The drive from Sulphur, OK to Muskogee, OK covers 158 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, J. A. Richardson Loop, US 69 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.2 miles on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
79 miles from Sulphur, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 158 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 57m drive with frequent turns across 158 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 63.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near OK 7; US 177 / West 1st Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 158 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: near the start (OK 7; US 177 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.8 miles (OK 1): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 miles (OK 1): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|OK 7; US 177 / West 1st Street
Turn right onto OK 7; US 177 / West 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
15.8 mi into trip|~19m in|OK 1
At end of road, turn left onto OK 1
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
25.6 mi into trip|~31m in|OK 1
Take the exit onto OK 1 toward OK 1 East, OK 3 West: Oklahoma City, Seminole, McAlester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward OK 1 East, OK 3 West: Oklahoma City, Sem...
7
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Fort Smith
7
134.1 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 69 North: Muskogee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the sharp right lane.
Exit 264B
Toward US 69 North: Muskogee
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sulphur, OK and Muskogee, OK, road signs point toward Seminole and Mcalester.
Seminole
25.6 mi in|~31m|via OK 1
Mcalester
25.6 mi in|~31m|via OK 1
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
63.2 mi
1h 3m
J. A. Richardson Loop
32 mi
37m
US 69
20.9 mi
22m
Chickasaw Turnpike
13.1 mi
15m
OK 1
9.9 mi
12m
Veterans Memorial Highway
8.4 mi
9m
South Milt Phillips Avenue
2.9 mi
3m
West 1st Street
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
— 63.2 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sulphur, OK and Muskogee, OK.
1
Start on this road
34 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto West Vinita Avenue
86 ft·5 sec·West Vinita Avenue
3
Turn right onto OK 7; US 177
2.5 mi·3 min·West 1st Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward OK 301 East: Ada
5
Merge onto OK 301
2.4 mi·2 min·Chickasaw Turnpike
6
Keep slight right at fork onto OK 301
11 mi·12 min·Chickasaw Turnpike
7
At end of road, turn left onto OK 1
9.8 mi·12 min·OK 1
Use the left / right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto OK 1
0.2 mi·37 sec·OK 1
Toward OK 1 East, OK 3 West: Oklahoma City, Seminole, McAlesterUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto OK 1; OK 3
32 mi·37 min·J. A. Richardson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 377; OK 3E; OK 99
2.9 mi·3 min·South Milt Phillips Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on OK 99; US 377
8.4 mi·9 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 40 East: Fort SmithUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 40
40 mi·40 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 40
1.4 mi·1 min·Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
Toward I 40 East: Fort SmithUse the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 40
23 mi·23 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 264BToward US 69 North: MuskogeeUse the sharp right lane.
17
Merge onto US 69
21 mi·22 min·US 69
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto West Hancock Road
1.0 mi·2 min·West Hancock Road
19
Turn left onto US 64 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·US 64 Business
20
Turn left onto US 62 Business; US 64 Business
74 ft·2 sec·West Okmulgee Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
US 62 Business; US 64 Business
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79 miles from Sulphur, OK, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.2 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 35 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79 miles or 1h 33m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Muskogee, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sulphur, 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 Sulphur, OK
This is one driving day of about 158 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Sulphur, OK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway for about 63.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79 mi from Sulphur, OK
· 1h 33m into the drive
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.70 one way
$49.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.12
$54.24
premium
$4.89
$30.41
$60.81
diesel
$5.61
$34.88
$69.77
Estimated Tolls: $0.92
Chickasaw Turnpike
(13.1 mi)$0.92
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
$25
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.4
0
$16.59
$7.58
Efficient EV
39.5
0
$13.83
$6.32
EV Truck/SUV
63.2
0
$22.12
$10.11
Gas CO2
55 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Sulphur, OK
Late night
in Sulphur on Friday
Local time
1:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Muskogee, OK
Late night
in Muskogee on Friday
Local time
1:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
16 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 57m 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 Sulphur, OK to Muskogee, OK covers 158 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, J. A. Richardson Loop, US 69. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79 miles from Sulphur, OK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.70 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 158 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: near the start (OK 7; US 177 / West 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.8 miles (OK 1): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 miles (OK 1): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Sulphur, OK and Muskogee, OK, road signs point toward Seminole and Mcalester.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
