This 268.9-mile drive from Pocola, OK to Lawton, OK is a straightforward journey through the Great Plains region of Oklahoma. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 47 minutes on the road, making it a very manageable day trip. The primary routes include the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway and the Harry E. Bailey Turnpike, with a portion on US 59. With an estimated fuel cost of $42, this trip is budget-friendly. Given its duration and manageable distance, it's a perfect candidate for a single-day adventure, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to break up the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
134.4 miles from Pocola, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
141.2 mi
2h 23m
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
60.9 mi
1h 1m
US 59
14.6 mi
17m
Southeast Expressway
13.2 mi
14m
OK 9
11.1 mi
12m
Will Rogers Expressway
7.6 mi
8m
Pioneer Expressway
5 mi
5m
Southwest Expressway
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
— 141.2 mi, about 2h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pocola, OK and Lawton, OK.
1
Start on Love Street
119 ft·4 sec·Love Street
2
Turn right onto Mc Kenizie Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·Mc Kenizie Avenue
3
Turn right onto Karl Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Karl Avenue
4
Continue on Karl Street
1.2 mi·1 min·Karl Street
5
Continue on Old Pocola Road
2.7 mi·4 min·Old Pocola Road
6
Continue on County Road D1220
0.3 mi·25 sec·County Road D1220
7
Continue on County Road E1220
0.2 mi·21 sec·County Road E1220
8
At end of road, turn left onto OK 9; US 271
7.5 mi·8 min·OK 9; US 271
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on OK 9; US 59
3.6 mi·4 min·OK 9; US 59
10
Continue on US 59
15 mi·17 min·US 59
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto I 40 Business
0.3 mi·35 sec·I 40 Business
Toward I 40 West: Oklahoma CityUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 40
66 mi·1 hr 6 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 40
1.5 mi·1 min·Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on I 40
75 mi·1 hr 16 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 240; OK 3
13 mi·14 min·Southeast Expressway
Toward OK 3 West, I 240 West: Lawton, DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 240; US 62; OK 3
3.7 mi·4 min·Southwest Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 62
0.6 mi·41 sec·US 62
Exit 1AToward I 44 West, US 62 West: LawtonUse the right lane.
18
Merge onto I 44; US 62
7.6 mi·8 min·Will Rogers Expressway
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on I 44
61 mi·1 hr 1 min·Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
Toward I 44 West: Chickasha, LawtonUse the straight lane.
20
Continue on I 44; US 62; US 277; US 281
5.0 mi·5 min·Pioneer Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 44; US 62; US 277; US 281
2.5 mi·2 min·Bill W. Burgess, Junior Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit onto US 281 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·US 281 Business
Exit 39AToward US 281 Business South: LawtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Southwest Gore Boulevard
38 ft·0 sec·Southwest Gore Boulevard
24
Arrive at destination
Southwest Gore Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 47-minute drive, departing in the morning will give you ample daylight for your 268.9-mile journey to Lawton. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing, but it's wise to plan your fuel accordingly, especially given the $42 estimated cost. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 141.2-mile stretch on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, as services can sometimes be spaced out on longer highway segments. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, so focus on enjoying the drive and arriving at your destination refreshed.
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 134.4 miles from Pocola, OK, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.2 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.4 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawton, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pocola, 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 Pocola, OK
This is one driving day of about 268.9 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Pocola, 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 141.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 267.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.8 mi into trip|~11m in|OK 9; US 271
At end of road, turn left onto OK 9; US 271
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
31.6 mi into trip|~41m in|I 40 Business
Take the exit onto I 40 Business toward I 40 West: Oklahoma City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Oklahoma City
8
174.5 mi into trip|~3h 7m 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
191.4 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|US 62
Take the exit onto US 62 toward I 44 West, US 62 West: Lawton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 44 West, US 62 West: Lawton
7
267.9 mi into trip|~4h 45m in|US 281 Business
Take the exit onto US 281 Business toward US 281 Business South: Lawton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 39A
Toward US 281 Business South: Lawton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.04 one way
$84.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.16
$92.32
premium
$4.89
$51.75
$103.49
diesel
$5.61
$59.37
$118.74
Estimated Tolls: $4.27
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
(60.9 mi)$4.27
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
$42
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.7
0
$28.23
$12.91
Efficient EV
67.2
0
$23.53
$10.76
EV Truck/SUV
107.6
1
$37.65
$17.21
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Pocola, OK
Evening
in Pocola on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lawton, OK
Evening
in Lawton on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 47m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$18
near mile 185.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll experience a mixed drive on this route, with 44% of the journey utilizing highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 141.2 miles on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, offering a sustained period of driving. While the majority of the route is likely highway-based, be prepared for potential changes in road character as you transition between the turnpike and other highways. This blend suggests a drive that's mostly efficient but may offer moments of varied scenery and road conditions as you traverse the Oklahoma landscape.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141.2 mi on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near OK 9; US 271.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 268.9 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 5.8 miles (OK 9; US 271): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles (I 40 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.5 miles (I 240; OK 3 / Southeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Pocola, OK to Lawton, OK, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas along the way.
Dallas
174.5 mi in|~3h 7m|via I 240; OK 3
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 268.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 141.2 miles on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.27 in tolls one way, starting with Harry E. Bailey 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.
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 Lawton, 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 5.8 miles (OK 9; US 271): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles (I 40 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.5 miles (I 240; OK 3 / Southeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Lawton, OK, but most travelers stay overnight.
