Connecting Sallisaw to Tulsa is a straightforward 94.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a quick day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $14 on fuel, making it a very cost-effective route within the Great Plains. You will transition from Sallisaw to Tulsa by utilizing the Muskogee Turnpike, the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway, and the Broken Arrow Expressway. Whether you are heading into the city for business or a change of pace, this drive offers a reliable and efficient connection between these two Oklahoma points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.3 miles from Sallisaw, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Muskogee Turnpike
55.7 mi
54m
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
21.1 mi
21m
Broken Arrow Expressway
10.5 mi
12m
Disabled American Veterans Highway
3.4 mi
3m
South Boston Avenue East
0.7 mi
2m
North Wheeler Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Ruth Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
East Iola Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Muskogee Turnpike
— 55.7 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sallisaw, OK and Tulsa, OK.
1
Start on this road
37 ft·1 sec·this road
2
Turn slight right onto North Wheeler Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Wheeler Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto South Opdyke Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Opdyke Street
4
Turn right onto East Iola Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East Iola Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on West Ruth Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ruth Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US 59
301 ft·10 sec·Kerr Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp onto I 40 Business
0.3 mi·35 sec·I 40 Business
Toward I 40 West: Oklahoma CityUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 40
21 mi·21 min·Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
400 ft·5 sec
Exit 286Toward OK 351: Muskogee, TulsaUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·24 sec·this road
11
Continue on OK 351
14 mi·14 min·Muskogee Turnpike
12
Keep slight right at fork onto OK 351
41 mi·39 min·Muskogee Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on OK 51
3.4 mi·3 min·Disabled American Veterans Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on OK 51
380 ft·5 sec·Representative David Brumbaugh Memorial Bridge
15
Continue on OK 51
11 mi·12 min·Broken Arrow Expressway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Detroit Avenue, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto East 13th Street South
0.2 mi·28 sec·East 13th Street South
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn right onto South Boston Avenue East
0.7 mi·2 min·South Boston Avenue East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
At end of road, turn left onto East 3rd Street South
0.1 mi·31 sec·East 3rd Street South
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right 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 relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid typical city traffic as you approach Tulsa. You won't need to plan for any formal stops given the sub-two-hour travel time, but keeping your fuel budget around $14 in mind will help you stay on track for the day. Be prepared for the transition between the turnpike and the expressway, as traffic patterns can shift quickly as you move closer to the city. Because you won't be stopping for breaks, ensure your vehicle is prepped before leaving Sallisaw to maintain your momentum. Taking advantage of the direct highway access is the best way to keep your transit time as close to the estimated 1 hour and 42 minutes as possible.
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 47.3 miles from Sallisaw, OK, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.7 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.3 miles or 50m 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 20m
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 Sallisaw, OK so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sallisaw, OK
This is one driving day of about 94.7 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Sallisaw, OK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Muskogee Turnpike for about 55.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 94.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|I 40 Business
Take the ramp onto I 40 Business toward I 40 West: Oklahoma City
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 40 West: Oklahoma City
8
23.2 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward OK 351: Muskogee, Tulsa
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 286
Toward OK 351: Muskogee, Tulsa
7
93.3 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Detroit Avenue, 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.
Toward Detroit Avenue, Downtown
7
94.4 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|East 3rd Street South
At end of road, turn left onto East 3rd Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|South Boulder Avenue West
Turn right onto South Boulder Avenue West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.81 one way
$29.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.26
$32.51
premium
$4.89
$18.22
$36.45
diesel
$5.61
$20.91
$41.82
Estimated Tolls: $3.90
Muskogee Turnpike
(55.7 mi)$3.90
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
$15
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.4
0
$9.94
$4.55
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.29
$3.79
EV Truck/SUV
37.9
0
$13.26
$6.06
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Sallisaw, OK
Late night
in Sallisaw on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tulsa, OK
Late night
in Tulsa on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 42m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with roughly 70% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into a rhythm once you merge onto the Muskogee Turnpike, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 55.7 miles. The personality of the road is consistent and fast-paced, prioritizing efficiency over winding backroads. As you progress toward Tulsa, the transition from the turnpike to the Broken Arrow Expressway signals your arrival into the more developed metropolitan area. Expect a steady, predictable experience behind the wheel that allows you to maintain a consistent speed for the majority of the 1 hour and 42-minute duration.
70% 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: 55.7 mi on Muskogee Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Muskogee Turnpike and Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near I 40 Business.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.9 miles (I 40 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Sallisaw is in the Green Country region of Oklahoma and the county seat for Sequoyah County. A town that was designated as the Depression-scene setting at the beginning of The Grapes Of Wrath, an image Sallisaw isn't always terribly proud of.
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 42m. Total distance: 94.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.7 miles on Muskogee Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.90 in tolls one way, starting with Muskogee 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.
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 1.9 miles (I 40 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tulsa, OK before heading back.
