Trip from Tulsa, OK to Claremore, OK

Drive Time

37m

Distance

28 mi

45 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

Downtown Claremore, OK, OK

Photo: Elizabeth Celestino

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick excursion within the Great Plains, the 28-mile journey from Tulsa to Claremore is an ideal choice. Expect to spend about 37 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a stress-free day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-44, the Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway, and South Lynn Riggs Boulevard. Budgeting roughly $4 for fuel makes this a highly economical route for a spontaneous outing. Given the short duration and proximity of these Oklahoma cities, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule without worrying about long-haul fatigue.

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

14 miles from Tulsa, OK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

This highway-focused drive is straightforward and efficient, with 74% of the trip spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself cruising along the interstate for the majority of the time, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 11.3 miles on I-44. The transition from the urban expressway to the regional highways provides a consistent, predictable pace that is easy to manage. While the road lacks the technical challenges of mountain passes, it offers a functional and direct path between these two points. You can expect a steady drive that prioritizes speed and convenience over winding backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 11.3 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 early in the drive near West 2nd Street South.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 28 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 (West 2nd Street South): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 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 | West 2nd Street South

Turn left onto West 2nd Street South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
8
14.4 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 44

Keep slight right at fork onto I 44 toward I 44 East: Joplin, Claremore

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 44 East: Joplin, Claremore
8
21.4 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward OK 266 West: Claremore, Port of Catoosa

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 248 Toward OK 266 West: Claremore, Port of Catoosa
8
21.6 mi into trip | ~26m in

Keep slight left at fork toward PIKEPASS Only

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward PIKEPASS Only
8
22.2 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward OK 66: Claremore, Catoosa

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward OK 66: Claremore, Catoosa

Towns Along This Route

Between Tulsa, OK and Claremore, OK, road signs point toward Port Of Catoosa, Pikepass Only and Catoosa.

Port Of Catoosa

21.4 mi in | ~26m

Pikepass Only

21.6 mi in | ~26m

Catoosa

22.2 mi in | ~27m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 44 11.3 mi 12m
Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway 9.1 mi 10m
South Lynn Riggs Boulevard 5.5 mi 8m
West 2nd Street South 0.8 mi 2m
OK 266 0.3 mi <1m
West Will Rogers Boulevard <0.1 mi Refreshing
South Boulder Avenue West <0.1 mi <1m

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: I 44 — 11.3 mi, about 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Boulder Avenue West

9 ft · 5 sec · South Boulder Avenue West
2

Turn left onto West 2nd Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · West 2nd Street South
Use the straight / left lanes.
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 244 East, US 412 East: Joplin
4

Merge onto I 244; US 412

9.1 mi · 10 min · Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on I 44; US 412; OK 66

4.3 mi · 5 min · I 44; US 412; OK 66
Use the straight lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 44

7.1 mi · 7 min · I 44
Toward I 44 East: Joplin, Claremore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 248 Toward OK 266 West: Claremore, Port of Catoosa Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward PIKEPASS Only Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on OK 266

0.3 mi · 30 sec · OK 266
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward OK 66: Claremore, Catoosa Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn right

162 ft · 4 sec
Toward OK 66 East: Claremore Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Turn straight onto OK 66; US Historic 66

5.5 mi · 8 min · South Lynn Riggs Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn left onto OK 88

23 ft · 0 sec · West Will Rogers Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14

Arrive at destination

OK 88

Trip Plan

Since the total travel time is under 40 minutes, you can easily fit this trip into any part of your day without complex planning. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the freedom to head out whenever it suits your itinerary. Keep in mind that the route is heavily reliant on major highways, so checking traffic conditions on I-44 before you depart is a smart way to ensure a smooth transition. Since fuel costs are minimal at approximately $4, you won't need to stress about budgeting for extra stops or detours along the way. Use the short travel time to your advantage by keeping your gear light and enjoying the quick transition between the two cities.

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 14 miles from Tulsa, OK, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.3 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 28 miles or 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 14 miles or 18m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Claremore, OK than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Tulsa, 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 Tulsa, OK

This is one driving day of about 28 miles and 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tulsa, 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 11.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 14 mi from Tulsa, OK · 18m into the drive

Downtown Oklahoma City, OK, OK

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oklahoma City, OK

14 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

Bentonville, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oklahoma City, OK

Meal break

The midpoint is around 14 miles from Tulsa, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Claremore, OK

The final approach into Claremore, 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 Claremore, 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

$4.25 one way

$8.51 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $4.69 $9.38
premium $4.80 $5.29 $10.57
diesel $5.64 $6.22 $12.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.4 0 $2.94 $1.34
Efficient EV 7 0 $2.45 $1.12
EV Truck/SUV 11.2 0 $3.92 $1.79

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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

Tulsa, OK

Afternoon in Tulsa on Sunday

Local time

1:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Claremore, OK

Afternoon in Claremore on Sunday

Local time

1:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

37m 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 Tulsa, OK to Claremore, OK covers 28 miles and takes about 37m 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, South Lynn Riggs Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14 miles from Tulsa, OK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.25 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 10 significant decision points across 28 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 (West 2nd Street South): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Tulsa, OK and Claremore, OK, road signs point toward Port Of Catoosa, Pikepass Only and Catoosa.

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Return Trip

Claremore, OK to Tulsa, OK

Plan the drive back the other way.

29.6 mi 31m

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