This 134-mile drive from Waukomis, OK to Lawton, OK is a straightforward journey, estimated to take about 2 hours and 39 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Harry E. Bailey Turnpike, US 81, and OK 37, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, with a fuel cost estimated at $21. You'll remain within the Great Plains region for the entirety of your travel. The direct nature of this highway-focused drive makes it an efficient option for getting between these two Oklahoma towns. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip without needing an overnight stay.
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
67 miles from Waukomis, OK
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
34 mi
36m
US 81
24.1 mi
30m
OK 37
19.2 mi
21m
Chisholm Trail
17.9 mi
22m
I 40 Business
11.2 mi
12m
Senator Ralph J. Choate Memorial Highway
8.6 mi
11m
Pioneer Expressway
5 mi
5m
South Main Street
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
— 34 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waukomis, OK and Lawton, OK.
1
Start on East Euclid Avenue
0.5 mi·47 sec·East Euclid Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 81
11 mi·13 min·US 81
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 81
0.4 mi·54 sec·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 81
372 ft·14 sec·Senator Ralph J. Choate Memorial Highway
5
Continue on US 81
0.1 mi·26 sec·South Main Street
6
Continue on US 81
8.5 mi·10 min·Senator Ralph J. Choate Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 81
0.2 mi·23 sec·US 81
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 81
0.2 mi·23 sec·North Chisholm Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 81
18 mi·22 min·Chisholm Trail
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Continue on OK 3; US 81
3.2 mi·3 min·South Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 81
6.5 mi·7 min·US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 81
4.9 mi·7 min·US 81
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto I 40 Business; US 81; US Historic 66
0.1 mi·14 sec·West Wade Street
14
Turn right onto I 40 Business; US 81; US Historic 66
1.9 mi·2 min·South Rock Island Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on I 40 Business; US 81; US Historic 66
0.2 mi·17 sec·Southeast 27th Street
16
Enter roundabout
25 ft·0 sec
17
Continue
419 ft·5 sec
18
Continue on I 40 Business; US 81
0.2 mi·13 sec·I 40 Business; US 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on I 40 Business; US 81
11 mi·12 min·I 40 Business; US 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 81; OK 152
1.1 mi·1 min·US 81; OK 152
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
21
Continue on OK 37; US 81
19 mi·21 min·OK 37; US 81
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
At end of road, turn left onto OK 9; US 62; US 81
1.7 mi·2 min·OK 9; US 62; US 81
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto US 81; US 277
1.8 mi·2 min·North 4th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 44 West: LawtonUse the left lane.
25
Merge onto I 44
34 mi·36 min·Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on I 44; US 62; US 277; US 281
5.0 mi·5 min·Pioneer Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
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.
28
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.
29
Turn left onto Southwest Gore Boulevard
38 ft·0 sec·Southwest Gore Boulevard
30
Arrive at destination
Southwest Gore Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under 2.5 hours, this drive offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning or afternoon, depending on your schedule. With only one recommended stop, it's wise to plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically. Consider filling up your tank before you leave Waukomis to minimize stops. The longest stretch without a planned stop is 34 miles on the turnpike, so keep that in mind for your fuel gauge. This straightforward route makes it easy to reach Lawton with minimal fuss.
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 67 miles from Waukomis, OK, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67 miles or 1h 23m 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 12m
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 Waukomis, 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 Waukomis, OK
This is one driving day of about 134 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Waukomis, 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 Harry E. Bailey Turnpike for about 34 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 0.5 and 133 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~0m in|US 81
Turn right onto US 81
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
42.5 mi into trip|~53m in|US 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 81
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
54 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|I 40 Business; US 81; US Historic 66 / South Rock Island Avenue
Turn right onto I 40 Business; US 81; US Historic 66 / South Rock Island Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
89.4 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|US 81; US 277 / North 4th Street
Turn right onto US 81; US 277 / North 4th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
133 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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
$20.95 one way
$41.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.00
$46.00
premium
$4.89
$25.79
$51.57
diesel
$5.61
$29.59
$59.17
Estimated Tolls: $2.38
Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
(34 mi)$2.38
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
$21
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.2
0
$14.07
$6.43
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
EV Truck/SUV
53.6
0
$18.76
$8.58
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Waukomis, OK
Late night
in Waukomis on Sunday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lawton, OK
Late night
in Lawton on Sunday
Local time
5:14 AM
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 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 39m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 134-mile trip, with 72% of the route on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34 miles along the Harry E. Bailey Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. While much of the drive is on well-maintained roads, the mix of turnpike and US highways provides a varied driving experience. You'll likely notice the landscape of the Great Plains unfolding as you make your way south. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34 mi on Harry E. Bailey Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Harry E. Bailey Turnpike and US 81. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 81.
Driving Effort5/10
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 134 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 0.5 miles (US 81): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (US 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54 miles (I 40 Business; US 81; US Historic 66 / South Rock Island Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 39m. Total distance: 134 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34 miles on Harry E. Bailey Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.38 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.
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: at 0.5 miles (US 81): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles (US 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 54 miles (I 40 Business; US 81; US Historic 66 / South Rock Island Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Oklahoma City National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lawton, OK before heading back.
