This 143.3-mile drive from Midwest City, OK to Cherokee, OK is a straightforward journey through the Great Plains region of Oklahoma, easily manageable as a one-day trip. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 54 minutes on the road, with a fuel cost estimated at $22. The route utilizes a mix of major highways and state roads, offering a practical connection between these two Oklahoma communities. With only one recommended stop, this trip is designed for efficiency, making it a convenient option for those looking to cover ground without extensive planning.
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
71.6 miles from Midwest City, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
38.5 mi
40m
OK 8
32.4 mi
40m
OK 51A
22.5 mi
26m
North Broadway Avenue
13.5 mi
14m
OK 58
9.2 mi
15m
US 60
6.4 mi
8m
South Clarence Nash Boulevard
5.7 mi
8m
Crosstown Expressway
5.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
— 38.5 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Midwest City, OK and Cherokee, OK.
1
Start on this road
34 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left
34 ft·8 sec
3
Turn left onto Felix Place
115 ft·12 sec·Felix Place
4
Turn left onto Southeast 15th Street
1.9 mi·3 min·Southeast 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn slight right onto Tinker Diagonal
0.1 mi·15 sec·Tinker Diagonal
6
Continue on this road
526 ft·13 sec·this road
Toward I 40 West, US 270 West: Oklahoma CityUse the straight lane.
7
Merge onto I 40; US 270
2.9 mi·3 min·Tinker Diagonal
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 35; I 40; US 62; US 270
0.9 mi·1 min·Crosstown Expressway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 270
4.7 mi·5 min·Crosstown Expressway
Exit 126Toward I 235 North, US 77 North, I 40 West, US 270 West: Oklahoma Health Center, State Capitol, Edmond, AmarilloUse the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 40; US 270
39 mi·40 min·Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward I 40 West, US 270 West: AmarilloUse the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 108Toward US 281 Spur North: Geary, WatongaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 281 Spur
483 ft·11 sec·US 281 Spur
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 281 Spur
4.1 mi·4 min·US 281 Spur
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on OK 8; US 281
4.6 mi·5 min·OK 8; US 281
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on OK 8; US 270; US 281
14 mi·14 min·North Broadway Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on OK 8; US 270; US 281
0.9 mi·54 sec·OK 8; US 270; US 281
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 270; US 281; OK 8
5.7 mi·8 min·South Clarence Nash Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto OK 51A
23 mi·26 min·OK 51A
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
At end of road, turn right onto OK 58
9.2 mi·15 min·OK 58
20
Continue on US 60; OK 8
3.6 mi·5 min·US 60; OK 8
21
Take the ramp onto US 60; OK 8
384 ft·10 sec·US 60; OK 8
22
Merge onto OK 8; US 60; US 412
0.2 mi·13 sec·OK 8; US 60; US 412
23
Continue on US 60; US 412; OK 8
2.7 mi·3 min·US 60; US 412; OK 8
24
Turn left onto OK 8
27 mi·34 min·OK 8
25
Turn right onto East 4th Street
99 ft·1 sec·East 4th Street
26
Arrive at destination
East 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 54-minute duration, departing in the morning is ideal to allow ample time for your destination. The estimated fuel cost of $22 means you should plan for a fueling stop, though the single recommended stop is sufficient for this distance. Keep an eye on road conditions, especially as you transition from the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway to OK 8 and OK 51A. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to stop more if needed, but a prompt arrival at your destination is easily achievable.
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 71.6 miles from Midwest City, OK, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.5 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.6 miles or 1h 20m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cherokee, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Midwest City, 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 Midwest City, OK
This is one driving day of about 143.3 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Midwest City, 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 Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway for about 38.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Felix Place
Turn left onto Felix Place
Navigation decision point
9
5.9 mi into trip|~9m in|I 40; US 270 / Crosstown Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40; US 270 / Crosstown Expressway toward I 235 North, US 77 North, I 40 West, US 270 West: Oklahoma Health Center, State Capitol, Edmond, Amarillo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 126
Toward I 235 North, US 77 North, I 40 West, US...
8
49.1 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward US 281 Spur North: Geary, Watonga
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 108
Toward US 281 Spur North: Geary, Watonga
6
49.4 mi into trip|~56m in|US 281 Spur
Turn right onto US 281 Spur
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.40 one way
$44.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.60
$49.20
premium
$4.89
$27.58
$55.15
diesel
$5.61
$31.64
$63.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43
0
$15.05
$6.88
Efficient EV
35.8
0
$12.54
$5.73
EV Truck/SUV
57.3
0
$20.06
$9.17
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Midwest City, OK
Night
in Midwest City on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cherokee, OK
Night
in Cherokee on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live 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
26 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
2h 54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 drive offers a mixed experience, with about 40% of the journey on highways. You'll primarily navigate the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, OK 8, and OK 51A. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 38.5 miles on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway, providing a good opportunity to settle in. The road character is generally practical, transitioning between faster highway segments and more local road driving as you progress north.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.5 mi on Korean War Veterans 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 143.3 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (Felix Place): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (I 40; US 270 / Crosstown Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,583 ft1,180 ft
Total Climb
427 ft
Total Descent
498 ft
Highest Point
1,583 ft
~92.1 mi in
Elevation Range
403 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 Midwest City, OK to Cherokee, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Watonga along the way.
Watonga
49.1 mi in|~55m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 143.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.5 miles on Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Cherokee, 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (Felix Place): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (I 40; US 270 / Crosstown Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Cherokee, OK before heading back.
