Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
112.2 mi
181 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elk City, OK
Steve Burcham
Lawton, OK
Wikimedia Commons
Elk City to Lawton is 112.2 miles and takes about 2 hours 16 minutes via Larry Wade Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive for a single day. You'll primarily navigate local roads, so expect a pace that's less about speed and more about experiencing the towns along the way. It's a relatively short distance, making it an easy option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Oklahoma points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.1 miles from Elk City, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Larry Wade Memorial Highway | 46.7 mi | 56m |
| Colonel Aaron C. "Burley" Burleson Memorial Highway | 45 mi | 50m |
| North Main Street | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| US 62 | 7 mi | 8m |
| Veterans Drive | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| East Tamarack Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| US 281 Business | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Bill W. Burgess, Junior Highway | 0.9 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Elk City, OK and Lawton, OK.
Start on this road
Turn right onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66
Turn left onto OK 6
Continue on OK 6
Continue on OK 6; US 283
Turn left onto East Tamarack Road
Continue on Veterans Drive
Turn left onto US 62
Continue on US 62
Keep slight right at fork onto US 62
Turn right onto Indian Trail Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281
Take the exit onto US 281 Business
Turn left onto Southwest Gore Boulevard
Arrive at destination
Given the 2-hour 16-minute duration, this is an ideal same-day trip. You can comfortably leave Elk City in the morning and arrive in Lawton by midday, leaving plenty of time for onward travel or exploration. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it’s an economical option, but it’s always wise to top off your tank before departing Elk City, as your longest stretch without significant turns is nearly 47 miles. Plan for a relaxed pace, as the route's turn-heavy nature means you won't be covering ground at highway speeds.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawton, OK than in the middle of the route.
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 112.2 miles and 2h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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.
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 56.1 miles from Elk City, 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.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the start, right off the route
Elk City, Oklahoma
Hours: Open 24 hours
+33172676914
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Lawton, Oklahoma
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+15805813400
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 111.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto I 40 Business; US Historic 66 / East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto OK 6 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto East Tamarack Road
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 62 toward Rogers Lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 281 Business toward US 281 Business South: Lawton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$17.54 one way
$35.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.26 | $38.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.59 | $43.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.77 | $49.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.78 | $5.39 |
| Efficient EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.82 | $4.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.71 | $7.18 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Elk City on Sunday
Local time
5:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Lawton on Sunday
Local time
5:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with about 7% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time on roads like Larry Wade Memorial Highway and Colonel Aaron C. "Burley" Burleson Memorial Highway, with North Main Street in Lawton marking the final approach. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 46.7 miles on Larry Wade Memorial Highway. Be prepared for frequent turns and varying speed limits as you navigate through local areas rather than high-speed interstates.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 40 Business; US Historic 66 / East 3rd Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 112.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 40 Business; US Historic 66 / East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (OK 6 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 54 miles (East Tamarack Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Lawton is in the Great Plains Country region of southwest Oklahoma.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 112.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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