Origin
Ponca City, OK
Late night in Ponca City on Tuesday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ponca City, 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
2h 18m
Distance
121.8 mi
196 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ponca City, OK
Kelly
Norman, OK
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 121.8-mile drive from Ponca City, OK to Norman, OK, will take you approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes. It's a manageable one-day trip, perfect for a quick getaway. You'll spend about 23% of your time on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 77.3 miles on the World War II Veterans Memorial Highway. Budget around $19 for fuel for this journey. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape throughout. This route offers a straightforward way to travel between these two Oklahoma cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.9 miles from Ponca City, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| World War II Veterans Memorial Highway | 77.3 mi | 1h 18m |
| US 60 | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| Helen Cole Memorial Highway | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| I 35 | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Shannon Miller Parkway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| US 77 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Honorable Hannah Diggs Atkins, Secretary of State, Memorial Highway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Representative Opio Toure Memorial Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
— 77.3 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ponca City, OK and Norman, OK.
1
Start on West Broadway Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Broadway Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Oak Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Oak Street
3
Turn right onto US 60 Business
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Grand Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 60 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Waverly Street
5
Turn right onto US 60 Business
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 60 Business
6
Turn straight onto US 60; US 77; US 177
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 60; US 77; US 177
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35
72 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
World War II Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Shannon Miller Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on I 35; OK 66
5.0 mi
·
5 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: Dallas
Use 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
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Representative Opio Toure Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on I 35; I 40; US 62; US 270
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Crosstown Expressway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 62
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
I 35; US 62
Toward I 35 South, US 62 West, US 77 South: Dallas
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Helen Cole Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on I 35; US 77
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Doctor James E. and Representative Mina M. Hibdon Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit onto US 77
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
US 77
Exit 113
Toward US 77 South
Use the slight left lane.
19
Enter roundabout onto North Flood Avenue
76 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Flood Avenue
20
Continue on North Flood Avenue
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Flood Avenue
21
Turn left onto West Robinson Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Robinson Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto North Porter Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Porter Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto East Gray Street
464 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Gray Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto North Crawford Avenue
403 ft
·
21 sec
·
North Crawford Avenue
25
Turn left onto East Main Street
355 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Main Street
26
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 18-minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You can depart Ponca City in the morning and arrive in Norman by lunchtime. With only 121.8 miles, you have the flexibility to leave when you're ready and don't need to rush. Consider leaving early to maximize your time in Norman, or depart mid-morning if you prefer a more relaxed start. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before embarking on the 77.3-mile stretch on the World War II Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might be spaced out on this longer segment.
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 60.9 miles from Ponca City, OK, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.3 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 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.9 miles or 1h 7m 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 48m
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 Ponca 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 Ponca City, OK
This is one driving day of about 121.8 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Ponca City, OK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on World War II Veterans Memorial Highway for about 77.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.9 miles from Ponca City, OK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before World War II Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.3 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 96.9 and 120.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
96.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m 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
8
103.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
I 35; US 62
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 62 toward I 35 South, US 62 West, US 77 South: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 35 South, US 62 West, US 77 South: Dal...
7
116.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
US 77
Take the exit onto US 77 toward US 77 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 113
Toward US 77 South
6
120.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
West Robinson Street
Turn left onto West Robinson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
120.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
|
North Porter Avenue
Turn right onto North Porter Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.04 one way
$38.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.91 | $41.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.44 | $46.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.89 | $53.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.79 | $5.85 |
| Efficient EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.66 | $4.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.05 | $7.80 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Norman, OK
Late night in Norman on Tuesday
Local time
4:26 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
2 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 18m 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?
The drive is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting a more engaging experience than a simple interstate cruise. While 23% of the route utilizes highways, the majority will likely involve navigating local roads and intersections. The longest continuous segment you'll encounter is 77.3 miles on the World War II Veterans Memorial Highway, which should provide a good stretch of consistent travel before you need to make further turns. This profile means you'll be actively involved in navigating, with a mix of faster highway sections and more frequent adjustments on local routes.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.3 mi on World War II Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 96.9 miles in near I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 121.8 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 96.9 miles (I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.5 miles (I 35; US 62): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.3 miles (US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Ponca City, OK
Full guide →Ponca City is in the Red Carpet Country region of Oklahoma. It's a city rich in oil lore, at least as it pertains to one person, E.W. Marland, who was like a titan of the plains, tapping into vast oil reserves with his Continental Oil Co. and largely building the town from the ground up single-handedly, with Spanish Colonial style structures and things that were to his liking. His company would go on to become Conoco and then ConocoPhillips after a merger with <ding> Phillips, which later split up. But there were other inspirations in the history of Ponca City. For one, Bill Picket was an African American cowboy/Wildwest performer who gained fame for his 'bulldogging' theatrics, grabbing bulls by the horns basically to wrestle them to the ground, an activity that cost him his life one day.
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 2h 18m. Total distance: 121.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.3 miles on World War II Veterans 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 96.9 miles (I 35 / World War II Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.5 miles (I 35; US 62): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.3 miles (US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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