Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 27m
Distance
255.9 mi
412 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawton, OK
Wikimedia Commons
Roland, OK
TStudio
Lawton, OK to Roland, OK is 255.9 miles and takes about 4h 27m via Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway and Harry E. Bailey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Oklahoma. With a single day recommended, it's a manageable route for a quick transit or a leisurely exploration of the state. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way east.
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
127.9 miles from Lawton, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway | 158.6 mi | 2h 41m |
| Harry E. Bailey Turnpike | 61.2 mi | 1h 2m |
| 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 |
| Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~763 veh/hr typical · worst 1,170
Quietest
2 AM
~95 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Lawton, OK and Roland, OK.
Start on Southwest Gore Boulevard
Turn left onto Northwest 1st Street
Turn left onto Southwest Gore Boulevard
Turn right onto US 281 Business
Take the ramp onto US 281 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto US 281 Business
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281
Continue on I 44; US 62; US 277; US 281
Continue on I 44
Continue on I 44; US 62
Take the exit onto US 62
Merge onto I 240; US 62; OK 3
Continue on I 240; US 62; OK 3
Continue on I 40; US 270; OK 3
Continue on I 40
Continue on I 40
Take the exit
Merge onto US 64
Turn left onto CR N4780
Keep slight left at fork onto South Main Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 27m estimated drive time, starting your trip in Lawton, OK, after breakfast is ideal, allowing ample daylight to reach Roland, OK. The route has only one recommended stop, so plan your fuel and breaks accordingly, especially before you hit the 158.6-mile stretch on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; consider leaving a bit earlier if you want to stop more often or later if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of the highway sections.
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.
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 56 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.9 miles or 2h 15m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roland, OK than in the middle of the route.
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 255.9 miles and 4h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 127.9 miles from Lawton, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 158.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 254.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Northwest 1st Street
Navigation decision point
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
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
Take the exit toward US 64: Roland, Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto CR N4780 / South Roland Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$39.67 one way
$79.35 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $43.50 | $87.01 |
| premium | $4.93 | $49.65 | $99.30 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $56.41 | $112.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$40
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.87 | $12.28 |
| Efficient EV | 64 | 0 | $22.39 | $10.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.4 | 1 | $35.83 | $16.38 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lawton on Wednesday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 26 at 2:13AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Late night in Roland on Wednesday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 26 at 2:13AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
98°F
Davenport, OK
128 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
You'll spend about 35% of this 255.9-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 158.6 miles along the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. After that, expect a transition to more surface roads for the remainder of your trip. This means you'll likely experience periods of faster travel on the turnpike followed by more local driving.
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 0.1 miles in near Northwest 1st Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 255.9 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 0.1 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
463 ft
Total Descent
1,089 ft
Highest Point
1,369 ft
~18.3 mi in
Elevation Range
909 ft
Founded 1901
Lawton is in the Great Plains Country region of southwest Oklahoma.
Top landmarks
Founded 1888
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 255.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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