Origin
Oklahoma City, OK
Afternoon in Oklahoma City on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
105.9 mi
170 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Connecting Oklahoma City to Tulsa is a straightforward 106.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the one-way trek across the Great Plains. Navigating the path involves transitioning through Northwest 5th Street, Northeast 5th Street, and I-235. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, this drive offers a practical connection between two of Oklahoma's major hubs without requiring an intensive travel schedule.
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
53 miles from Oklahoma City, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway share. Because the path relies on local street navigation, you will find a distinct lack of long, uninterrupted highway stretches; in fact, the longest segment is 0 miles on Northwest 5th Street. This setup demands more active attention behind the wheel compared to a standard freeway drive. The experience is defined by local turns and surface streets, creating a driving environment that feels more connected to the urban landscape. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed transit.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near North Oklahoma Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 105.9 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 0.8 miles (North Oklahoma Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (Northeast 10th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (North Walnut Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto North Oklahoma Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Northeast 10th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North Walnut Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 244 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway toward I 244 East, OK 344 North: Tulsa, Sand Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward 7th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Oklahoma City, OK to Tulsa, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Sand Springs along the way.
Sand Springs
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 44 | 87.7 mi | 1h 27m |
| Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| World War II Veterans Memorial Highway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Will Rogers Expressway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Centennial Expressway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| North Robinson Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| West 3rd Street South | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| North Oklahoma Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Oklahoma City, OK and Tulsa, OK.
Start on North Robinson Avenue
Turn right onto Northwest 6th Street
Continue on Northeast 6th Street
Turn left onto North Oklahoma Avenue
Turn right onto Northeast 10th Street
Turn left onto North Walnut Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 235; US 77
Take the exit
Merge onto I 44; OK 66
Merge onto I 35; I 44; OK 66
Take the exit onto I 44
Keep slight left at fork onto I 244
Take the exit
Turn left onto South Lawton Avenue West
Turn straight onto West Heavy Traffic Way South
Continue on West 2nd Street South
At end of road, turn right onto South Frisco Avenue
Turn left onto West 3rd Street South
Turn left onto South Boulder Avenue West
Arrive at destination
Since this is a short trip with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With a total duration of just over 90 minutes, you can easily make the drive in one go without needing to build in long rest periods. Keep your $16 fuel budget in mind when you head out, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a route that prioritizes turns over open highway cruising. Because the route is entirely local, pay close attention to street signage and intersections as you transition between the city streets and I-235. This drive is all about efficiency, so take advantage of the short travel time to maximize your day at your destination.
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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tulsa, OK than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Oklahoma City, 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 Oklahoma City, OK
This is one driving day of about 105.9 miles and 1h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53 mi from Oklahoma City, OK · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 53 miles from Oklahoma City, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 44 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.7 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$16.09 one way
$32.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $17.73 | $35.46 |
| premium | $4.80 | $19.99 | $39.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.53 | $47.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.12 | $5.08 |
| Efficient EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.27 | $4.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.83 | $6.78 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 Oklahoma City on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Tulsa on Sunday
Local time
1:38 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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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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