Marlow, OK to Muskogee, OK is 201.9 miles and takes about 3h 36m via Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway and Harry E. Bailey Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Oklahoma. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a manageable single-day excursion. Plan for a relatively quick trip with minimal logistical hurdles.
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
100.9 miles from Marlow, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
98.6 mi
1h 40m
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
26.5 mi
24m
US 69
20.9 mi
22m
US 81
13.4 mi
16m
North Broadway
13.3 mi
16m
Southeast Expressway
13 mi
14m
Will Rogers Expressway
7.7 mi
8m
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 Marlow, OK and Muskogee, OK.
1
Start on this road
74 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 81
13 mi·16 min·North Broadway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 81
13 mi·16 min·US 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 44 East: Oklahoma CityUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 44
26 mi·24 min·Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 44; US 62
7.7 mi·8 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
7
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.
8
Merge onto I 240; US 62; OK 3
3.3 mi·4 min·Southwest Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on I 240; US 62; OK 3
13 mi·14 min·Southeast Expressway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 40; US 270; OK 3
75 mi·1 hr 17 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on I 40
1.4 mi·1 min·Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
Toward I 40 East: Fort SmithUse the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 40
23 mi·23 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 264BToward US 69 North: MuskogeeUse the sharp right lane.
14
Merge onto US 69
21 mi·22 min·US 69
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto West Hancock Road
1.0 mi·2 min·West Hancock Road
16
Turn left onto US 64 Business
1.7 mi·3 min·US 64 Business
17
Turn left onto US 62 Business; US 64 Business
74 ft·2 sec·West Okmulgee Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
US 62 Business; US 64 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 36m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Muskogee before evening. You'll only have one suggested stop, but with only 201.9 miles, you have flexibility to add others as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, budgeting around $31 for gas, especially before hitting longer stretches. The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway is the longest continuous section, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that part of the drive.
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 100.9 miles from Marlow, OK, or about 1h 49m 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 44 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.9 miles or 1h 49m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Muskogee, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marlow, 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 Marlow, OK
This is one driving day of about 201.9 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Marlow, 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 177.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 81 / North Broadway
Turn left onto US 81 / North Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
26.7 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward I 44 East: Oklahoma City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 44 East: Oklahoma City
5
27.1 mi into trip|~33m in|I 44 / Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
Merge onto I 44 / Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
61.3 mi into trip|~1h 6m 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
177.9 mi into trip|~3h 7m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.82 one way
$59.63 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$32.92
$65.83
premium
$4.72
$37.49
$74.97
diesel
$4.80
$38.12
$76.25
Estimated Tolls: $1.85
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
(26.5 mi)$1.85
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
$30
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.6
0
$21.20
$9.69
Efficient EV
50.5
0
$17.67
$8.08
EV Truck/SUV
80.8
1
$28.27
$12.92
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 19, 2026
Origin
Marlow, OK
Late night
in Marlow on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
S 7 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Muskogee, OK
Late night
in Muskogee on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 0 to 5 mph19% chanceLive forecast
101°F
Meeker, OK
101 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
3 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
3h 36m 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?
This route is 43% highway, with the longest stretch on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway extending for 98.6 miles. You'll experience a shift from highway cruising to surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and exit patterns. The transition point from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you navigate the mixed terrain.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 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?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 81 / North Broadway.
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 201.9 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (US 81 / North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles (I 44 / Harry E. Bailey Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Duncan is in the Great Plains Country region of southwest Oklahoma, known as the "Crepe Myrtle Capital of Oklahoma" and as the place of origin of the petrochemical giant Halliburton. This article also covers the nearby town of Marlow.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 201.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m 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 $1.85 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 14 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 Muskogee, 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 81 / North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles (I 44 / Harry E. Bailey Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Muskogee, OK, but most travelers stay overnight.
