Drive Time
4h 56m
Distance
273.3 mi
440 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
The drive from Stillwater, OK to Broken Bow, OK covers 273.3 miles and takes about 4h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Indian Nation Turnpike, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, South Jardot Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 104.1 miles on Indian Nation Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.51 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
136.7 miles from Stillwater, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .
The drive from Stillwater, OK to Broken Bow, OK covers 273.3 miles and takes about 4h 56m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 177 / South Perkins Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 273.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 177 / South Perkins Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (OK 33; CR EW71; US 177 / East 116th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto US 177 / South Perkins Road
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto OK 33; CR EW71; US 177 / East 116th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward OK 3E East, I 40 East: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 40; OK 3E / Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Indian Nation Turnpike South: McAlester, Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Stillwater, OK and Broken Bow, OK, road signs point toward Indian Nation Turnpike South: Mcalester and Dallas.
Indian Nation Turnpike South: Mcalester
Dallas
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Nation Turnpike | 104.1 mi | 1h 44m |
| Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway | 58.7 mi | 59m |
| South Jardot Road | 41.1 mi | 48m |
| Jake Pulliam Bypass | 30.1 mi | 34m |
| US 70 | 15 mi | 17m |
| South Perkins Road | 9 mi | 11m |
| Representative Rusty Farley Memorial Highway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Washington Street | 4 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Stillwater, OK and Broken Bow, OK.
Start on OK 51
Turn right onto US 177
At end of road, turn left onto OK 33; CR EW71; US 177
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto US 177
Continue on US 177
Take the exit
Merge onto I 40; OK 3E
Take the exit
Merge onto OK 375
Continue on US 70; US 70; US 271
Continue on US 70
Turn left onto US 70
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70
Turn left onto OK 3; US 70; US 259
Continue on US 70; US 259; OK 3
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.7 miles or 2h 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 3h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Broken Bow, OK than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Stillwater, 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 Stillwater, OK
This is one driving day of about 273.3 miles and 4h 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.7 mi from Stillwater, OK · 2h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 136.7 miles from Stillwater, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Indian Nation Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.1 miles.
The final approach into Broken Bow, 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 Broken Bow, 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.
Regular Gas
$41.51 one way
$83.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $45.76 | $91.52 |
| premium | $4.80 | $51.59 | $103.19 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $60.72 | $121.44 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.29
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
$42
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82 | 1 | $28.70 | $13.12 |
| Efficient EV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.91 | $10.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.3 | 1 | $38.26 | $17.49 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Stillwater on Saturday
Local time
4:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Broken Bow on Saturday
Local time
4:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
58°F
Anna, TX
137 mi in
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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