Origin
Sweetwater, TX
Afternoon in Sweetwater on Sunday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sweetwater, TX to Killeen, TX
Drive Time
4h 1m
Distance
212.7 mi
342 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
Sweetwater, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Killeen, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Sweetwater, TX to Killeen, TX covers 212.7 miles and takes about 4h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 153, US 183, US Highway 84 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69 miles on State Highway 153. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.49 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
106.3 miles from Sweetwater, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 1m highway drive covering 212.7 miles, with most of the trip on State Highway 153 and US 183. The longest continuous stretch is about 69 miles on State Highway 153.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 153 is the longest continuous segment at about 69 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,513 ft
823 ft
Total Climb
413 ft
Total Descent
2,104 ft
Highest Point
2,513 ft
~8.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,690 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 153 and US 183. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 20 Bus; TX 70 Bus / East Broadway Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 1m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 20 Bus; TX 70 Bus / East Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 83.7 miles (US 84; US 283): Navigation decision point; at 192.5 miles (US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
I 20 Bus; TX 70 Bus / East Broadway Street
Turn left onto I 20 Bus; TX 70 Bus / East Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
83.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
US 84; US 283
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283
Navigation decision point
6
192.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m in
|
US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
At end of road, turn left onto US 190 / Central Texas Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
209.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward T.J. Mills Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward T.J. Mills Boulevard
5
212.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 153 | 69 mi | 1h 14m |
| US 183 | 37 mi | 40m |
| US Highway 84 East | 29.2 mi | 33m |
| US 67 | 21.5 mi | 24m |
| Central Texas Expressway | 16.9 mi | 18m |
| State Highway 70 | 10.4 mi | 10m |
| US 84 | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| FM 1715 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 153
— 69 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sweetwater, TX and Killeen, TX.
1
Start on TX 70 Bus
105 ft
·
9 sec
·
Lamar Street
2
Turn left onto I 20 Bus; TX 70 Bus
385 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto TX 70 Bus
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Lamar Street
4
Continue on TX 70
10 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 70
5
Turn left onto TX 153
69 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
State Highway 153
6
Continue on TX 153
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Walnut Street
7
Continue on TX 153
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Walnut Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
US 84; US 283
9
Continue on US 67; US 84
21 mi
·
24 min
·
US 67; US 84
10
Turn right onto US 84; US 183
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garmon Drive
11
Continue on US 84; US 183
29 mi
·
33 min
·
US Highway 84 East
12
Turn right onto US 183; TX 16
22 mi
·
25 min
·
US 183; TX 16
13
Continue on US 183; US 190
15 mi
·
15 min
·
US 183; US 190
14
Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281
260 ft
·
4 sec
·
North US Highway 281
15
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Key Avenue
16
Turn left onto FM 580
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Avenue J
17
Continue on FM 580
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East FM 580
18
Turn right onto FM 1715
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
FM 1715
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 190
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Central Texas Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward T.J. Mills Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on US 190 Bus
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Veterans Memorial Boulevard
22
Turn left
83 ft
·
8 sec
23
Turn right
74 ft
·
5 sec
24
Arrive at destination
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 106.3 miles from Sweetwater, TX, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.3 miles or 1h 58m 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 15m
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 Sweetwater, 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 Sweetwater, TX
This is one driving day of about 212.7 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sweetwater, 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 State Highway 153 for about 69 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.3 mi from Sweetwater, TX · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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 106.3 miles from Sweetwater, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before State Highway 153 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69 miles.
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
$32.49 one way
$64.98 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $35.61 | $71.21 |
| premium | $4.59 | $38.45 | $76.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $47.25 | $94.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.33 | $10.21 |
| Efficient EV | 53.2 | 0 | $18.61 | $8.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.1 | 1 | $29.78 | $13.61 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Killeen on Sunday
Local time
2:05 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
4h 1m 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 Sweetwater, TX to Killeen, TX covers 212.7 miles and takes about 4h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 153, US 183, US Highway 84 East. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.3 miles from Sweetwater, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.49 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 4h 1m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 20 Bus; TX 70 Bus / East Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 83.7 miles (US 84; US 283): Navigation decision point; at 192.5 miles (US 190 / Central Texas Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sweetwater, TX to Killeen, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 823 ft to 2,513 ft elevation with about 413 ft of total climbing.
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