Nowata to Midwest City is 156.8 miles and takes about 2h 54m via Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike and US 169, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Oklahoma, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. With a recommended one-day duration and a manageable distance, this route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated journey.
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
78.4 miles from Nowata, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike
86.6 mi
1h 25m
US 169
41.6 mi
49m
Skelly Bypass
11.9 mi
14m
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
4.5 mi
5m
Honorable Hannah Diggs Atkins, Secretary of State, Memorial Highway
2.9 mi
3m
Southeast 15th Street
2 mi
3m
Tinker Diagonal
2 mi
2m
Maple Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike
— 86.6 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nowata, OK and Midwest City, OK.
1
Start on US 169 Alternate
1.9 mi·3 min·Maple Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
2
Continue on US 169 Alternate
107 ft·5 sec·US 169 Alternate
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Continue on US 169
21 mi·25 min·US 169
Use the left / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 169
21 mi·23 min·US 169
Toward US 169 South: OwassoUse the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Oklahoma CityUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 44; OK 66
11 mi·13 min·Skelly Bypass
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 44; OK 66
1.1 mi·1 min·Skelly Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 44
87 mi·1 hr 25 min·Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike
Toward I 44 West: Oklahoma CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 44
0.5 mi·58 sec·I 44
Toward I 35 South, I 44 West, OK 66 West: Dallas, LawtonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35; I 44; OK 66
4.2 mi·4 min·World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi·26 sec·World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Toward I 35 South: DallasUse the slight left lane.
12
Continue on I 35
2.9 mi·3 min·Honorable Hannah Diggs Atkins, Secretary of State, Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on I 35
1.5 mi·1 min·Representative Opio Toure Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 40 East, US 270 East: Fort SmithUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East, US 270 East: Fort Smith, Reno Avenue East, Scott Street
16
Merge onto I 40; US 270
2.0 mi·2 min·Tinker Diagonal
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 155BToward Del City, Midwest CityUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn slight left onto Southeast 15th Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·Southeast 15th Street
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on Southeast 15th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Southeast 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Felix Place
115 ft·7 sec·Felix Place
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right
34 ft·4 sec
22
Turn right
34 ft·2 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility for when you want to depart. Leaving in the morning will easily get you to Midwest City with plenty of daylight remaining. Since the longest stretch is 86.6 miles, you might only need one fuel or rest stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition off the turnpike, as services can become more spaced out on US 169. The $25 fuel cost estimate is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 78.4 miles from Nowata, OK, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.6 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.4 miles or 1h 30m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Midwest City, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nowata, 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 Nowata, OK
This is one driving day of about 156.8 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Nowata, 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 Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike for about 86.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.5 and 154.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
43.5 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Oklahoma City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 44 West, OK 66 West: Oklahoma City
7
142.5 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|I 44
Take the exit onto I 44 toward I 35 South, I 44 West, OK 66 West: Dallas, Lawton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35 South, I 44 West, OK 66 West: Dalla...
7
147.1 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway toward I 35 South: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Dallas
7
151.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 40 East, US 270 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.
Toward I 40 East, US 270 East: Fort Smith
8
154.6 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward Del City, Midwest City
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 155B
Toward Del City, Midwest City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.51 one way
$49.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.92
$53.83
premium
$4.89
$30.17
$60.35
diesel
$5.61
$34.62
$69.24
Estimated Tolls: $4.33
Turner Turnpike
(86.6 mi)$4.33
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
$25
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.46
$7.53
Efficient EV
39.2
0
$13.72
$6.27
EV Truck/SUV
62.7
0
$21.95
$10.04
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Nowata, OK
Night
in Nowata on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Midwest City, OK
Night
in Midwest City on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
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
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 route is predominantly a highway experience, with 82% of the drive taking place on major roads like the Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike and US 169. You'll encounter an 86.6-mile stretch on the Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike, offering a continuous period of higher-speed travel. The Skelly Bypass also contributes to the highway feel. Expect a consistent driving pace for the majority of the trip, characterized by its highway-focused profile.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.6 mi on Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike and US 169. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 156.8 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 43.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.5 miles (I 44): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.1 miles (I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Nowata, OK to Midwest City, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Lawton along the way.
Lawton
142.5 mi in|~2h 34m|via I 44
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 156.8 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 (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.6 miles on Governor Roy Joseph Turner Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.33 in tolls one way, starting with Turner 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.
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 Midwest City, 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: at 43.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 142.5 miles (I 44): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.1 miles (I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Midwest City, OK before heading back.
