Connecting Oklahoma City to Tulsa is a straightforward 106.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the one-way trek across the Great Plains. Navigating the path involves transitioning through Northwest 5th Street, Northeast 5th Street, and I-235. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, this drive offers a practical connection between two of Oklahoma's major hubs without requiring an intensive travel schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53 miles from Oklahoma City, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 44
87.7 mi
1h 27m
Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
4.7 mi
5m
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
4.2 mi
4m
Will Rogers Expressway
3.3 mi
4m
Centennial Expressway
3.1 mi
3m
North Robinson Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
West 3rd Street South
0.3 mi
1m
North Oklahoma Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 44
— 87.7 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oklahoma City, OK and Tulsa, 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 6th Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·Northwest 6th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Continue on Northeast 6th Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Northeast 6th Street
4
Turn left onto North Oklahoma Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·North Oklahoma Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto Northeast 10th Street
478 ft·17 sec·Northeast 10th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto North Walnut Avenue
494 ft·9 sec·North Walnut Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 235 North, US 77 North: Edmond
8
Merge onto I 235; US 77
3.1 mi·3 min·Centennial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 4BToward I 44 East: TulsaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 44; OK 66
3.3 mi·4 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Toward I 44 East, OK 66 East: TulsaUse the straight lane.
11
Merge onto I 35; I 44; OK 66
4.2 mi·4 min·World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit onto I 44
88 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 44
Exit 138AToward I 44 East: TulsaUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 244
4.7 mi·5 min·Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Exit 223AToward I 244 East, OK 344 North: Tulsa, Sand SpringsUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 4CToward 7th Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto South Lawton Avenue West
0.1 mi·23 sec·South Lawton Avenue West
Use the left lane.
16
Turn straight onto West Heavy Traffic Way South
0.1 mi·25 sec·West Heavy Traffic Way South
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
17
Continue on West 2nd Street South
0.1 mi·26 sec·West 2nd Street South
18
At end of road, turn right onto South Frisco Avenue
386 ft·20 sec·South Frisco Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto West 3rd Street South
0.3 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto South Boulder Avenue West
390 ft·15 sec·South Boulder Avenue West
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
South Boulder Avenue West
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With a total duration of just over 90 minutes, you can easily make the drive in one go without needing to build in long rest periods. Keep your $16 fuel budget in mind when you head out, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a route that prioritizes turns over open highway cruising. Because the route is entirely local, pay close attention to street signage and intersections as you transition between the city streets and I-235. This drive is all about efficiency, so take advantage of the short travel time to maximize your day at your destination.
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 53 miles from Oklahoma City, OK, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.7 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 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53 miles or 57m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tulsa, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oklahoma City, OK
This is one driving day of about 105.9 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Oklahoma City, OK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 44 for about 87.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 104.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|North Oklahoma Avenue
Turn left onto North Oklahoma Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|Northeast 10th Street
Turn right onto Northeast 10th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|North Walnut Avenue
Turn left onto North Walnut Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
100.1 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|I 244 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 244 / Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway toward I 244 East, OK 344 North: Tulsa, Sand Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 223A
Toward I 244 East, OK 344 North: Tulsa, Sand Sp...
8
104.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward 7th Street, Downtown
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 4C
Toward 7th Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.56 one way
$33.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.18
$36.36
premium
$4.89
$20.38
$40.76
diesel
$5.61
$23.38
$46.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.8
0
$11.12
$5.08
Efficient EV
26.5
0
$9.27
$4.24
EV Truck/SUV
42.4
0
$14.83
$6.78
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Oklahoma City, OK
Night
in Oklahoma City on Saturday
Local time
9:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tulsa, OK
Night
in Tulsa on Saturday
Local time
9:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Meeker, OK
53 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway share. Because the path relies on local street navigation, you will find a distinct lack of long, uninterrupted highway stretches; in fact, the longest segment is 0 miles on Northwest 5th Street. This setup demands more active attention behind the wheel compared to a standard freeway drive. The experience is defined by local turns and surface streets, creating a driving environment that feels more connected to the urban landscape. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed transit.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.7 mi on I 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 44 and Martin Luther King, Junior Memorial Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near North Oklahoma Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 105.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.8 miles (North Oklahoma Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (Northeast 10th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (North Walnut Avenue): 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 Oklahoma City, OK to Tulsa, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Sand Springs along the way.
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.
Tulsa calls itself the "Oil Capital of the World." Here, the age of the oil boom found its center. A small town by US standards, metropolitan luxuries such as theater, fine dining, nightlife, and shopping are found in a state known for sparsely populated farming communities. The picturesque downtown is surrounded by rolling hills covered with prairie grasses and ancient forests, a first impression that soon reveals world-class architecture and museums of art, miles of biking and walking trails, and huge parks. With a wealth of iconic sights and neighborhoods to explore, a trip to Tulsa can easily fit several weeks of touring.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 105.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.7 miles on I 44. 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 Tulsa, 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 0.8 miles (North Oklahoma Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (Northeast 10th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (North Walnut Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tulsa, OK before heading back.
