Origin
Tulsa, OK
Afternoon in Tulsa on Sunday
Local time
2:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountDrive Time
1h 53m
Distance
106.3 mi
171 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Oklahoma City, OK
An Vuong
Connecting Tulsa and Oklahoma City via local roads creates a 106.2-mile journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 33 minutes. Since this route avoids the interstate system entirely, it is best suited for a single-day trip where you have the flexibility to navigate city streets. You can expect to spend about $16 in fuel for the trek across the Great Plains. Because the entire route remains within Oklahoma, the scenery offers a consistent look at the regional landscape. While it is a manageable distance for a quick getaway, the turn-heavy nature of the path means you should be prepared for a more active driving experience than a standard highway cruise.
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
53.2 miles from Tulsa, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Expect a very different experience than the usual interstate commute, as this route relies on local thoroughfares like West 3rd Street South, South Frisco Avenue, and West 6th Street. With a highway share of 0%, this is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. You will find no long, uninterrupted stretches on this path, as the longest segment occurs on West 3rd Street South. Navigating these local roads provides a unique perspective on the urban corridors between the two cities. Be ready for frequent maneuvers and a steady pace that keeps you engaged throughout the 106.2-mile trip.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
719 ft
Total Descent
245 ft
Highest Point
1,196 ft
~106.3 mi in
Elevation Range
532 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike 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 0.9 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 106.3 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles (I 244 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.3 miles (I 44): 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.
Take the ramp toward I 244 West, US 75 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 244 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway toward I 244 West: Oklahoma City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto I 44 toward I 35 South, I 44 West, OK 66 West: Dallas, Lawton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway toward I 35 South: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 270 / Crosstown Expressway toward I 235 North, US 77 North, I 40 West, US 270 West: Oklahoma Health Center, State Capitol, Edmond, Amarillo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Tulsa, OK to Oklahoma City, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Lawton along the way.
Lawton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike | 86.6 mi | 1h 25m |
| Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| World War II Veterans Memorial Highway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Honorable Hannah Diggs Atkins, Secretary of State, Memorial Highway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Representative Opio Toure Memorial Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Crosstown Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Skelly Bypass | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Oklahoma City Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Tulsa, OK and Oklahoma City, OK.
Start on South Boulder Avenue West
Turn right onto West 6th Street
Continue on West 7th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 244
Keep slight right at fork onto I 244
Merge onto I 44; OK 66
Continue on I 44
Take the exit onto I 44
Merge onto I 35; I 44; OK 66
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35; I 40; US 62; US 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 270
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Oklahoma City Boulevard
Turn right onto South Edward King Gaylord Boulevard
Turn left onto West Sheridan Avenue
Turn right onto North Robinson Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the lack of highway miles and the turn-heavy nature of the route, plan for a steady, focused drive rather than a high-speed sprint. Since the trip is relatively short at 1 hour and 33 minutes, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility; leaving mid-morning can help you avoid the densest local traffic. Budgeting $16 for fuel is a safe baseline, but keep in mind that local stop-and-go driving can fluctuate your actual efficiency. With zero scheduled stops provided, you should plan your own breaks along the local streets to stretch your legs. A helpful tip is to keep your navigation system updated, as relying on local roads requires more frequent turns than a simple interstate route.
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.
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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.2 miles or 56m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oklahoma City, OK than in the middle of the route.
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 106.3 miles and 1h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.2 mi from Tulsa, OK · 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 53.2 miles from Tulsa, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.6 miles.
The final approach into Oklahoma City, 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 Oklahoma City, OK.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$16.15 one way
$32.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $17.80 | $35.60 |
| premium | $4.80 | $20.07 | $40.13 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.62 | $47.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.33
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
$16
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.2 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 | 31.9 | 0 | $11.16 | $5.10 |
| Efficient EV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.30 | $4.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.88 | $6.80 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Tulsa on Sunday
Local time
2:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Oklahoma City on Sunday
Local time
2:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Tulsa, OK or browse trips ending in Oklahoma City, OK.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OK road trips.
Explore maps for Tulsa, OK or Oklahoma City, OK on MapSof.net.