Origin
Shawnee, OK
Afternoon in Shawnee on Sunday
Local time
1:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shawnee, OK to Sallisaw, OK
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
128.7 mi
207 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
Photo: Sewupari Studio
Trip Overview
Traveling from Shawnee to Sallisaw covers 128.7 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 18 minutes of drive time. Since the entire journey stays within the Great Plains region of Oklahoma, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, North Kickapoo Street, and the Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway makes for a straightforward, though turn-heavy, local route. Because there are no designated stops included in this transit, it serves best as a direct, efficient connection between these two points.
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
64.3 miles from Shawnee, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature rather than a high-speed interstate grind. With zero percent of the trip spent on major highway systems, you will spend your time navigating through regional roadways that demand consistent attention. The longest uninterrupted portion of your journey occurs on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, which accounts for 120.6 miles of the total distance. Expect a driving experience that feels more grounded and localized as you transition from Shawnee toward Sallisaw. The road requires steady focus, making it a distinct change of pace from standard highway cruising.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 120.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near North Kickapoo Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (North Kickapoo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (I 40 / Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Kickapoo Street
Turn right onto North Kickapoo Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 East: Fort Smith
Navigation decision point
Toward I 40 East: Fort Smith
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 40 / Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 40 / Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
126.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
I 40 Business
Take the exit onto I 40 Business toward I 40 Business East, US 59: Sallisaw, Poteau
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 308
Toward I 40 Business East, US 59: Sallisaw, Pot...
5
126.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
I 40 Business; US 59 / Kerr Boulevard
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US 59 / Kerr Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway | 120.6 mi | 2h 1m |
| North Kickapoo Street | 3.8 mi | 8m |
| Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| West Cherokee Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Kerr Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 40 Business | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Cherokee Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
— 120.6 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shawnee, OK and Sallisaw, OK.
1
Start on West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto North Kickapoo Street
3.8 mi
·
8 min
·
North Kickapoo Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto West Interstate Parkway
451 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Interstate Parkway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 40 East: Fort Smith
5
Merge onto I 40
55 mi
·
54 min
·
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 40
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
Toward I 40 East: Fort Smith
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on I 40
66 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto I 40 Business
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 40 Business
Exit 308
Toward I 40 Business East, US 59: Sallisaw, Poteau
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US 59
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kerr Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto I 40 Business; US 59; US 64
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Cherokee Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on I 40 Business; US 59; US 64
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Cherokee Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Turn right
116 ft
·
5 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a 2-hour and 18-minute drive without scheduled stops, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep your $20 fuel budget in mind as you plan your departure, ensuring your tank is ready for the 128.7-mile trek. Since the route lacks major highway infrastructure, remain alert for the frequent turns that characterize this local road profile. If you find the lack of stops challenging, consider building in your own breaks along the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway to stretch your legs. Staying mindful of the turn-heavy nature of the route is the best way to ensure a smooth and predictable arrival in Sallisaw.
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 64.3 miles from Shawnee, OK, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.6 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.3 miles or 1h 9m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sallisaw, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shawnee, 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 Shawnee, OK
This is one driving day of about 128.7 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Shawnee, 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 Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway for about 120.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.3 mi from Shawnee, OK · 1h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 64.3 miles from Shawnee, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.6 miles.
Arriving in Sallisaw, OK
The final approach into Sallisaw, 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 Sallisaw, OK.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.55 one way
$39.10 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.55 | $43.10 |
| premium | $4.80 | $24.30 | $48.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.59 | $57.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.51 | $6.18 |
| Efficient EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.26 | $5.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.02 | $8.24 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Sallisaw, OK
Afternoon in Sallisaw on Sunday
Local time
1:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
2 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
2h 18m 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 Shawnee, OK to Sallisaw, OK covers 128.7 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, North Kickapoo Street, Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.3 miles from Shawnee, OK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.55 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 straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (North Kickapoo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (I 40 / Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Shawnee, OK to Sallisaw, OK does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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