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 172.8 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Sweetwater, 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. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Sweetwater, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Irving, TX to Sweetwater, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-20

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

I-20 Westbound Picnic Area

I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area

Eastland County Westbound Rest Area

Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Service Plaza

Petro Stopping Centers

Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area

Callahan County Westbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Mr. Fuel Travel Center

iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth

White Settlement Museum

Paramount Theatre

Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

12th Armored Division Memorial

Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax

The Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Irving, TX

Sweetwater, TX

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 49m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Irving, TX

Arriving in Sweetwater, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Sweetwater, TX

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