Enid, OK to Nowata, OK is 164.7 miles and takes about 3h 2m via Cimarron Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Oklahoma's Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive primarily on well-maintained highways. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of your journey, making it an efficient way to travel between these two points. With a recommended single day for completion, this route is ideal if you're looking for a direct and uncomplicated drive.
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
82.4 miles from Enid, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Cimarron Turnpike
59 mi
56m
Trooper Chris Van Krevelen Memorial Highway
24.1 mi
25m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Expressway
24 mi
29m
Sand Springs Expressway
14.9 mi
16m
US 169
10.1 mi
11m
Keystone Expressway
8.6 mi
9m
Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
7.9 mi
9m
East Owen K. Garriott Road
6.4 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Cimarron Turnpike
— 59 mi, about 56m
Traffic on I-244
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,380 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,130
Quietest
1 AM
~184 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.4×
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 Enid, OK and Nowata, OK.
1
Start on South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·South Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 412; CR E0430
6.4 mi·9 min·East Owen K. Garriott Road
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 64; US 412; CR E0425
24 mi·25 min·Trooper Chris Van Krevelen Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 412
15 mi·14 min·Cimarron Turnpike
Toward US 412 East: TulsaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·7 sec
Exit 15Toward US 177: Stillwater, Ponca CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·12 sec
Exit 15Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 412
44 mi·41 min·Cimarron Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 412
5.0 mi·5 min·Keystone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 64; US 412
1.2 mi·1 min·Jerald Warden Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 64; US 412
3.6 mi·3 min·Keystone Expressway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 64; US 412
15 mi·16 min·Sand Springs Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 244; US 412
7.9 mi·9 min·Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·42 sec
Exit 13CToward US 169 North: Owasso, NowataUse the left lane.
14
Merge onto US 169
2.6 mi·3 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 169
0.9 mi·1 min·Sergeant Jeffrey Lee Drake Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 169
3.0 mi·3 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 169
0.9 mi·1 min·Sargeant Anthony Del Mar Peterson Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 169
1.2 mi·1 min·Sergeant Schuyler B. Patch Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 169
1.6 mi·1 min·Sergeant Andrew R. Looney Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 169
1.0 mi·1 min·Specialist Christopher D. Horton Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 169
18 mi·22 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Expressway
Toward OK 20 West, US 169 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 169
10 mi·11 min·US 169
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto US 169 Alternate
107 ft·4 sec·US 169 Alternate
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on US 169 Alternate
1.9 mi·3 min·US 169 Alternate
Use the left / right lanes.
25
Arrive at destination
US 169 Alternate
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration and 164.7-mile distance, starting your drive in Enid in the morning allows ample time to reach Nowata well before evening. The fuel cost is estimated at $26, so ensure your tank is full before departing to maximize your time on the road. While there's only one designated stop mentioned, you'll find plenty of opportunities for quick breaks along the main highways. A practical tip for this route is to be mindful of the 59-mile stretch on the Cimarron Turnpike; plan your refueling before entering this longer segment to avoid any inconvenience.
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 82.4 miles from Enid, OK, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59 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 36 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 25m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nowata, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Enid, 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 Enid, OK
This is one driving day of about 164.7 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Enid, 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 Cimarron Turnpike for about 59 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 162.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 412; CR E0430 / East Owen K. Garriott Road
Turn left onto US 412; CR E0430 / East Owen K. Garriott Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
45.8 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward US 177: Stillwater, Ponca City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward US 177: Stillwater, Ponca City
8
45.9 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 15
8
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 169 North: Owasso, Nowata
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 13C
Toward US 169 North: Owasso, Nowata
6
162.8 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|US 169 Alternate
Turn left onto US 169 Alternate
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.38 one way
$54.77 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$29.83
$59.66
premium
$5.18
$33.61
$67.22
diesel
$5.35
$34.69
$69.38
Estimated Tolls: $2.94
Cimarron Turnpike
(59 mi)$2.94
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
$27
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.29
$7.91
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.41
$6.59
EV Truck/SUV
65.9
0
$23.06
$10.54
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 May 30, 2026
Origin
Enid, OK
Afternoon
in Enid on Wednesday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 9 to 16 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Nowata, OK
Afternoon
in Nowata on Wednesday
Local time
3:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph21% 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 2m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 77% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Cimarron Turnpike and Trooper Chris Van Krevelen Memorial Highway. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 59 miles on the Cimarron Turnpike, allowing for sustained cruising. The character is largely one of efficient travel, with limited changes in road type, making it predictable for planning. This highway-centric profile means you'll experience consistent speeds and a clear path for most of the 164.7 miles.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59 mi on Cimarron Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Cimarron Turnpike and Trooper Chris Van Krevelen Memorial Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 412; CR E0430 / East Owen K. Garriott Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 164.7 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: at 0.3 miles (US 412; CR E0430 / East Owen K. Garriott Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,240 ft593 ft
Total Climb
260 ft
Total Descent
791 ft
Highest Point
1,240 ft
Elevation Range
646 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 Enid, OK to Nowata, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Ponca City along the way.
Enid is the county seat of Garfield County, Oklahoma. The population was 47,045 at the 2000 census. It is in the Red Carpet Country region of Oklahoma. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet by land run in 1893 and was originally a stop along the Chisolm Trail. It has also been the home of Vance Air Force Base since 1941.
Top landmarks
•Broadway Tower — building in Enid, Oklahoma, USA
•Enid Cemetery — cemetery in Enid, Oklahoma
•Enid Downtown Historic District — historic district in Oklahoma, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 2m. Total distance: 164.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59 miles on Cimarron Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.94 in tolls one way, starting with Cimarron 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 7 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 Nowata, 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 412; CR E0430 / East Owen K. Garriott Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Nowata, OK, but most travelers stay overnight.
