Spanning 263.2 miles across the Oklahoma Great Plains, this drive typically takes about 4 hours and 54 minutes to complete. You will navigate a combination of US 59 North and I-44, keeping in mind that sections of this route are PIKEPASS-only. Since the journey remains within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional backdrop from start to finish. Budgeting approximately $40 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Given the duration, this route is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach Apache from Copeland without needing an overnight stay.
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
131.6 miles from Copeland, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike
86.6 mi
1h 25m
Will Rogers Turnpike
60.2 mi
1h
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
26.6 mi
25m
Will Rogers Expressway
23.5 mi
28m
OK 19
22.1 mi
34m
Skelly Bypass
15 mi
18m
US 59
8.6 mi
11m
I 44
5.6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike
— 86.6 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Copeland, OK and Apache, OK.
1
Start on East 250 Road
303 ft·13 sec·East 250 Road
2
Turn sharp left onto US 59
8.4 mi·11 min·US 59
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Continue on US 59; US 69; US Historic 66
0.2 mi·19 sec·US 59; US 69; US Historic 66
Toward US 59 North, US 69 North: MiamiUse the straight lane.
4
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·44 sec
Toward I 44: Tulsa, JoplinUse the sharp right lane.
5
Turn straight onto US 60
512 ft·8 sec·US 60
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 44: Tulsa, JoplinUse the straight / sharp right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward PIKEPASS OnlyUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 44
60 mi·1 hr·Will Rogers Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44
5.1 mi·6 min·I 44
Exit 34Toward I 44 West, US 412 West, OK 66 West: TulsaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 44; OK 66
14 mi·17 min·Skelly Bypass
Toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Sapulpa, Oklahoma CityUse the slight left lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 44; OK 66
1.1 mi·1 min·Skelly Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 44
87 mi·1 hr 25 min·Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike
Toward I 44 West: Oklahoma CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 44
0.5 mi·58 sec·I 44
Toward I 35 South, I 44 West, OK 66 West: Dallas, LawtonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44; OK 66
16 mi·19 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Exit 133Toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Lawton, AmarilloUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44
7.9 mi·8 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Toward I 44 West, US 62 West: LawtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 44
27 mi·25 min·Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
Toward I 44 West: Chickasha, LawtonUse the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 80Toward US 81, US 277: Duncan, ChickashaUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn left onto US 81; US 277
5.3 mi·7 min·US 81; US 277
Toward US 81 South, US 277 South: DuncanUse the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto OK 19; US 277
7.7 mi·11 min·OK 19; US 277
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Turn straight onto OK 19; US 277
7.6 mi·11 min·OK 19; US 277
22
At end of road, turn left onto OK 19; US 277
0.7 mi·1 min·North Baskett
23
Turn right onto OK 19; US 277
0.2 mi·15 sec·OK 19; US 277
24
Turn right onto OK 19
2.8 mi·4 min·Windel Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on OK 19
6.7 mi·11 min·OK 19
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn left onto US 62; US 281
0.3 mi·31 sec·Coblake Street
27
Arrive at destination
US 62; US 281
Trip Plan
Because this is a turn-heavy route, plan to leave early in the day to ensure you have plenty of daylight for navigating local roads. You only have one planned stop along the way, so use that time efficiently to stretch your legs and refresh before completing the remainder of the 263.2-mile trek. Since parts of the route are PIKEPASS-only, confirm your toll payment method is active before heading out to avoid any unnecessary complications. Keeping your fuel costs around the $40 estimate is simple if you monitor your efficiency during the frequent turns. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't hesitate to adjust your pace to match the rhythm of the local roads.
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 131.6 miles from Copeland, OK, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.6 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 58 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.6 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apache, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Copeland, 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 Copeland, OK
This is one driving day of about 263.2 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Copeland, 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 86.6 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 70.2 and 231.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
70.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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...
8
75.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass
Keep slight left at fork onto I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Sapulpa, Oklahoma City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Sapulpa, Oklahoma...
9
181.5 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|I 44; OK 66 / Will Rogers Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44; OK 66 / Will Rogers Expressway toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Lawton, Amarillo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 133
Toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Lawton, Amarillo
8
197.1 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|I 44 / Will Rogers Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 44 / Will Rogers Expressway toward I 44 West, US 62 West: Lawton
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 West, US 62 West: Lawton
8
231.6 mi into trip|~4h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 81, US 277: Duncan, Chickasha
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 80
Toward US 81, US 277: Duncan, Chickasha
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.15 one way
$82.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$45.18
$90.36
premium
$4.89
$50.65
$101.30
diesel
$5.61
$58.11
$116.22
Estimated Tolls: $9.20
Turner Turnpike
(86.6 mi)$4.33
Will Rogers Turnpike
(60.2 mi)$3.01
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
(26.6 mi)$1.86
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
$41
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79
0
$27.64
$12.63
Efficient EV
65.8
0
$23.03
$10.53
EV Truck/SUV
105.3
1
$36.85
$16.84
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Copeland, OK
Evening
in Copeland on Saturday
Local time
8:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Apache, OK
Evening
in Apache on Saturday
Local time
8:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live 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
18 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
4h 54m 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...
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 that demands your full attention rather than a mindless highway cruise. With a highway share of 0%, this route favors local roads over high-speed interstate stretches, resulting in a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. The path winds through the landscape, requiring you to navigate frequent turns as you make your way across the state. Because the road lacks long, uninterrupted highway segments, you should prepare for a drive that feels more technical than a standard cross-country haul.
91% 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: 86.6 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 Will Rogers Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 70.2 miles in near I 44.
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 22 significant decision points across 263.2 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 70.2 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.3 miles (I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.5 miles (I 44; OK 66 / Will Rogers Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Copeland, OK and Apache, OK, road signs point toward Oklahoma City, Lawton, Amarillo and Chickasha.
Oklahoma City
75.3 mi in|~1h 21m|via I 44; OK 66
Lawton
176.9 mi in|~3h 5m|via I 44
Amarillo
181.5 mi in|~3h 11m|via I 44; OK 66
Chickasha
231.6 mi in|~4h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 54m. Total distance: 263.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.6 miles on Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.20 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.
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 Apache, 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 70.2 miles (I 44): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.3 miles (I 44; OK 66 / Skelly Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.5 miles (I 44; OK 66 / Will Rogers Expressway): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Apache, OK, but most travelers stay overnight.
