How far is Poteau, OK from Shawnee, OK?

The driving distance from Poteau, OK to Shawnee, OK is about 160.1 miles (257.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 131.4 miles (211.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
160.03 mi
02h 42m
Flight
131.33 mi
211.36 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Poteau.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
131.33 mi
Kilometers
211.36 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
160.03 mi
Kilometers
257.55 km
Drive Time
02h 42m

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 02h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Shawnee
Thu, Apr 23, 7:03 AM CDT
Return by in Poteau
Thu, Apr 23, 9:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Poteau
2026-04-23T04:20
Arrive Shawnee
Thu, Apr 23, 7:03 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:42 AM to 12:42 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:06 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Poteau
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Checotah
OK

City in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, United States

From Poteau
80 mi
01h 21m
To Shawnee
80.1 mi
01h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
18 to 23 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Poteau and Shawnee.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Poteau and Shawnee.

  1. 1

    Start on Dewey Avenue

    17 m · 8 sec · Dewey Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Broadway Street

    35 m · 4 sec · South Broadway Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Beard Avenue

    1919 ft · 36 sec · Beard Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Paul Mathies Drive

    1.4 km · 1 min · Paul Mathies Drive

  5. 5

    Continue on Circle Drive

    650 ft · 18 sec · Circle Drive

  6. 6

    Turn left onto North Broadway Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · North Broadway Street

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    7.7 mi · 11 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    97 m · 7 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Broadway

    5.4 mi · 6 min · Broadway

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    14.6 mi · 18 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit left toward I 40 West: Oklahoma City

    1418 ft · 36 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway

    65.9 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway

    1.5 mi · 1 min · Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway

    53.8 mi · 54 min · Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward OK 18: Shawnee, Meeker

    1062 ft · 28 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North Harrison Street

    3.8 mi · 8 min · North Harrison Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto East 10th Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · East 10th Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto North Beard Street

    953 ft · 33 sec · North Beard Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    43 m · 4 sec · West Main Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Poteau and Shawnee.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
120 mi · 75%
Broadway
20.1 mi · 13%
North Broadway Street
12.3 mi · 8%
North Harrison Street
3.78 mi · 2%
Tim Vandiver Memorial Highway
1.46 mi · 1%
Paul Mathies Drive
0.9 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway

65.9 mi · 01h 06m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 42m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.7 mi
131.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Checotah
01h 21m from Poteau
Leave By
1:06 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Poteau and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Shawnee.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Poteau to Shawnee?

The road trip is about 160.1 miles (257.6 km) and usually takes 02h 42m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Checotah is a useful midpoint, sitting about 80 miles from Poteau and 80.1 miles from Shawnee.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 131.4 miles (211.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.7 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:06 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.40 one way or $42.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Poteau and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Shawnee.

Stop Ideas Near Checotah

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Checotah, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Checotah.

BUS

Tulsa, Oklahoma

87 mi away
317 South Detroit St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Poteau and Shawnee. Straight-line distance: 131.33 mi (211.36 km).

Poteau

#1 Poteau

City in Oklahoma

Population8,906
Coordinates35.0537100, -94.6235600
Altitude149
CountryUnited States
Shawnee

#2 Shawnee

City in Oklahoma, United States

Population31,555
Coordinates35.3272900, -96.9253000
Altitude323
CountryUnited States
Start: Dewey Avenue (-94.623649, 35.053616)
End: West Main Street (-96.925301, 35.32739)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 258 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.65 gal
21.38 L · about $21.40
Round trip
$42.79
11.3 gal · 42.76 L
Estimated CO2
50.2 kg one way
Round trip: 100.4 kg / 221 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $21.40 $42.79
Mid-grade $4.26 $24.06 $48.13
Premium $4.63 $26.13 $52.26
Diesel $5.42 $30.59 $61.19

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

There is no time difference between Poteau and Shawnee. The current time is 04:20:57.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.