Lawton, OK to Okemah, OK is 151.5 miles and takes about 2h 41m via Harry E. Bailey Turnpike, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, and Southeast Expressway, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within the Great Plains region for its entirety, moving from western Oklahoma to the central part of the state. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward trip. With just one recommended stop and a manageable distance, this is a solid choice for a same-day excursion.
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
75.8 miles from Lawton, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
61.2 mi
1h 2m
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
56.5 mi
58m
Southeast Expressway
13 mi
14m
Will Rogers Expressway
7.7 mi
8m
Pioneer Expressway
4.6 mi
4m
Southwest Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
Bill W. Burgess, Junior Highway
2.4 mi
2m
US 62
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
— 61.2 mi, about 1h 2m
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 Okemah, 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
56 mi·58 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·39 sec
Exit 221Toward US 62, OK 27: Okemah, WetumkaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 62; OK 27
0.7 mi·1 min·US 62; OK 27
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto OK 56
0.3 mi·32 sec·West Broadway Street
18
Turn right onto North 4th Street
449 ft·24 sec·North 4th Street
19
Turn left onto West Atlanta Street
64 ft·2 sec·West Atlanta Street
20
Arrive at destination
West Atlanta Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 41m drive time and 151.5-mile distance, leaving Lawton, OK in the morning allows plenty of time to reach Okemah, OK well before sunset. You'll only need about one stop, so consider pulling over about halfway through your drive to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary. The fuel cost is estimated at $22, so budget accordingly. Since the longest stretch on the highway is over 61 miles, be mindful of when you might want to exit for services or a break before hitting the surface roads.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.8 miles from Lawton, OK, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.2 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 33 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.8 miles or 1h 19m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Okemah, 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 151.5 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 Harry E. Bailey Turnpike for about 61.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 75.8 miles from Lawton, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Harry E. Bailey Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Elmer Thomas Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Lawton, Oklahoma
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+15805813400
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 150.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Northwest 1st Street
Turn left onto Northwest 1st Street
Navigation decision point
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...
8
150.2 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 62, OK 27: Okemah, Wetumka
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 221
Toward US 62, OK 27: Okemah, Wetumka
6
150.4 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|US 62; OK 27
Turn left onto US 62; OK 27
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.37 one way
$44.75 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$24.70
$49.40
premium
$4.72
$28.13
$56.26
diesel
$4.80
$28.61
$57.21
Estimated Tolls: $4.28
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
(61.2 mi)$4.28
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
$22
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.5
0
$15.91
$7.27
Efficient EV
37.9
0
$13.26
$6.06
EV Truck/SUV
60.6
0
$21.21
$9.70
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Lawton, OK
Late night
in Lawton on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Okemah, OK
Late night
in Okemah on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph5% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 41m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 60% of this 151.5-mile drive is on highways like the Harry E. Bailey Turnpike. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 61.2 miles on the Harry E. Bailey Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads. Be prepared for a change in driving pace as you move from highway cruising to surface street navigation.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.2 mi on Harry E. Bailey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Northwest 1st Street.
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 151.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (Northwest 1st Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,397 ft857 ft
Total Climb
620 ft
Total Descent
820 ft
Highest Point
1,397 ft
~21.6 mi in
Elevation Range
540 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 Lawton, OK to Okemah, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 151.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.2 miles on Harry E. Bailey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.28 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.
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 Okemah, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Northwest 1st Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes — Oklahoma City National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Okemah, OK before heading back.
