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Trip from McKinney, TX to Sweetwater, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 24m

Distance

249.9 mi

402 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
4h 12m ★
6 AM
4h 25m
8 AM
4h 51m
10 AM
4h 34m
12 PM
4h 31m
3 PM
4h 35m
5 PM
4h 50m
8 PM
4h 17m

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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city in Collin County, Texas, United States

McKinney, TX

Wikimedia Commons

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

Sweetwater, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from McKinney, TX to Sweetwater, TX covers 249.9 miles and takes about 4h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 20, Sam Rayburn Tollway, TX 121 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 172.8 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.26 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

124.9 miles from McKinney, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 20 172.8 mi 2h 55m
Sam Rayburn Tollway 23.8 mi 25m
TX 121 15.2 mi 16m
Jim Wright Freeway 12.8 mi 14m
I 820 TEXpress 6.9 mi 6m
West Freeway 6 mi 6m
SH 121/183 TEXpress 4.1 mi 4m
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 McKinney, TX and Sweetwater, TX.

1

Start on North Tennessee Street

119 ft · 12 sec · North Tennessee Street
2

Turn left onto East Virginia Street

228 ft · 13 sec · East Virginia Street
3

Turn left onto North Kentucky Street

236 ft · 15 sec · North Kentucky Street
4

Turn left onto East Louisiana Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · East Louisiana Street
5

Turn right onto TX 5

2.4 mi · 4 min · South McDonald Street
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on Spur 399

0.9 mi · 1 min · Spur 399
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on SRT

20 mi · 21 min · Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on TX 121

1.4 mi · 1 min · TX 121
9

Continue on SRT

3.4 mi · 3 min · Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on TX 121

6.9 mi · 7 min · TX 121
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 121

6.9 mi · 7 min · TX 121
Toward TX 121 South: Forth Worth, Arlington, Grand Praire Use the left / right lanes.
12

Take the exit onto TX 121 Express

0.7 mi · 42 sec · TX 121 Express
Toward TX 121 Express South Toll, TX 183 Express West Toll Use the left lane.
13

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

3.4 mi · 3 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

0.1 mi · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

0.7 mi · 42 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress
16

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.
17

Merge onto I 820

0.4 mi · 24 sec · Northeast Loop
18

Continue on I 820

13 mi · 14 min · Jim Wright Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 1 min
Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford Use the slight right lane.
20

Merge onto I 30

6.0 mi · 6 min · West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Merge onto I 20

173 mi · 2 hr 55 min · I 20
Use the slight right lane.
22

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec
Exit 247 Toward I 20 Business, SH 70: Sweetwater, Roby
23

Continue on I 20 Bus; TX 70

2.6 mi · 5 min · I 20 Bus; TX 70
24

Turn left onto Pine Street

368 ft · 12 sec · Pine Street
25

Turn right onto East 1st Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · East 1st Street
26

Turn right

216 ft · 7 sec
27

Turn straight onto TX 70 Bus

54 ft · 0 sec · Lamar Street
28

Arrive at destination

TX 70 Bus

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 124.9 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 2h 15m 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 124.9 miles or 2h 15m 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 36m

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 McKinney, 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 McKinney, TX

This is one driving day of about 249.9 miles and 4h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from McKinney, 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

125 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

Saginaw, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mineral Wells, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 124.9 miles from McKinney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 172.8 miles.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games The Colony

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

The Colony, Texas

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+14695273278

Visit website

Grapevine Vintage Railroad

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Grapevine, Texas

Hours: Closed

+18174103185

Visit website

House of Shine

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Grapevine, Texas

Hours: 12–5 pm

+18176018850

Visit website

Kids Colony

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

The Colony, Texas

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

+19726251106

Visit website

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

McKinney, Texas

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+19725625566

Visit website

Coppell Nature Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour

Coppell, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+19723043581

Visit website

Fort Worth Herd

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Fort Worth, Texas

Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm

+18173364373

Visit website

Oak Hills Splash Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Carrollton, Texas

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+19724663080

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 0.3 and 246.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | TX 5 / South McDonald Street

Turn right onto TX 5 / South McDonald Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
35.7 mi into trip | ~40m in | TX 121

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 121 toward TX 121 South: Forth Worth, Arlington, Grand Praire

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

Use the left / right lanes. Toward TX 121 South: Forth Worth, Arlington, Gr...
7
42.6 mi into trip | ~48m in | TX 121 Express

Take the exit onto TX 121 Express toward TX 121 Express South Toll, TX 183 Express West Toll

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

Use the left lane. Toward TX 121 Express South Toll, TX 183 Expres...
7
67.6 mi into trip | ~1h 16m 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
6
246.8 mi into trip | ~4h 18m 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

$36.26 one way

$72.51 round trip

$3.69/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.08 $40.17 $80.34
premium $4.43 $43.60 $87.21
diesel $5.60 $55.09 $110.17

Estimated Tolls: $1.91

Sam Rayburn Tollway (23.8 mi) $1.91

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 75 0 $26.24 $12.00
Efficient EV 62.5 0 $21.87 $10.00
EV Truck/SUV 100 1 $34.99 $15.99

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 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 Sep 3, 2026

Origin

McKinney, TX

Late night in McKinney on Friday

Local time

4:04 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sweetwater, TX

Late night in Sweetwater on Friday

Local time

4:04 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°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

2 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 24m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

249.9 mi in 4h 24m, mostly highway — 172.8 mi of that is on I 20.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 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 Sam Rayburn Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near TX 5 / South McDonald Street.

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 249.9 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 0.3 miles (TX 5 / South McDonald Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles (TX 121): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.6 miles (TX 121 Express): 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 610 ft

Total Climb

2,128 ft

Total Descent

585 ft

Highest Point

2,171 ft

~249.9 mi in

Elevation Range

1,562 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between McKinney, TX and Sweetwater, TX, road signs point toward Arlington and Grand Praire.

Arlington

35.7 mi in | ~40m | via TX 121

Grand Praire

35.7 mi in | ~40m | via TX 121

About the Cities

Starting in McKinney, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1848

McKinney is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas.

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 4h 24m. Total distance: 249.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). 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.

Expect about $1.91 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Rayburn Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (TX 5 / South McDonald Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles (TX 121): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.6 miles (TX 121 Express): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 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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