How far is Lawton, OK from Poteau, OK?
The driving distance from Lawton, OK to Poteau, OK is about 270.5 miles (435.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 51m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 215.8 miles (347.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 04h 51m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in Oklahoma, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lawton and Poteau.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lawton and Poteau.
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1
Start on Southwest Gore Boulevard
136 m · 13 sec · Southwest Gore Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto Northwest 1st Street
56 m · 13 sec · Northwest 1st Street
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3
Turn left onto Southwest Gore Boulevard
147 m · 12 sec · Southwest Gore Boulevard
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4
Turn right onto Northwest 2nd Street
2519 ft · 44 sec · Northwest 2nd Street
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5
Take the ramp straight
1185 ft · 29 sec
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6
Keep slight right to continue on I 44 East, US 277 North, US 281 North: Oklahoma City
1974 ft · 49 sec
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7
Merge slight right onto Bill W. Burgess, Junior Highway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Bill W. Burgess, Junior Highway
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8
Continue on Pioneer Expressway
4.6 mi · 5 min · Pioneer Expressway
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9
Continue on Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
61.2 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Harry E. Bailey Turnpike
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10
Continue on Will Rogers Expressway
7.7 mi · 8 min · Will Rogers Expressway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 240 East, US 62 East, OK 3 East: Fort Smith
1456 ft · 43 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Southwest Expressway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Southwest Expressway
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13
Continue on Southeast Expressway
13 mi · 15 min · Southeast Expressway
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14
Continue on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
75.5 mi · 1 hr 17 min · Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
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15
Continue on Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
1.4 mi · 1 min · Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
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16
Continue on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
65.9 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 Business East, US 59: Sallisaw, Poteau
1297 ft · 32 sec
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18
Turn right onto Kerr Boulevard
20 mi · 24 min · Kerr Boulevard
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19
Turn right
109 m · 8 sec
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20
Continue straight
608 ft · 10 sec
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21
Continue straight
12.1 mi · 19 min
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22
Turn right onto Circle Drive
650 ft · 12 sec · Circle Drive
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23
Continue on Paul Mathies Drive
1.4 km · 2 min · Paul Mathies Drive
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24
Turn left onto Beard Avenue
1919 ft · 42 sec · Beard Avenue
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25
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Broadway Street
35 m · 6 sec · South Broadway Street
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26
Turn right onto Dewey Avenue
17 m · 1 sec · Dewey Avenue
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Dewey Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lawton and Poteau.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Continue on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
75.5 mi · 01h 17m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Lawton and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Poteau.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lawton to Poteau?
The road trip is about 270.5 miles (435.3 km) and usually takes 04h 51m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Cromwell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 135.1 miles from Lawton and 135.4 miles from Poteau.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 215.8 miles (347.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:18 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.13 one way or $72.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Lawton and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Poteau.
Stop Ideas Near Cromwell
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cromwell.
Purcell
Norman
Pauls Valley
Santa Fe Depot
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lawton and Poteau. Straight-line distance: 215.82 mi (347.33 km).
#1 Lawton
The most populous city in Comanche County, Oklahoma.
| Population | 93,164 |
| Coordinates | 34.6086900, -98.3903300 |
| Altitude | 339 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Poteau
City in Oklahoma
| Population | 8,906 |
| Coordinates | 35.0537100, -94.6235600 |
| Altitude | 149 |
| Country | United States |
End: Poteau (-94.62356, 35.05371)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 435 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 00m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 45m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 24m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 30m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 51m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 22m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $36.13 | $72.26 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $40.63 | $81.26 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $44.12 | $88.24 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $51.66 | $103.32 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Oklahoma · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.