Origin
Chelsea, OK
Evening in Chelsea on Sunday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chelsea, OK to Tulsa, OK
Drive Time
59m
Distance
47.3 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chelsea, OK
gina bichsel
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across the Oklahoma Great Plains, the 47.3-mile trip from Chelsea to Tulsa is an efficient choice. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 59 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, it is an economical route that requires no overnight stops. Navigating between these two points keeps you entirely within the state, transitioning smoothly through the local landscape. Because the trip is so short, you have the flexibility to plan your arrival in Tulsa around your specific schedule without worrying about fatigue. It is a practical, no-fuss journey that gets you from point A to point B with minimal logistical planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
23.7 miles from Chelsea, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip offers a mixed driving experience that transitions from highway speeds to urban access. You will spend roughly 56 percent of your travel time on major thoroughfares, moving between the Will Rogers Turnpike, Clem McSpadden Highway, and the Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway. The longest stretch you will face without a break is a 12.3-mile segment on the Will Rogers Turnpike, which allows for consistent cruising. As you progress toward Tulsa, the road character shifts from the open stretches typical of the Great Plains to the more structured environment of the expressway. Expect a balanced mix of fast-paced transit and standard regional road conditions throughout the hour-long drive.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Will Rogers Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 12.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19 miles in near OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 47.3 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 19 miles (OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.2 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
19 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
19.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the ramp toward I 44: Tulsa, Joplin
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 44: Tulsa, Joplin
9
32.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 44
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44 toward I 44 West, US 412 West, OK 66 West: Tulsa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward I 44 West, US 412 West, OK 66 West: Tuls...
9
37.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 244; US 412 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 244; US 412 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway toward I 244 West, US 412 West: Sand Springs, Enid, Downtown Tulsa, Tulsa International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 236B
Toward I 244 West, US 412 West: Sand Springs, E...
8
46.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 6C
Toward 1st Street, Downtown
Towns Along This Route
Between Chelsea, OK and Tulsa, OK, road signs point toward Joplin, Enid and Tulsa International Airport.
Joplin
19.3 mi in
|
~26m
Enid
37.3 mi in
|
~46m
|
via I 244; US 412
Tulsa International Airport
37.3 mi in
|
~46m
|
via I 244; US 412
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Will Rogers Turnpike | 12.3 mi | 12m |
| Clem McSpadden Highway | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway | 9 mi | 10m |
| Admiral Joe "Jocko" Clark Trailways | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| I 44 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| North Sioux Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| East 1st Street South | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Walnut Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Will Rogers Turnpike
— 12.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chelsea, OK and Tulsa, OK.
1
Start on OK 28
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 6th Street
2
Turn right onto OK 66; OK 28; US Historic 66
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Walnut Street
3
Continue on OK 66; OK 28; US Historic 66
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Admiral Joe "Jocko" Clark Trailways
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on OK 66; US Historic 66
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Clem McSpadden Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto CR S4160
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Sioux Avenue
6
Continue on Maiden Lane
359 ft
·
9 sec
·
Maiden Lane
7
Turn right onto East 9th Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East 9th Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto North Dorothy Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Dorothy Avenue
9
At end of road, turn left onto OK 20
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Will Rogers Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 44: Tulsa, Joplin
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
this road
12
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 44 West: Tulsa
13
Merge onto I 44
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Will Rogers Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 44
Exit 34
Toward I 44 West, US 412 West, OK 66 West: Tulsa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 244; US 412
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Exit 236B
Toward I 244 West, US 412 West: Sand Springs, Enid, Downtown Tulsa, Tulsa International Airport
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 6C
Toward 1st Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on East 1st Street South
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street South
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto South Boulder Avenue West
372 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Boulder Avenue West
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
South Boulder Avenue West
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, sub-one-hour trip, you have the advantage of total departure flexibility, though heading out early can help you avoid any potential congestion as you approach the Tulsa metro area. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops given the brief duration of the drive, allowing you to head straight to your destination. Keep your $7 fuel estimate in mind, though filling up before you leave Chelsea ensures you won't need to worry about finding a station mid-route. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is only 12.3 miles, you will find the drive passes quickly without the need for intense focus or frequent breaks. Use this efficiency to your benefit by keeping your vehicle prepared for the full 47.3-mile distance before you pull out of Chelsea.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 23.7 miles from Chelsea, OK, or about 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.3 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 47.3 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.7 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tulsa, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chelsea, OK 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 Chelsea, OK
This is one driving day of about 47.3 miles and 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chelsea, OK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Will Rogers Turnpike for about 12.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.7 mi from Chelsea, OK · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 47.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Chelsea, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tulsa, OK
The final approach into Tulsa, OK 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 Tulsa, OK.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.18 one way
$14.37 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.92 | $15.84 |
| premium | $4.80 | $8.93 | $17.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.51 | $21.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.61
Will Rogers Turnpike
(12.3 mi)
$0.61
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
$7
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Tulsa, OK
Evening in Tulsa on Sunday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
4 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
59m 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 Chelsea, OK to Tulsa, OK covers 47.3 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Will Rogers Turnpike, Clem McSpadden Highway, Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.7 miles from Chelsea, OK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.18 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 47.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 19 miles (OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.2 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Chelsea, OK and Tulsa, OK, road signs point toward Joplin, Enid and Tulsa International Airport.
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