Trip from Oklahoma City, OK to Tulsa, OK

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

Trip Overview

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 .

Drive Character

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.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 44 is the longest continuous segment at about 87.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 8/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | North Oklahoma Avenue

Turn left onto North Oklahoma Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes.
7
1.1 mi into trip | ~3m in | Northeast 10th Street

Turn right onto Northeast 10th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes.
7
1.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | North Walnut Avenue

Turn left onto North Walnut Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
9
100.1 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | I 244 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 223A Toward I 244 East, OK 344 North: Tulsa, Sand Sp...
8
104.8 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 4C Toward 7th Street, Downtown

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Oklahoma City, OK to Tulsa, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Sand Springs along the way.

Sand Springs

100.1 mi in | ~1h 44m | via I 244

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 44 — 87.7 mi, about 1h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oklahoma City, OK and Tulsa, OK.

1

Start on North Robinson Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Robinson Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
2

Turn right onto Northwest 6th Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Northwest 6th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3

Continue on Northeast 6th Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Northeast 6th Street
4

Turn left onto North Oklahoma Avenue

0.3 mi · 36 sec · North Oklahoma Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
5

Turn right onto Northeast 10th Street

478 ft · 17 sec · Northeast 10th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
6

Turn left onto North Walnut Avenue

494 ft · 9 sec · North Walnut Avenue
Use the left lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 235 North, US 77 North: Edmond
8

Merge onto I 235; US 77

3.1 mi · 3 min · Centennial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 4B Toward I 44 East: Tulsa Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 44; OK 66

3.3 mi · 4 min · Will Rogers Expressway
Toward I 44 East, OK 66 East: Tulsa Use the straight lane.
11

Merge onto I 35; I 44; OK 66

4.2 mi · 4 min · World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
12

Take the exit onto I 44

88 mi · 1 hr 27 min · I 44
Exit 138A Toward I 44 East: Tulsa Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 244

4.7 mi · 5 min · Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Exit 223A Toward I 244 East, OK 344 North: Tulsa, Sand Springs Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 4C Toward 7th Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn left onto South Lawton Avenue West

0.1 mi · 23 sec · South Lawton Avenue West
Use the left lane.
16

Turn straight onto West Heavy Traffic Way South

0.1 mi · 25 sec · West Heavy Traffic Way South
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
17

Continue on West 2nd Street South

0.1 mi · 26 sec · West 2nd Street South
18

At end of road, turn right onto South Frisco Avenue

386 ft · 20 sec · South Frisco Avenue
Use the right lane.
19

Turn left onto West 3rd Street South

0.3 mi · 1 min · West 3rd Street South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20

Turn left onto South Boulder Avenue West

390 ft · 15 sec · South Boulder Avenue West
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
21

Arrive at destination

South Boulder Avenue West

Trip Plan

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.

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 53 miles from Oklahoma City, OK, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.7 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Oklahoma City, 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 I 44 for about 87.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 53 mi from Oklahoma City, OK · 57m into the drive

Downtown Denison, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Denison, TX

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Denison, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Denison, TX

Meal break

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 check

Top up before I 44 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.7 miles.

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

$16.09 one way

$32.17 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Oklahoma City, OK

Afternoon in Oklahoma City on Sunday

Local time

1:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tulsa, OK

Afternoon in Tulsa on Sunday

Local time

1:38 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 54m 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 Oklahoma City, OK to Tulsa, OK covers 105.9 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway, World War II Veterans Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53 miles from Oklahoma City, OK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.09 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 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.
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.
On the drive from Oklahoma City, OK to Tulsa, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Sand Springs along the way.

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Return Trip

Tulsa, OK to Oklahoma City, OK

Plan the drive back the other way.

106.3 mi 1h 53m

Explore more options from Oklahoma City, OK or browse trips ending in Tulsa, OK.

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