This 294.3-mile journey from Burns Flat, OK to Copeland, OK is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 4 hours and 26 minutes. You'll primarily travel on I 40 East, the Great Western Cattle Trail, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. With a fuel cost around $45 and just one recommended stop, this drive is manageable within a single day. The route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape. Consider this a straightforward drive that won't require an overnight stay, making it a convenient option for a quick trip.
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
146.2 miles from Burns Flat, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike
86.1 mi
1h 25m
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
78.7 mi
1h 20m
I 44
65.3 mi
1h 6m
John Kilpatrick Turnpike
23.5 mi
25m
Skelly Bypass
15.5 mi
18m
US 59
8.4 mi
11m
OK 44
6.5 mi
9m
Senator Ed Berrong Memorial Highway
2.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike
— 86.1 mi, about 1h 25m
Traffic on I-40
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,830 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~207 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burns Flat, OK and Copeland, OK.
1
Start on OK 44
3.2 mi·5 min·OK 44
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on OK 44
3.2 mi·3 min·OK 44
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 40 East: Oklahoma CityUse the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 40
2.0 mi·2 min·Great Western Cattle Trail
5
Continue on I 40
24 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 40
2.6 mi·2 min·Senator Ed Berrong Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 40
55 mi·54 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 137Toward Cornwell Drive, Czech Hall RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
117 ft·9 sec
10
Turn left onto North Czech Hall Road
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Czech Hall Road
11
Turn right onto Northwest 10th Street
1.8 mi·3 min·Northwest 10th Street
12
Continue on Northwest 10th Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·Northwest 10th Street
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 344 East
14
Merge onto I 344
24 mi·25 min·John Kilpatrick Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 44
86 mi·1 hr 25 min·Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on I 44; OK 66
1.2 mi·1 min·Skelly Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Continue on I 44; US 412; OK 66
4.3 mi·5 min·I 44; US 412; OK 66
Use the straight lane.
19
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.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 302Toward US 59, US 60: Fairland, Grove, AftonUse the right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Cash OnlyUse the straight lane.
22
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·20 sec·this road
23
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.
24
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.
25
Turn left onto US 59
7.8 mi·10 min·US 59
Toward US 69 South: Grove
26
Turn sharp right onto East 250 Road
303 ft·5 sec·East 250 Road
27
Arrive at destination
East 250 Road
Trip Plan
For this 294.3-mile drive, departing earlier in the day will give you the most flexibility. With a duration of 4 hours and 26 minutes and only one stop recommended, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you navigate the Great Western Cattle Trail and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway sections, as services might be less frequent. The 'turn-heavy' nature of this route means staying alert and consulting your navigation frequently will be key to a smooth journey. Budgeting around $45 for fuel should cover your needs.
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 146.2 miles from Burns Flat, OK, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 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 64 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.2 miles or 2h 34m 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 12m
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 Burns Flat, 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 Burns Flat, OK
This is one driving day of about 292.5 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Burns Flat, 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 Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike for about 86.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 90 and 283.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
90 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward Cornwell Drive, Czech Hall Road
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 137
Toward Cornwell Drive, Czech Hall Road
8
203.7 mi into trip|~3h 32m 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
222.2 mi into trip|~3h 55m 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
283.2 mi into trip|~4h 56m 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
283.7 mi into trip|~4h 57m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.20 one way
$86.39 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$47.69
$95.37
premium
$4.72
$54.31
$108.62
diesel
$4.80
$55.23
$110.46
Estimated Tolls: $5.49
Turner Turnpike
(86.1 mi)$4.31
Kilpatrick Turnpike
(23.5 mi)$1.18
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
$43
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.8
1
$30.71
$14.04
Efficient EV
73.1
0
$25.59
$11.70
EV Truck/SUV
117
1
$40.95
$18.72
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Burns Flat, OK
Evening
in Burns Flat on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
S 14 to 21 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:10PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Copeland, OK
Evening
in Copeland on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 6:10PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
78°F
Spencer, OK
146 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 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 9m 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.
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
$18
near mile 110.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 294.3-mile route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. While there's no longest uninterrupted stretch noted, the profile suggests a driving experience characterized by frequent changes in direction rather than long, straightaways. This means you'll likely encounter a variety of road types and conditions, requiring your attention throughout the 4-hour and 26-minute journey. It’s a route that keeps you actively engaged with the road ahead.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike and Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 90 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 292.5 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 90 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.7 miles (I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222.2 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,893 ft613 ft
Total Climb
151 ft
Total Descent
1,348 ft
Highest Point
1,893 ft
Elevation Range
1,281 ft
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 Burns Flat, OK to Copeland, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Claremore along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 292.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.49 in tolls one way, starting with Turner Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Copeland, OK before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 90 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.7 miles (I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222.2 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Oklahoma City National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Copeland, OK before the return drive.
