Lawton, OK to Fort Gibson, OK is 227.1 miles and takes about 4h 2m via Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, Harry E. Bailey Turnpike, and US 69, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Oklahoma, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the same region. The drive utilizes a mix of highway and surface roads, offering a balanced travel experience. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable distance for a single stretch of driving.
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
113.5 miles from Lawton, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
98.6 mi
1h 40m
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
61.2 mi
1h 2m
US 69
19.6 mi
21m
Southeast Expressway
13 mi
14m
Will Rogers Expressway
7.7 mi
8m
West Peak Boulevard
5 mi
7m
Pioneer Expressway
4.6 mi
4m
Southwest Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
— 98.6 mi, about 1h 40m
Traffic on I-240
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,662 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~256 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.3×
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 Lawton, OK and Fort Gibson, OK.
1
Start on Southwest Gore Boulevard
447 ft·13 sec·Southwest Gore Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Northwest 1st Street
183 ft·13 sec·Northwest 1st Street
3
Turn left onto Southwest Gore Boulevard
481 ft·12 sec·Southwest Gore Boulevard
4
Turn right onto US 281 Business
0.5 mi·44 sec·Northwest 2nd Street
5
Take the ramp onto US 281 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·US 281 Business
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 281 Business
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 281 Business
Toward I 44 East, US 277 North, US 281 North: Oklahoma CityUse the straight lane.
7
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281
2.4 mi·2 min·Bill W. Burgess, Junior Highway
8
Continue on I 44; US 62; US 277; US 281
4.6 mi·4 min·Pioneer Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 44
61 mi·1 hr 2 min·Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
Toward I 44 East: Chickasha, Oklahoma CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 44; US 62
7.7 mi·8 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 62
0.3 mi·42 sec·US 62
Exit 115Toward I 240 East, US 62 East, OK 3 East: Fort SmithUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 240; US 62; OK 3
3.3 mi·4 min·Southwest Expressway
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on I 240; US 62; OK 3
13 mi·14 min·Southeast Expressway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on I 40; US 270; OK 3
75 mi·1 hr 17 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 40
1.4 mi·1 min·Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
Toward I 40 East: Fort SmithUse the straight lane.
16
Continue on I 40
23 mi·23 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 264BToward US 69 North: MuskogeeUse the sharp right lane.
18
Merge onto US 69
20 mi·21 min·US 69
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
20
Keep slight right at fork
167 ft·3 sec
21
Merge onto US 64
5.0 mi·7 min·West Peak Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto OK 165
0.5 mi·37 sec·OK 165
Toward OK 165 North: TahlequahUse the slight left lane.
23
Merge onto OK 165; OK 351
2.7 mi·2 min·Muskogee Turnpike
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward US 62 East: Fort Gibson, TahlequahUse the slight right lane.
25
Merge onto US 62
2.0 mi·2 min·East Shawnee Bypass
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn left onto North Georgetown Road
0.9 mi·1 min·North Georgetown Road
Use the left lane.
27
Turn straight onto West Poplar Street
1.3 mi·2 min·West Poplar Street
28
Turn left onto North Scott Street
436 ft·10 sec·North Scott Street
29
Turn right onto West Hickory Avenue
0.3 mi·29 sec·West Hickory Avenue
30
Turn right onto OK 80
266 ft·9 sec·North Lee Street
31
Arrive at destination
OK 80
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Lawton, OK, in the morning is a good idea, especially since this trip is easily doable in a single day. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to break up the 4-hour drive and stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $35, and it's always wise to top off before heading out. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads, as the speed limits will change accordingly.
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 113.5 miles from Lawton, OK, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.6 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 50 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.5 miles or 2h 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Gibson, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lawton, 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 Lawton, OK
This is one driving day of about 227.1 miles and 4h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Lawton, 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 Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway for about 98.6 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 0.9 and 222.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|US 281 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto US 281 Business toward I 44 East, US 277 North, US 281 North: Oklahoma City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 44 East, US 277 North, US 281 North: O...
8
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|US 62
Take the exit onto US 62 toward I 240 East, US 62 East, OK 3 East: Fort Smith
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 115
Toward I 240 East, US 62 East, OK 3 East: Fort...
7
193.8 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 69 North: Muskogee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the sharp right lane.
Exit 264B
Toward US 69 North: Muskogee
7
219 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|OK 165
Keep slight left at fork onto OK 165 toward OK 165 North: Tahlequah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward OK 165 North: Tahlequah
7
222.2 mi into trip|~3h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 62 East: Fort Gibson, Tahlequah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 62 East: Fort Gibson, Tahlequah
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.76 one way
$75.52 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$41.13
$82.26
premium
$5.18
$46.34
$92.68
diesel
$5.35
$47.83
$95.67
Estimated Tolls: $4.47
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
(61.2 mi)$4.28
Muskogee Turnpike
(2.7 mi)$0.19
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
$38
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.1
0
$23.85
$10.90
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.87
$9.08
EV Truck/SUV
90.8
1
$31.79
$14.53
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Lawton, OK
Afternoon
in Lawton on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
SE 2 to 7 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 9:26PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 1 at 9:21PM CDT until June 2 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Fort Gibson, OK
Afternoon
in Fort Gibson on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
0 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 9:26PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 1 at 9:21PM CDT until June 2 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
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
1 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
4h 2m 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?
This route is about 50% highway, with the longest continuous stretch on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway covering 98.6 miles. You'll experience a mix of high-speed travel and potentially slower surface roads as you transition between different road types. Expect to encounter more frequent exits and changes in speed limits as you move from the turnpike sections to US 69.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.6 mi on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near US 281 Business.
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 22 significant decision points across 227.1 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 0.9 miles (US 281 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.1 miles (US 62): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 193.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Fort Gibson is a town in the Green Country Region of Oklahoma, dating from 1824. This is the longest-lived town from Indian Territory days and was originally the planned site for the Capitol of the State of Sequoyah that never was.
Top landmarks
•Fort Gibson National Cemetery — veterans cemetery in Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 2m. Total distance: 227.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.6 miles on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.47 in tolls one way, starting with Harry E. Bailey 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 27 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 Fort Gibson, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (US 281 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.1 miles (US 62): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 193.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Oklahoma City National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Gibson, OK, but most travelers stay overnight.
