Origin
Chelsea, OK
Late night in Chelsea on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chelsea, OK to Tulsa, OK
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
47.3 mi
76 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chelsea, OK
gina bichsel
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across the Oklahoma Great Plains, the 47.3-mile trip from Chelsea to Tulsa is an efficient choice. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 59 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, it is an economical route that requires no overnight stops. Navigating between these two points keeps you entirely within the state, transitioning smoothly through the local landscape. Because the trip is so short, you have the flexibility to plan your arrival in Tulsa around your specific schedule without worrying about fatigue. It is a practical, no-fuss journey that gets you from point A to point B with minimal logistical planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Will Rogers Turnpike | 12.3 mi | 12m |
| Clem McSpadden Highway | 10.2 mi | 12m |
| Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway | 9 mi | 10m |
| Admiral Joe "Jocko" Clark Trailways | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| I 44 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| North Sioux Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| East 1st Street South | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Walnut Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Will Rogers Turnpike
— 12.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chelsea, OK and Tulsa, OK.
1
Start on OK 28
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 6th Street
2
Turn right onto OK 66; OK 28; US Historic 66
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Walnut Street
3
Continue on OK 66; OK 28; US Historic 66
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Admiral Joe "Jocko" Clark Trailways
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on OK 66; US Historic 66
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Clem McSpadden Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto CR S4160
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Sioux Avenue
6
Continue on Maiden Lane
359 ft
·
9 sec
·
Maiden Lane
7
Turn right onto East 9th Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East 9th Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto North Dorothy Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Dorothy Avenue
9
At end of road, turn left onto OK 20
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Will Rogers Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 44: Tulsa, Joplin
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
this road
12
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 44 West: Tulsa
13
Merge onto I 44
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Will Rogers Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
I 44
Exit 34
Toward I 44 West, US 412 West, OK 66 West: Tulsa
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 244; US 412
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Exit 236B
Toward I 244 West, US 412 West: Sand Springs, Enid, Downtown Tulsa, Tulsa International Airport
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 6C
Toward 1st Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on East 1st Street South
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street South
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto South Boulder Avenue West
372 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Boulder Avenue West
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
South Boulder Avenue West
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Chelsea, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 19 and 46.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
19 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
19.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the ramp toward I 44: Tulsa, Joplin
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 44: Tulsa, Joplin
9
32.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 44
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44 toward I 44 West, US 412 West, OK 66 West: Tulsa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward I 44 West, US 412 West, OK 66 West: Tuls...
9
37.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
I 244; US 412 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 244; US 412 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway toward I 244 West, US 412 West: Sand Springs, Enid, Downtown Tulsa, Tulsa International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 236B
Toward I 244 West, US 412 West: Sand Springs, E...
8
46.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward 1st 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 6C
Toward 1st Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.39 one way
$14.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.12 | $16.24 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.10 | $18.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.44 | $20.89 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.61
Will Rogers Turnpike
(12.3 mi)
$0.61
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.97 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.62 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Tulsa, OK
Late night in Tulsa on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
13 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
59m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving experience that transitions from highway speeds to urban access. You will spend roughly 56 percent of your travel time on major thoroughfares, moving between the Will Rogers Turnpike, Clem McSpadden Highway, and the Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway. The longest stretch you will face without a break is a 12.3-mile segment on the Will Rogers Turnpike, which allows for consistent cruising. As you progress toward Tulsa, the road character shifts from the open stretches typical of the Great Plains to the more structured environment of the expressway. Expect a balanced mix of fast-paced transit and standard regional road conditions throughout the hour-long drive.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Will Rogers Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19 miles in near OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 47.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19 miles (OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.2 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
775 ft
587 ft
Total Climb
266 ft
Total Descent
265 ft
Highest Point
775 ft
~6.8 mi in
Elevation Range
188 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chelsea, OK and Tulsa, OK, road signs point toward Joplin, Enid and Tulsa International Airport.
Joplin
19.3 mi in
|
~26m
Enid
37.3 mi in
|
~46m
|
via I 244; US 412
Tulsa International Airport
37.3 mi in
|
~46m
|
via I 244; US 412
About the Cities
Arriving in Tulsa, OK
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 47.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on Will Rogers Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.61 in tolls one way, starting with Will Rogers 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.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 19 miles (OK 20 / East Will Rogers Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.2 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tulsa, OK before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Tulsa, OK
More trips to Tulsa, OK
Explore more options from Chelsea, OK or browse trips ending in Tulsa, OK.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse OK road trips.