Origin
Oklahoma City, OK
Late night in Oklahoma City on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oklahoma City, OK to Poteau, OK
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 30m
Distance
191.7 mi
309 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 19m
★
6 AM
3h 31m
8 AM
3h 56m
10 AM
3h 39m
12 PM
3h 37m
3 PM
3h 41m
5 PM
3h 54m
8 PM
3h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oklahoma City, OK
Wikimedia Commons
Poteau, OK
cottonbro CG studio
Trip Overview
Oklahoma City to Poteau is 191.7 miles and takes about 3 hours 30 minutes via Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway and US 59, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Oklahoma, moving from the Great Plains region to a similar landscape. The route is mostly on local roads with a significant amount of turns, making it a more involved drive than a straight shot on an interstate. Plan for this to be a single-day excursion, as the drive is manageable within a few hours.
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
95.9 miles from Oklahoma City, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway | 141.4 mi | 2h 23m |
| Kerr Boulevard | 20 mi | 23m |
| US 59 | 12.3 mi | 19m |
| Tinker Diagonal | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Crosstown Expressway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Paul Mathies Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Centennial Expressway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
— 141.4 mi, about 2h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oklahoma City, OK and Poteau, OK.
1
Start on North Robinson Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Robinson Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto Northwest 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Northwest 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Northeast 5th Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
66 ft
·
1 sec
Toward I 235
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 235 South, US 77 South
Use the straight lane.
6
Merge onto I 235; US 77
0.7 mi
·
53 sec
·
Centennial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 35 North, I 40 East, US 62 East: Wichita, Fort Smith
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 40; US 270
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Crosstown Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40; US 270
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Tinker Diagonal
Exit 128
Toward I 240 East, US 270 East: Fort Smith
Use the slight left lane.
10
Continue on I 40; US 270; OK 3
75 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on I 40
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
Toward I 40 East: Fort Smith
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 40
66 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 40 Business
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 40 Business
Exit 308
Toward I 40 Business East, US 59: Sallisaw, Poteau
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto US 59
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Kerr Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto US 59; US 271
359 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 59; US 271
16
Continue on US 59; US 271
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
US 59; US 271
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Continue on US 59; US 271
12 mi
·
19 min
·
US 59; US 271
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Circle Drive
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Circle Drive
19
Continue on Paul Mathies Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Paul Mathies Drive
20
Turn left onto Beard Avenue
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Beard Avenue
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 59 Business; US 271 Business
114 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Broadway Street
22
Turn right onto Dewey Avenue
56 ft
·
1 sec
·
Dewey Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Dewey Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time of around 3 hours and 30 minutes, leaving Oklahoma City in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Poteau well before dark. You'll pass through one designated stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the route is not heavily highway-based; the estimated fuel cost is $30. Given the relatively short distance, you have flexibility to depart later if needed, but be mindful of the increased turns and local road navigation as daylight fades.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 95.9 miles from Oklahoma City, OK, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.4 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 42 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.9 miles or 1h 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 2h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Poteau, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma City, OK
This is one driving day of about 191.7 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Oklahoma 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 Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway for about 141.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.9 miles from Oklahoma City, 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 141.4 miles.
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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 157.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Northeast 5th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto Northeast 5th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 235 South, US 77 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 235 South, US 77 South
8
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North, I 40 East, US 62 East: Wichita, Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 35 North, I 40 East, US 62 East: Wichi...
9
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 40; US 270 / Tinker Diagonal
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40; US 270 / Tinker Diagonal toward I 240 East, US 270 East: Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 128
Toward I 240 East, US 270 East: Fort Smith
8
157.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
|
I 40 Business
Take the exit onto I 40 Business toward I 40 Business East, US 59: Sallisaw, Poteau
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 308
Toward I 40 Business East, US 59: Sallisaw, Pot...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.97 one way
$59.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.91 | $65.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.89 | $73.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.32 | $84.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.5 | 0 | $20.13 | $9.20 |
| Efficient EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.77 | $7.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.7 | 0 | $26.84 | $12.27 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Poteau, OK
Late night in Poteau on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Eufaula, OK
96 mi in
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
15 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
3h 30m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 8% of this 191.7-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 141.4 miles along the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. After that, expect to transition to more local roads, indicated by the higher number of turns. This means you'll be navigating through communities and potentially dealing with more varied traffic patterns.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141.4 mi on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 around 0.6 miles in near Northeast 5th Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 191.7 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 0.6 miles (Northeast 5th Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Oklahoma City, OK
Full guide →Oklahoma City is the capital and principal city of the state of Oklahoma in the central Frontier Country region of the state. The sprawling city and its suburbs offer multiple sports venues, museums, regional food, and a mix of Native American and cowboy culture.
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 3h 30m. Total distance: 191.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 141.4 miles on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Poteau, 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 0.6 miles (Northeast 5th Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Poteau, OK, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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