Drive Between Oklahoma City and Dallas: Road Trip Tips & Info

Need to make the drive between Oklahoma City and Dallas? You’re not alone! Interstate 35 is the main route between these two cities and connects the biggest city in Oklahoma to the second-biggest in Texas. It’s common to make the drive between Oklahoma City and Dallas – and vice versa – for work, play, or both.

If you’re planning to drive the route between Oklahoma City and Dallas for the first time and are curious about what the route is like, this post will help. You’ll learn the distance and drive time between Oklahoma City and Dallas, plus fascinating stops you can make along the way if you want to turn this into more of a road trip. By the end, you’ll know far more about this route and why you’ll have a great time on your drive between Dallas and Oklahoma City.

TL;DR: How long is the drive between Dallas to Oklahoma City? The direct drive from OKC to Denver (or vice versa) is 209 miles (336 km) and should have a drive time of 3 hours, 25 minutes in normal traffic.

This post was originally published in March 2021 and updated in April 2022 for the upcoming road trip season!

In this post, I promote travel to destinations that are the traditional lands of the Gáuigú (Kiowa), 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage),Wichita, Nʉmʉnʉʉ Sookobitʉ (Comanche), Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), Chickasaw (Oklahoma), Tawakoni, and O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ (O-ga-xpa) (Quapaw) peoples. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.

Oklahoma City To Dallas Distance

When planning a road trip, it helps to know how many hours you will be spending behind the wheel.

As the crow flies, it’s 190 miles between Oklahoma City and Dallas; the driving distance between Oklahoma City and Dallas is 200 miles.

This goes to show how direct the route between these two cities is – Interstate 35 is almost exactly the same distance as if you got to fly there on the wing!

Oklahoma City to Dallas Drive Time

The Oklahoma City to Dallas drive time is approximately 3 hours. If you drive at 70-75mph (the average speed limit on I-35), you should expect to arrive in Dallas in three hours, not accounting for any traffic leaving Oklahoma City or entering Dallas

Of course, the drive time also depends on if you make any stops for food, gas, or roadside attractions and how long you spend at each stop. Let’s dive into some of those stops worth making.

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What’s Between Oklahoma City to Dallas?

Driving from Oklahoma to Dallas can be quite therapeutic as most road trips are. However, the drive is not exactly an incredibly spectacular one. The most exciting parts of this drive start when you get over the state border into Oklahoma and closer towards the Arbuckle Mountains region. Here are some interesting stops you can check out on your drive between Oklahoma City and Dallas.

1. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

Stop by this scenic Memorial and take a moment to honor the victims, survivors, and rescuers of April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing. 

Located in downtown Oklahoma, the Memorial was dedicated on April 19, 2000, and features a wide field of empty chairs, Gate of Time and Reflecting Pool. It also has a Survivor Tree which itself survived the bombing and became a symbol of the Memorial.

2. Museum of Osteology

This is the only skeleton museum in America. This unique museum has over 7000 specimens collected and 500 skeletons on display and is devoted to the study of skeletons and bones. If you are interested in the science of fossils, you should definitely stop over and explore this exceptional location.

3. Spider Bug

The Spider Volkswagen Bug is one of Oklahoma’s top roadside attractions. This 15 feet tall structure is a car that was built and crafted to look like a giant spider. It was built in 1973 by Monte Bodine on a prominent Volkswagen salvage land. This giant bug is sure worth stopping over for.

4. Toy & Action Figure Museum

This unique toy museum is sure to ignite several waves of nostalgia in you. It opened in 2005 and has an extensive collection of action figures and toys. It is a great spot to stop over if you have kids, as there is a huge play area where the kids can play and stretch their legs. Be sure to take lots of pictures here.

5. Chickasaw Cultural Center

If you are looking to learn more about Native American culture, you should visit the Chickasaw Cultural Center. This cultural center was built to celebrate the vision, spirit, and resilience of the Chickasaw men, women, and children. This 184-acre campus features several fun activities for guests of all ages. The stunning grounds also provide a calming, beautiful ambiance that you are sure to love.

6. Turner Falls Park

This park is another family-friendly location in Davis, Oklahoma. Nestled in the Arbuckle Mountains, the park features beaches, an original rock castle, a natural swimming hole with waterfalls, and several caves and other geological formations. It is also an excellent

7. Gene Autry OK Museum

Another unique museum in Oklahoma, this one focuses on representing cowboys in entertainment from the 1920s till date. Located in Gene Autry, this museum has the most extensive private B-Western collection displayed and an equally impressive array of memorabilia of the Old West lifestyle, including movies and music from the 1920s. This is also a kid-friendly location. 

8. Frank Buck Zoo

Founded in 1930, this small zoo is set on 30 acres of land and houses more than 130 animals. Fancy seeing a giraffe at eye level and even feeding it? The Frank Buck Zoo offers this and many other fun activities for guests.

Other Tips for the Drive Between Oklahoma City and Dallas

Now that you’ve got your start and end points map and know which stops you’re taking, there are a few other important things to keep in mind.

• The fastest route when driving from Oklahoma City to Dallas is I-35.
• Ardmore, Oklahoma is a great halfway stop to stretch your legs; nearby Lake Murray State Park is even better if you want some open air.
• Ardmore is also the best place for an overnight stop if you need one, with plenty of hotel chains and options close to the interstate.
• There are three rest stops between Oklahoma City and Dallas: Garvin County (both directions), the Oklahoma Welcome Center (northbound only), and the Texas Travel Information Center (southbound only). Otherwise, there are lots of small towns with gas if you need it!

Should You Fly Between Dallas and Oklahoma City Instead?

A nonstop flight from Oklahoma City takes roughly 75 minutes; this is certainly faster than driving! The flight from Oklahoma City to Dallas is relatively short and mostly uneventful, and this works great if you are working with a tight schedule or in a hurry to get to Dallas.

However, if you are traveling for leisure and have some extra time to spare, driving between Oklahoma City and Dallas is a great option. It allows you to spend some fun time and make memories with your friends, travel partner, or family, and you get to enjoy stopping over and exploring some of the attractions listed above. 

It is also typically cheaper to drive from Oklahoma to Dallas, so if you are considering the cost, it is still better to drive. 

Have other questions about the drive between Oklahoma City and Dallas? Let us know in the comments!

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