Sweetwater, TX to Houston, TX: Distance & Drive Time

Distance: ~490 miles (788 km) by road
Drive time: ~7 hours 30 minutes (normal traffic)

Primary Route

1. I-20 East from Sweetwater → Abilene → Cisco → Eastland → Fort Worth
2. I-35W South / I-35E South through Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex (choose based on traffic)
3. I-45 South from Dallas → Corsicana → Buffalo → Huntsville → Houston

Alternative Routes

• US-84 East → I-35 South: Sweetwater → Coleman → Brownwood → Goldthwaite → Lampasas → Waco → Houston (more scenic, less interstate, ~520 mi, ~8h 30m)
• I-20 East → US-281 South → I-35 South: Avoids DFW core but slower

Traffic Hotspots

• DFW Metroplex: Major congestion 6–9 AM, 4–7 PM; accidents common
• Waco (I-35): Construction frequent
• Houston approach (I-45): Heavy near Beltway 8, downtown

Rest Stops & Fuel

• Abilene (80 mi) — full services
• Cisco (110 mi) — basics
• Weatherford (220 mi) — before DFW
• Corsicana (330 mi) — Collin Street Bakery (fruitcake!)
• Huntsville (430 mi) — last major stop before Houston

Flight Alternative

No commercial service from Sweetwater (SWW). Drive to Lubbock (LBB, 90 mi) or Midland (MAF, 110 mi) → fly to Houston (IAH/HOU) ~1h 15m. Total door-to-door ~4–5 hours.