Poteau to Shawnee is 160.1 miles and takes about 2h 59m via Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Oklahoma, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, making it a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
80.1 miles from Poteau, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
119.6 mi
2h
US 59
24.6 mi
32m
Broadway
5.4 mi
6m
North Harrison Street
3.8 mi
8m
North Broadway Street
2.4 mi
4m
Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
1.5 mi
1m
Paul Mathies Drive
0.9 mi
1m
East 10th Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
— 119.6 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Poteau, OK and Shawnee, OK.
1
Start on Dewey Avenue
56 ft·8 sec·Dewey Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 59 Business; US 271 Business
114 ft·4 sec·South Broadway Street
3
Turn right onto Beard Avenue
0.4 mi·36 sec·Beard Avenue
4
Turn right onto Paul Mathies Drive
0.9 mi·1 min·Paul Mathies Drive
5
Continue on Circle Drive
0.1 mi·17 sec·Circle Drive
6
Turn left onto US 59 Business; US 271 Business
2.4 mi·4 min·North Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 59; US 271
7.7 mi·11 min·US 59; US 271
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 59; US 271
2.2 mi·3 min·US 59; US 271
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 59; US 271
319 ft·7 sec·US 59; US 271
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto OK 9; US 59
5.4 mi·6 min·Broadway
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on US 59
15 mi·17 min·US 59
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto I 40 Business
0.3 mi·35 sec·I 40 Business
Toward I 40 West: Oklahoma CityUse the left lane.
13
Merge onto I 40
66 mi·1 hr 6 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 40
1.5 mi·1 min·Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on I 40
54 mi·53 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 186Toward OK 18: Shawnee, MeekerUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto OK 18
3.8 mi·8 min·North Harrison Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto East 10th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East 10th Street
19
Turn left onto US 270 Business
0.2 mi·33 sec·North Beard Street
20
Turn right onto West Main Street
139 ft·3 sec·West Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 59m drive time, you have flexibility with your departure. Leaving Poteau in the morning allows ample time to reach Shawnee well before evening. Plan for your single stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point, to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $25, and it’s always wise to refuel before the tank gets too low, especially when transitioning from highway to surface roads. This route is straightforward enough that you shouldn't need extensive pre-trip planning beyond ensuring your vehicle is in good condition.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.1 miles from Poteau, OK, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.6 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 35 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.1 miles or 1h 33m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shawnee, OK than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Poteau, 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 Poteau, OK
This is one driving day of about 160.1 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Poteau, 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 119.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 155.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 59 Business; US 271 Business / South Broadway Street
Turn left onto US 59 Business; US 271 Business / South Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|US 59 Business; US 271 Business / North Broadway Street
Turn left onto US 59 Business; US 271 Business / North Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
33.8 mi into trip|~46m 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
5
34.1 mi into trip|~46m in|I 40 / Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 40 / Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
155.2 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward OK 18: Shawnee, Meeker
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 186
Toward OK 18: Shawnee, Meeker
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.03 one way
$50.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.48
$54.96
premium
$4.89
$30.81
$61.62
diesel
$5.61
$35.35
$70.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48
0
$16.81
$7.68
Efficient EV
40
0
$14.01
$6.40
EV Truck/SUV
64
0
$22.41
$10.25
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Poteau, OK
Late night
in Poteau on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shawnee, OK
Late night
in Shawnee on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Eufaula, OK
80 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
2h 59m 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?
You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with only about 16% of the 160.1 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 119.6 miles along the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. After this, you'll transition to surface streets like US 59 and Broadway for the remainder of your trip. Expect a cruising experience with moderate traffic as you approach your destination.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.6 mi on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 59 Business; US 271 Business / South Broadway Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 59m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 59 Business; US 271 Business / South Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 59 Business; US 271 Business / North Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.8 miles (I 40 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Shawnee is in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma.
While normally not on the sight-seeing itinerary of those who do not know someone already living there, Shawnee could prove to be an interesting day trip.
Shawnee is known for its numerous Native American casinos, maybe lesser-so that it is where Brad Pitt and Jim Thorpe hailed from or the origin of Sonic restaurants.
The longest stretch is about 119.6 miles on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 59 Business; US 271 Business / South Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (US 59 Business; US 271 Business / North Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.8 miles (I 40 Business): 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 Shawnee, OK before heading back.
