Cache, OK to Tulsa, OK is 204 miles and takes about 3h 37m via I 44 and Will Rogers Expressway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Oklahoma. It's a primarily highway route, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained interstates, so plan for efficient travel.
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
102 miles from Cache, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
87.7 mi
1h 27m
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
61.2 mi
1h 2m
Will Rogers Expressway
23.6 mi
28m
US 62
14.4 mi
16m
Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
4.7 mi
5m
Pioneer Expressway
4.6 mi
4m
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
4.2 mi
4m
Bill W. Burgess, Junior Highway
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 87.7 mi, about 1h 27m
Traffic on I-44
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,075 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,554
Quietest
2 AM
~170 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
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 Cache, OK and Tulsa, OK.
1
Start on B Avenue
0.2 mi·55 sec·B Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South 8th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
4
Merge onto US 62
7.0 mi·7 min·US 62
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 62
7.2 mi·8 min·US 62
Toward Rogers LaneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 62
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 62
7
Merge onto I 44; US 62; US 277; US 281
1.4 mi·1 min·Bill W. Burgess, Junior Highway
Toward I 44 East, US 62 East, US 277 North, US 281 North: Oklahoma City
8
Continue on I 44; US 62; US 277; US 281
4.6 mi·4 min·Pioneer Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 44
61 mi·1 hr 2 min·Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
Toward I 44 East: Chickasha, Oklahoma CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 44; US 62
16 mi·18 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
11
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.
12
Merge onto I 35; I 44; OK 66
4.2 mi·4 min·World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit onto I 44
88 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 44
Exit 138AToward I 44 East: TulsaUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 244
4.7 mi·5 min·Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Exit 223AToward I 244 East, OK 344 North: Tulsa, Sand SpringsUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 4CToward 7th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto South Lawton Avenue West
0.1 mi·23 sec·South Lawton Avenue West
Use the left lane.
17
Turn straight onto West Heavy Traffic Way South
0.1 mi·25 sec·West Heavy Traffic Way South
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
18
Continue on West 2nd Street South
0.1 mi·26 sec·West 2nd Street South
19
At end of road, turn right onto South Frisco Avenue
386 ft·20 sec·South Frisco Avenue
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto West 3rd Street South
0.3 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto South Boulder Avenue West
390 ft·15 sec·South Boulder Avenue West
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
South Boulder Avenue West
Trip Plan
Given this is a short, 3.5-hour drive, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Tulsa with plenty of daylight for onward travel or settling in. The route features only one recommended stop, so you can easily push through if needed, but consider a brief break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer stretches like the 87.7 miles on I 44, as services can be spaced out on turnpikes.
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 102 miles from Cache, OK, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.7 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 45 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102 miles or 1h 50m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tulsa, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cache, 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 Cache, OK
This is one driving day of about 204.1 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Cache, 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 87.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.1 and 202.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.1 mi into trip|~10m in|US 62
Keep slight right at fork onto US 62 toward Rogers Lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Rogers Lane
8
98.6 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
7
110.5 mi into trip|~2h in|I 44
Take the exit onto I 44 toward I 44 East: Tulsa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 138A
Toward I 44 East: Tulsa
9
198.2 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|I 244 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 244 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway toward I 244 East, OK 344 North: Tulsa, Sand Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 223A
Toward I 244 East, OK 344 North: Tulsa, Sand Sp...
8
202.9 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Take the exit toward 7th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4C
Toward 7th Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.14 one way
$60.28 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.27
$66.55
premium
$4.72
$37.90
$75.79
diesel
$4.80
$38.54
$77.08
Estimated Tolls: $4.28
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
(61.2 mi)$4.28
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
$30
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
35 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Oklahoma City, OK - 36th Street - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.2
0
$21.43
$9.80
Efficient EV
51
0
$17.86
$8.16
EV Truck/SUV
81.6
1
$28.57
$13.06
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Jul 15, 2026
Origin
Cache, OK
Late night
in Cache on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
SSE 9 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tulsa, OK
Late night
in Tulsa on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
E 5 mph57% chanceLive 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
3 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
3h 37m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 96% highway, meaning you'll be on major roads for almost the entire 204 miles. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 87.7 miles on I 44. Expect a consistent cruising experience with a high percentage of time spent on the turnpike and expressway systems. The density of exits will likely increase as you approach Tulsa.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.7 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Harry E. Bailey Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in near US 62.
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 17 significant decision points across 204.1 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 8.1 miles (US 62): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.6 miles (I 44 / Will Rogers Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.5 miles (I 44): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,361 ft722 ft
Total Climb
542 ft
Total Descent
1,091 ft
Highest Point
1,361 ft
~43.7 mi in
Elevation Range
640 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 Cache, OK to Tulsa, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Tulsa calls itself the "Oil Capital of the World." Here, the age of the oil boom found its center. A small town by US standards, metropolitan luxuries such as theater, fine dining, nightlife, and shopping are found in a state known for sparsely populated farming communities. The picturesque downtown is surrounded by rolling hills covered with prairie grasses and ancient forests, a first impression that soon reveals world-class architecture and museums of art, miles of biking and walking trails, and huge parks. With a wealth of iconic sights and neighborhoods to explore, a trip to Tulsa can easily fit several weeks of touring.
Top landmarks
•Philbrook Museum of Art — art museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma
•Holy Family Cathedral — church in Oklahoma, United States
•Philtower Building — historic building in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 204.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.7 miles on I 44. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.28 in tolls one way, starting with Harry E. Bailey 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Tulsa, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles (US 62): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.6 miles (I 44 / Will Rogers Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.5 miles (I 44): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Oklahoma City National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Tulsa, OK, but most travelers stay overnight.
