Origin
Okemah, OK
Morning in Okemah on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Okemah, OK to Norman, OK
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 31m
Distance
78.7 mi
127 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Okemah, OK
Wasin Pirom
Norman, OK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 78.7-mile drive from Okemah, OK to Norman, OK takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes and is a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway and Southeast Expressway, with some travel on South Sooner Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, this journey is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region throughout your trip. The overall feel of this drive is more of a turn-heavy local experience rather than an open highway cruise.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Okemah, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway | 56.4 mi | 57m |
| Southeast Expressway | 8 mi | 8m |
| South Sooner Road | 6.6 mi | 10m |
| 12th Avenue Northeast | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| East Robinson Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Porter Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Woody Guthrie Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Broadway Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
— 56.4 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Okemah, OK and Norman, OK.
1
Start on West Atlanta Street
64 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Atlanta Street
2
Turn right onto North 4th Street
449 ft
·
24 sec
·
North 4th Street
3
Turn left onto OK 56
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Broadway Street
4
Turn right onto US 62; OK 27
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Woody Guthrie Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 40
56 mi
·
57 min
·
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 240; OK 3
8.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Southeast Expressway
Toward OK 3 West, I 240 West: Lawton, Dallas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 8
Toward OK 77H South: Tinker Air Force Base, Sooner Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Southeast 74th Street
230 ft
·
12 sec
·
Southeast 74th Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto OK 77H
6.6 mi
·
10 min
·
South Sooner Road
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on OK 77H
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
12th Avenue Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto East Robinson Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Robinson Street
13
Turn left onto North Porter Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Porter Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto East Gray Street
464 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Gray Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto North Crawford Avenue
403 ft
·
21 sec
·
North Crawford Avenue
16
Turn left onto East Main Street
355 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 1 hour and 31-minute duration, this 78.7-mile trip is best tackled in one go, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak traffic and allow for a relaxed pace. With no designated stops, you can easily make spontaneous breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading out, as the estimated cost is $12 and there aren't many services on the highway sections. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to the frequent turns, as this is a defining characteristic of the drive.
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 39.4 miles from Okemah, OK, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.4 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 17 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 42m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norman, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Okemah, OK so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Okemah, OK
This is one driving day of about 78.7 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Okemah, OK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway for about 56.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.4 miles from Okemah, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 65.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 62; OK 27 / Woody Guthrie Boulevard
Turn right onto US 62; OK 27 / Woody Guthrie Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
57.6 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
I 240; OK 3 / Southeast Expressway
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward OK 3 West, I 240 West: Lawton, Dallas
8
65.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward OK 77H South: Tinker Air Force Base, Sooner Road
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 8
Toward OK 77H South: Tinker Air Force Base, Soo...
6
65.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
Southeast 74th Street
Turn left onto Southeast 74th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
65.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
OK 77H / South Sooner Road
Turn left onto OK 77H / South Sooner Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.30 one way
$24.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.51 | $27.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.15 | $30.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.38 | $34.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.26 | $3.78 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.02 | $5.04 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Norman, OK
Morning in Norman on Tuesday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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 31m 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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$18
near mile 65.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive characterized by numerous turns, as indicated by its "Turn-heavy local drive" profile. While only 10% of this route is on highways, you'll experience a longest continuous stretch of 56.4 miles on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. This suggests a journey that transitions between faster highway segments and more winding local roads, requiring your attention. The road will likely feel like a local's commute, with frequent changes in speed and direction.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.4 mi on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 62; OK 27 / Woody Guthrie Boulevard.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 78.7 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: at 0.4 miles (US 62; OK 27 / Woody Guthrie Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles (I 240; OK 3 / Southeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,264 ft
876 ft
Total Climb
453 ft
Total Descent
189 ft
Highest Point
1,264 ft
~67.5 mi in
Elevation Range
389 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Okemah, OK to Norman, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas along the way.
Dallas
57.6 mi in
|
~1h
|
via I 240; OK 3
About the Cities
Starting in Okemah, OK
Full guide →Okemah is a town in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma and the birthplace of "This Land Is Your Land" renowned singer Woody Guthrie.
Arriving in Norman, OK
Full guide →Norman is a city in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma and in Cleveland County. With a population of 128,000 (2020), it is the third largest city in the state and is home to the University of Oklahoma (popularly known as OU), the state's largest and flagship university.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 78.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.4 miles on Vietnam Veteran's 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 Norman, 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: at 0.4 miles (US 62; OK 27 / Woody Guthrie Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles (I 240; OK 3 / Southeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Norman, OK before heading back.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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