Elk City to Ardmore is 208.5 miles and takes about 3h 42m via Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Oklahoma, traversing the Great Plains region from west to east. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, offering a straightforward connection between two points. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a day trip.
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
104.3 miles from Elk City, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
83.2 mi
1h 24m
World War I Veterans Memorial Highway
65.8 mi
1h 7m
Director Steven Stokes Memorial Highway
11 mi
11m
Great Western Cattle Trail
10.7 mi
10m
Helen Cole Memorial Highway
6.8 mi
7m
John Kilpatrick Turnpike
5.8 mi
6m
Doctor James E. and Representative Mina M. Hibdon Memorial Highway
5.6 mi
6m
Airport Road
4.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 83.2 mi, about 1h 24m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,754 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,889
Quietest
2 AM
~304 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Elk City, OK and Ardmore, OK.
1
Start on this road
99 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66
2.6 mi·4 min·East 3rd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the exit onto I 40 Business
0.3 mi·25 sec·J. Cooper West Memorial Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Merge onto I 40
3.0 mi·2 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
5
Continue on I 40
11 mi·10 min·Great Western Cattle Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 40
24 mi·25 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 40
2.6 mi·2 min·Senator Ed Berrong Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 40
56 mi·56 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 138BToward I 344: Kilpatrick TurnpikeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
266 ft·6 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·57 sec
Toward I 344 EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 344
5.8 mi·6 min·John Kilpatrick Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 240
4.2 mi·5 min·Airport Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·13 sec
Toward I 44 West, OK 3 East, I 240 East: LawtonUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on I 240
0.5 mi·35 sec·I 240
16
Merge onto I 44; I 240; OK 3
1.1 mi·1 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 240; US 62; OK 3
3.7 mi·4 min·Southwest Expressway
Exit 115Toward I 240 East, US 62 East, OK 3 East: Dallas, Fort SmithUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 240; US 62; OK 3
0.5 mi·35 sec·Southeast Expressway
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 4AToward I 35 South, US 77 South: DallasUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 35; US 77
0.1 mi·8 sec·World War I Veterans Memorial Highway
21
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.8 mi·7 min·Helen Cole Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on I 35; US 77
5.6 mi·6 min·Doctor James E. and Representative Mina M. Hibdon Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on I 35
0.9 mi·1 min·World War I Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto OK 9; I 35
0.8 mi·52 sec·McCall Bridge
25
Continue on OK 9; I 35
32 mi·33 min·World War I Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on I 35
11 mi·11 min·Director Steven Stokes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 35
32 mi·32 min·World War I Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·42 sec
Exit 31AToward ArdmoreUse the sharp right lane.
29
Turn straight onto West Broadway Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West Broadway Street
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn right
51 ft·2 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3h 42m drive time, leaving Elk City any time in the morning should get you to Ardmore with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop to break up the 208.5 miles; this leaves you flexible to choose your own pace. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the route is mostly surface roads, and factor in the estimated $32 fuel cost. The longest stretch without a stop is 83.2 miles on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, so ensure you're fueled up before that segment.
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 104.3 miles from Elk City, OK, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.2 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 46 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.3 miles or 1h 49m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ardmore, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elk City, 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 Elk City, OK
This is one driving day of about 208.5 miles and 3h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Elk City, 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 Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 83.2 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 99.4 and 116.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
99.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 344: Kilpatrick Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138B
Toward I 344: Kilpatrick Turnpike
7
99.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 344 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 344 East
8
110.4 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 44 West, OK 3 East, I 240 East: Lawton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 44 West, OK 3 East, I 240 East: Lawton
9
112.1 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|I 240; US 62; OK 3 / Southwest Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 240; US 62; OK 3 / Southwest Expressway toward I 240 East, US 62 East, OK 3 East: Dallas, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 115
Toward I 240 East, US 62 East, OK 3 East: Dalla...
8
116.3 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South, US 77 South: Dallas
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 4A
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South: Dallas
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.78 one way
$69.56 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$37.80
$75.60
premium
$5.26
$43.17
$86.34
diesel
$6.18
$50.72
$101.44
Estimated Tolls: $0.29
Kilpatrick Turnpike
(5.8 mi)$0.29
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
$35
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.6
0
$21.89
$10.01
Efficient EV
52.1
0
$18.24
$8.34
EV Truck/SUV
83.4
1
$29.19
$13.34
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Elk City, OK
Morning
in Elk City on Tuesday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ardmore, OK
Morning
in Ardmore on Tuesday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
SSE 1 to 8 mph0% 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
5 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
3h 42m 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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
$18
near mile 115.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 208.5 miles, with a significant portion on surface roads. You'll experience 83.2 miles on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway before transitioning to other highways and surface roads. Expect a drive that involves more local traffic and intersections as you move away from the primary highway segments. The highway share is 6%, indicating most of your time will be spent on non-interstate roads.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.2 mi on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 99.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 208.5 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 99.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,918 ft872 ft
Total Climb
141 ft
Total Descent
1,186 ft
Highest Point
1,918 ft
Elevation Range
1,045 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 Elk City, OK to Ardmore, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
Elk City is in the Great Plains Country region of southwest Oklahoma. It owes its existence to the railroad as well as to agriculture, oil extraction, and transportation services, being as it is on the busy interstate thoroughfare that is I-40. But perhaps what it is best known for is its location on the historic Route 66.
Ardmore is in the Chickasaw Country region of Oklahoma. It is a regional center for the area and offers lodging and restaurants, as well as performing arts centers. Ardmore can serve as a base for exploring the nearby region and the Arbuckle Mountains.
Top landmarks
•Ardmore Historic Commercial District — United States historic place
•Ardmore Carnegie Library — United States historic place
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 208.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.2 miles on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.29 in tolls one way, starting with Kilpatrick 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 Ardmore, 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 99.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Oklahoma City National Memorial and Chickasaw National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Ardmore, OK, but most travelers stay overnight.
