Origin
McAlester, OK
Late night in McAlester on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
131.4 mi
211 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McAlester, OK
Wikimedia Commons
Moore, OK
Wikimedia Commons
This 131.4-mile drive from McAlester, OK to Moore, OK, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes. You'll primarily be navigating the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, Indian Nation Turnpike, and Southeast Expressway. With an estimated fuel cost of $21, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Great Plains region of Oklahoma. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience on the road, making it a practical option for a quick transit between these two points. Plan for a comfortable day trip without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
65.7 miles from McAlester, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway | 75.3 mi | 1h 16m |
| Indian Nation Turnpike | 34.6 mi | 32m |
| Southeast Expressway | 12.3 mi | 13m |
| Trooper David ‘Rocky’ Eales Memorial Highway | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Helen Cole Memorial Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| East Carl Albert Parkway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Interstate Highway 35 Frontage Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Service Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between McAlester, OK and Moore, OK.
Start on US 69 Business
Turn right onto US 270; OK 1; OK 31
Continue on US 270; OK 1
Take the ramp
Merge onto OK 375
Take the exit
Merge onto I 40
Continue on I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 240; OK 3
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 35; US 77
Continue on I 35; US 77
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North Interstate Highway 35 Frontage Road
Continue on West Service Road
Continue on North Moore Avenue
Continue on West Service Road
Turn left onto West Main Street
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
Arrive at destination
For this 131.4-mile trip, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. Since the drive is just over two hours, you won't need to split it, and there are no specific stops noted, so you can decide on breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 75.3-mile stretch on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. The estimated fuel cost is $21, so factor that into your budget. This route is straightforward, making it ideal for a spontaneous drive or a planned quick journey.
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.
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 29 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.7 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moore, OK than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving McAlester, 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 McAlester, OK
This is one driving day of about 131.4 miles and 2h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 65.7 miles from McAlester, 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 75.3 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 39.2 and 129.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 40 West, US 62 West, US 75 South: Oklahoma City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 240; OK 3 / Southeast Expressway toward OK 3 West, I 240 West: Lawton, Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 35 South, US 77 South: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward North 12th Street, Main Street, North 5th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$20.54 one way
$41.09 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.56 | $45.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.29 | $50.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.01 | $58.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.42
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
$21
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.80 | $6.31 |
| Efficient EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.50 | $5.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.6 | 0 | $18.40 | $8.41 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in McAlester on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Moore on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 12:40AM CDT until April 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 11:33PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
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
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
The character of this drive is best described as a mixed experience, with 37% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 75.3 miles along the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, offering a chance for steady progress. As you transition between the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, Indian Nation Turnpike, and Southeast Expressway, anticipate changes in road type and speed. This route isn't a monotonous interstate grind but rather a blend that keeps the driving experience engaging.
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 39.2 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 131.4 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 39.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.8 miles (I 240; OK 3 / Southeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from McAlester, OK to Moore, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas along the way.
Dallas
McAlester is in the Choctaw Country region of Oklahoma and home to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
Founded 1889
Moore is in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma and a suburb of Oklahoma City.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 131.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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