If you are planning a trip from Enid to Yale, expect a straightforward 80-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes behind the wheel. This drive sits entirely within the Great Plains region of Oklahoma, offering a consistent landscape as you transition between the two towns. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, making it an efficient choice for those who value travel speed over lengthy sightseeing. Budget approximately $12 for fuel to cover the distance, which is quite economical for a trip of this length. Because the route is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, allowing you to keep your travel plans flexible and simple.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40 miles from Enid, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Cimarron Turnpike
36.4 mi
35m
Trooper Chris Van Krevelen Memorial Highway
24.1 mi
25m
OK 18
8.2 mi
14m
East Owen K. Garriott Road
6.4 mi
9m
Jim Thorpe Memorial Highway
3.1 mi
3m
West Chicago Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
South Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Cimarron Turnpike
— 36.4 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Enid, OK and Yale, 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
21 mi·20 min·Cimarron Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 37Toward OK 18: Pawnee, CushingUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto OK 18
8.2 mi·14 min·OK 18
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto OK 51
3.1 mi·3 min·Jim Thorpe Memorial Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on OK 51
0.8 mi·1 min·West Chicago Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·North Main Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this 80-mile trip is short enough to handle in one go, you have the freedom to depart whenever it suits your schedule best. There are no planned stops required by the route data, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to avoid mid-trip errands. Keep in mind that as you move off the Cimarron Turnpike and onto OK 18, you should be prepared for changes in speed limits and road character. Because the drive is under two hours, you can easily manage the entire stretch without needing a formal rest break. Prioritize checking your tire pressure before heading out, as the mix of turnpike speeds and local highway driving is a great reminder to maintain your vehicle for a smooth ride.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40 miles from Enid, OK, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 45m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yale, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Enid, OK
This is one driving day of about 80 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Enid, OK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Cimarron Turnpike for about 36.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 79.9 — 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
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward OK 18: Pawnee, Cushing
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 37
Toward OK 18: Pawnee, Cushing
6
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.51 one way
$25.01 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.73
$27.46
premium
$4.89
$15.40
$30.79
diesel
$5.61
$17.66
$35.33
Estimated Tolls: $1.81
Cimarron Turnpike
(36.4 mi)$1.81
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
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24
0
$8.40
$3.84
Efficient EV
20
0
$7.00
$3.20
EV Truck/SUV
32
0
$11.20
$5.12
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Enid, OK
Late night
in Enid on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yale, OK
Late night
in Yale on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Pawnee, OK
40 mi in
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
17 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
1h 32m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances high-speed efficiency with local road navigation. You will spend about 56% of your time on highways, utilizing the Cimarron Turnpike, the Trooper Chris Van Krevelen Memorial Highway, and OK 18 to make your way east. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Cimarron Turnpike, where you can settle into a 36.4-mile cruise. The transition between these roads creates a varied pace, shifting from the open feel of the turnpike to the more localized atmosphere of state highways. It is a practical drive that avoids the monotony of a single long interstate haul while keeping you moving steadily toward your destination.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.4 mi on Cimarron Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 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 Effort5/10
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 80 miles you will encounter 9 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 ft809 ft
Total Climb
222 ft
Total Descent
653 ft
Highest Point
1,240 ft
Elevation Range
431 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Enid, OK and Yale, OK, road signs point toward Ponca City and Cushing.
Ponca City
45.8 mi in|~51m
Cushing
67.6 mi in|~1h 12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 80 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.4 miles on Cimarron Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.81 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. 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yale, OK before heading back.
