The drive from Waurika, OK to Copeland, OK covers 295 miles and takes about 5h 24m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 44, US 81, Harry E. Bailey Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 153 miles on I 44.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.12 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
147.5 miles from Waurika, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 24m. Total distance: 295 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 24m highway drive covering 295 miles, with most of the trip on I 44 and US 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 153 miles on I 44.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 153 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,347 ft595 ft
Total Climb
869 ft
Total Descent
977 ft
Highest Point
1,347 ft
~84.3 mi in
Elevation Range
752 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and US 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 106.6 miles in near I 44 / Will Rogers Expressway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 295 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 106.6 miles (I 44 / Will Rogers Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 206.3 miles (I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.8 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
106.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|I 44 / Will Rogers Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44 / Will Rogers Expressway toward I 44 East, OK 66 East: Tulsa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 44 East, OK 66 East: Tulsa
8
206.3 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass toward I 44 East, OK 66 East: Joplin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 44 East, OK 66 East: Joplin
8
224.8 mi into trip|~4h 9m 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
285.8 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 59, US 60: Fairland, Grove, Afton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 302
Toward US 59, US 60: Fairland, Grove, Afton
9
286.3 mi into trip|~5h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 59 South, US 60 West, US 69 South: Afton, Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 59 South, US 60 West, US 69 South: Af...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Waurika, OK to Copeland, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Claremore along the way.
Claremore
224.8 mi in|~4h 9m|via I 44
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
153 mi
2h 34m
US 81
30.6 mi
38m
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
26.5 mi
24m
Will Rogers Expressway
23.6 mi
28m
2nd Street
15.6 mi
19m
Skelly Bypass
14.3 mi
17m
OK 7 Spur
10.2 mi
12m
US 59
8.4 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 153 mi, about 2h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waurika, OK and Copeland, OK.
1
Start on East B Avenue
75 ft·5 sec·East B Avenue
2
Turn right onto Elm Street
0.1 mi·38 sec·Elm Street
3
Turn left onto East D Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·East D Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 81
5.6 mi·6 min·Medal of Honor Recipient Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 81
16 mi·19 min·2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto OK 7 Spur
10 mi·12 min·OK 7 Spur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn right
0.8 mi·1 min
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 81
17 mi·22 min·US 81
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on US 81
13 mi·16 min·US 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 44 East: Oklahoma CityUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 44
26 mi·24 min·Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 44; US 62
16 mi·18 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44
7.7 mi·9 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Toward I 44 East, OK 66 East: TulsaUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto I 35; I 44; OK 66
4.2 mi·4 min·World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto I 44
88 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 44
Exit 138AToward I 44 East: TulsaUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44; OK 66
14 mi·17 min·Skelly Bypass
Toward I 44 East, OK 66 East: JoplinUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 44; US 412; OK 66
4.3 mi·5 min·I 44; US 412; OK 66
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44
61 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 44
Toward I 44 East: Joplin, ClaremoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 302Toward US 59, US 60: Fairland, Grove, AftonUse the right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Cash OnlyUse the straight lane.
21
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·20 sec·this road
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 59 South, US 60 West, US 69 South: Afton, GroveUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn straight onto US 59; US 60; US 69; US Historic 66
0.6 mi·56 sec·US 59; US 60; US 69; US Historic 66
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto US 59
7.8 mi·10 min·US 59
Toward US 69 South: Grove
25
Turn sharp right onto East 250 Road
303 ft·5 sec·East 250 Road
26
Arrive at destination
East 250 Road
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.5 miles from Waurika, OK, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153 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 65 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.5 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Copeland, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waurika, 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 Waurika, OK
This is one driving day of about 295 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Waurika, 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 I 44 for about 153 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147.5 mi from Waurika, OK
· 2h 48m into the drive
The midpoint is around 147.5 miles from Waurika, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 44 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153 miles.
Arriving in Copeland, OK
The final approach into Copeland, 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 Copeland, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Oklahoma City National Memorial
National Memorial
The outdoor symbolic memorial is a place of quiet reflection, honoring victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were changed forever on April 19, 1995. It encompasses the now sacred soil where the Al...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$18
near mile 101.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.12 one way
$92.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$50.64
$101.28
premium
$4.89
$56.77
$113.54
diesel
$5.61
$65.13
$130.26
Estimated Tolls: $1.85
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
(26.5 mi)$1.85
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
$46
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.5
1
$30.97
$14.16
Efficient EV
73.8
0
$25.81
$11.80
EV Truck/SUV
118
1
$41.30
$18.88
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Waurika, OK
Morning
in Waurika on Saturday
Local time
10:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 13 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Fire Weather Watch
The Fire Weather Watch has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS Norman OK on this developing situat...
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 1:52AM CDT until April 13 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Copeland, OK
Morning
in Copeland on Saturday
Local time
10:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 15 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Fire Weather Watch
The Fire Weather Watch has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS Norman OK on this developing situat...
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 1:52AM CDT until April 13 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 24m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Waurika, OK to Copeland, OK covers 295 miles and takes about 5h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 44, US 81, Harry E. Bailey Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.5 miles from Waurika, OK. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.12 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 295 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: at 106.6 miles (I 44 / Will Rogers Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 206.3 miles (I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 224.8 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Waurika, OK to Copeland, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Claremore along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 595 ft to 1,347 ft elevation with about 869 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Oklahoma City National Memorial.
