This 92.4-mile drive from Midwest City, OK to Pawnee, OK will take you about 1 hour and 46 minutes. Primarily traversing local roads with a significant portion on the World War II Veterans Memorial Highway, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, it's an economical option for exploring the Great Plains region of Oklahoma. The route is characterized by frequent turns, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience rather than a simple highway cruise. Given its manageable length and duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.2 miles from Midwest City, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
48.2 mi
49m
East Fir Street
26.8 mi
32m
Shannon Miller Parkway
4.1 mi
4m
Honorable Hannah Diggs Atkins, Secretary of State, Memorial Highway
2.9 mi
3m
US 77
2.6 mi
3m
Southeast 15th Street
1.9 mi
3m
Tinker Diagonal
1.8 mi
2m
Representative Opio Toure Memorial Highway
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
— 48.2 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Midwest City, OK and Pawnee, 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
1.7 mi·2 min·Tinker Diagonal
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 153Toward I 35 North, US 62 East: Wichita
9
Merge onto I 35; US 62
1.7 mi·2 min·Representative Opio Toure Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
2.9 mi·3 min·Honorable Hannah Diggs Atkins, Secretary of State, Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on I 35
5.4 mi·5 min·World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward I 35 North, I 44 East, OK 66 EastUse the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 35; OK 66
4.1 mi·4 min·Shannon Miller Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on I 35; US 77
43 mi·43 min·World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 185Toward US 77: Perry, CovingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
188 ft·5 sec
Toward US 77 North: Perry
16
Turn slight right onto US 77
2.6 mi·3 min·US 77
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto OK 86
1.2 mi·2 min·Cedar Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 64
27 mi·32 min·East Fir Street
19
Turn right onto 6th Street
44 ft·1 sec·6th Street
20
Arrive at destination
6th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of just under two hours, flexibility is your best friend. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive by midday, leaving plenty of time for activities at your destination. There are no specific recommended stops, so feel free to make spontaneous breaks as needed. Pay close attention to the 'turn-heavy' nature of this route; using a reliable GPS is highly recommended to avoid missing any turns. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, you can comfortably budget for this trip and won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.2 miles from Midwest City, OK, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.2 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.2 miles or 52m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pawnee, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Midwest City, OK
This is one driving day of about 92.4 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Midwest City, OK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on World War II Veterans Memorial Highway for about 48.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 61.7 — 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
6
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North, US 62 East: Wichita
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 153
Toward I 35 North, US 62 East: Wichita
8
61.5 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 77: Perry, Covington
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 185
Toward US 77: Perry, Covington
6
61.7 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 77 North: Perry
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 77 North: Perry
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.45 one way
$28.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.86
$31.72
premium
$4.89
$17.78
$35.56
diesel
$5.61
$20.40
$40.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.09
$3.70
EV Truck/SUV
37
0
$12.94
$5.91
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pawnee, OK
Night
in Pawnee on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
19 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
1h 46m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this 92.4-mile journey. Only about 7% of this route is on major highways, meaning you'll encounter more local roads and intersections. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 48.2 miles along the World War II Veterans Memorial Highway. This suggests a drive that will require your attention to navigation as you transition between different road types, rather than a consistent, high-speed experience. The profile indicates a need to be aware of your surroundings and potential changes in speed limits.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.2 mi on World War II Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Pawnee, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Covington along the way.
Covington
61.5 mi in|~1h 7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 92.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.2 miles on World War II 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 Pawnee, OK before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (Felix Place): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Pawnee, OK before heading back.
