Origin
Nowata, OK
Afternoon in Nowata on Sunday
Local time
2:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
2h 51m
Distance
155.5 mi
250 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oklahoma City, OK
An Vuong
Traveling from Nowata to Oklahoma City covers 155.5 miles across the Great Plains, typically taking about 2 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. Because this is a relatively straightforward trip, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize US 169 and the Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike to navigate between these two points. Budgeting approximately $24 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the journey. Since both cities reside within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional landscape throughout your travel. This route offers a practical, efficient path for those looking to reach the state capital from the northeastern part of Oklahoma.
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
77.8 miles from Nowata, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of your travel occurring on high-speed routes like the Skelly Bypass. You will spend a significant portion of your time behind the wheel on the Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the drive at 86.6 miles. Expect a steady, efficient pace that favors momentum over winding local roads or complex navigation. As you transition between these major arteries, the drive maintains a consistent, high-speed personality suited for focused highway cruising. It is the type of journey where you can settle into a comfortable rhythm once you merge onto the main turnpikes.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike and US 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.5 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 155.5 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 43.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.5 miles (I 44): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.1 miles (I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Oklahoma City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto I 44 toward I 35 South, I 44 West, OK 66 West: Dallas, Lawton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway toward I 35 South: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 270 / Crosstown Expressway toward I 235 North, US 77 North, I 40 West, US 270 West: Oklahoma Health Center, State Capitol, Edmond, Amarillo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Oklahoma City Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Nowata, OK to Oklahoma City, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Lawton along the way.
Lawton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike | 86.6 mi | 1h 25m |
| US 169 | 41.6 mi | 49m |
| Skelly Bypass | 11.9 mi | 14m |
| World War II Veterans Memorial Highway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Honorable Hannah Diggs Atkins, Secretary of State, Memorial Highway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Representative Opio Toure Memorial Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Maple Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Crosstown Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Nowata, OK and Oklahoma City, OK.
Start on US 169 Alternate
Continue on US 169 Alternate
Continue on US 169
Continue on US 169
Take the exit
Merge onto I 44; OK 66
Keep slight left at fork onto I 44; OK 66
Continue on I 44
Take the exit onto I 44
Merge onto I 35; I 44; OK 66
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35; I 40; US 62; US 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 270
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Oklahoma City Boulevard
Turn right onto South Edward King Gaylord Boulevard
Turn left onto West Sheridan Avenue
Turn right onto North Robinson Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the 2-hour and 51-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the route is short enough to drive in one go, you should account for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the 155.5-mile trek. Be mindful that the longest segment of 86.6 miles occurs on the Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike, so ensure you have enough fuel before entering that stretch to avoid unnecessary stops. Checking your tire pressure and fluid levels before leaving Nowata is a smart move, as the sustained highway speeds will keep your vehicle working steadily. Use the turnpike signage to navigate transitions between US 169 and the Skelly Bypass to keep your arrival time on track.
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.
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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oklahoma City, OK than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Nowata, 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 Nowata, OK
This is one driving day of about 155.5 miles and 2h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.8 mi from Nowata, OK · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 77.8 miles from Nowata, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.6 miles.
The final approach into Oklahoma City, 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 Oklahoma City, OK.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$23.62 one way
$47.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.04 | $52.07 |
| premium | $4.80 | $29.36 | $58.71 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.55 | $69.09 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.33
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
$24
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.33 | $7.46 |
| Efficient EV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.61 | $6.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.2 | 0 | $21.77 | $9.95 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Nowata on Sunday
Local time
2:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Oklahoma City on Sunday
Local time
2:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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