Tulsa to Hochatown & Broken Bow: Drive Time, Route and Stops
Hochatown is about 220 miles from downtown Tulsa, about 4 hr of driving without traffic or stops. Broken Bow is 10 miles closer. Tulsa has two routes to Hochatown that come out within a few miles of each other. The usual one heads south to the Indian Nation Turnpike and arrives through Broken Bow; the other goes east and comes down US-259 through the mountains from the north.
The route from Tulsa
- Take US-75 south from Tulsa through Jenks, Glenpool, Beggs and Okmulgee to Henryetta, about 50 miles.
- At Henryetta, take the Indian Nation Turnpike, a toll road, about 105 miles south past McAlester and Antlers to Hugo.
- From Hugo, follow US-70 east past Fort Towson and Valliant toward Idabel.
- Near Idabel, turn north on US-259 (shared with US-70) to Broken Bow, then stay on US-259 about 10 miles north to Hochatown.
Towns you pass: Jenks, Glenpool, Beggs, Okmulgee, Henryetta, McAlester, Antlers, Hugo, Fort Towson, Idabel, Broken Bow.
The other way in
The northern route takes the Muskogee Turnpike (toll) past Broken Arrow and Muskogee to I-40, then US-59 south through Sallisaw and Poteau and on to US-259 through the Ouachita Mountains, about 212 miles. It reaches Hochatown from the north without passing through Broken Bow, so the Broken Bow grocery run becomes a 10-mile trip back south. The routing puts it at about the same drive time, but past Poteau it is a long, winding, lightly populated mountain highway.
Drive times are a range because two routing engines (OSRM and Valhalla, on OpenStreetMap roads) disagree on how fast the two-lane stretches go. Neither counts traffic, construction or stops. Computed 2026-09-29.
Where to stop for fuel and food
Like the Oklahoma City route, the 105-mile turnpike stretch has only McAlester and Antlers near it. Top off in Henryetta.
What to pick up before the last stretch
On the usual route you drive right through Broken Bow, the last stop with full grocery stores — Walmart Supercenter, Pruett's Food and DG Market — about 10 miles before Hochatown. There are no full grocery stores in Hochatown itself. Convenience stores and a market along US-259 carry basics, ice and firewood, but selection is limited and prices are higher.
- Groceries and drinks for the whole stay, plus ice.
- Firewood, if you plan a fire — check the McCurtain County burn ban first.
- Offline maps: download your route and the cabin's directions before you leave.
Cell service near the end of the drive
Cell coverage is spotty throughout Hochatown and the surrounding forest. T-Mobile and Verizon users may see a bar or two on the main road but lose signal at many cabins; AT&T is a little better in some spots. GPS keeps working, but don't count on live directions once you're deep in the forest: download the route and your cabin's directions before you leave Tulsa. Most cabins have Wi-Fi once you arrive.
EV fast charging on the way
DC fast chargers listed within two miles of this route by the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, as of 2026-09-29:
- Henryetta, OK: Tesla Supercharger (8 stalls) and Francis Energy chargers at Homeland (8 ports) and Jiffy Mart (4 ports)
- McAlester, OK: Francis Energy at Love’s (12 CCS/CHAdeMO ports)
- Hugo, OK: 2 CCS fast-charging ports (Blink) at Jay Hodge Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram
- Broken Bow, OK: 2 CCS fast-charging ports (EV Connect) at James Hodge Chevrolet, about 10 miles before Hochatown
Charge in Tulsa or Henryetta. McAlester is the last large fast-charging site; after that the listed options are the two-port sites in Hugo and Broken Bow.
Several of the small-town sites are at car dealerships, so check the network's app for access before counting on one. For live station data near Hochatown, including Level 2 chargers, see the EV charging map.
When to leave Tulsa
The traffic that matters is the last few miles: cabin check-ins pile onto US-259 on Friday afternoon, and checkouts push it back out on Sunday. For Friday, Oct 2, our traffic model says arrive before 2:30 PM and avoid 3-7 PM. With the slower estimate of 4 hr 20 min from Tulsa, that means leaving by about 10:00 AM, earlier if you're stopping. Arriving Saturday instead? Aim for before 11 AM or after 8 PM. Heading home Sunday, leave Hochatown before 10 AM or after 4 PM; leaving by the early window puts you back in Tulsa around 2:30 PM.
| Day | Best arrival | Worst arrival | Best time to leave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Before 2:30 PM | 3-7 PM | Before 11 AM (errands) or after 8 PM |
| Saturday | Before 11 AM or after 8 PM | 11 AM-1 PM and 5-7 PM | Before 10 AM or after 8 PM |
| Sunday | After 4 PM | 10 AM-3 PM | Before 10 AM or after 4 PM |
| Monday–Thursday | Most daytime hours | 4-6 PM near US-259 / 259A | Mid-morning or after the evening rush |
These are the model's typical weekly patterns, not live measurements. Before you set off, check Hochatown traffic today for incidents, ice or flooding on US-259 and the day's road score. The stretch to watch is US-259 between SH-259A North and SH-259A South.
US-259 Hochatown Boulevard project (US-259 between SH-259A North and SH-259A South): Two lanes are expected to remain open, but drivers may see delays and congestion during peak tourist seasons. Source: Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Flying instead?
Tulsa International (TUL) is about 210 miles from Hochatown, 3 hr 45 min–4 hr 25 min by car. The closest commercial airport to Hochatown is Texarkana Regional (TXK) at about 90 miles. Whichever you choose, the trip ends with a drive, so plan on a car. See all nearby airports and drive times.
Know before you hit US-259
The free Discover Hochatown app for iPhone shows live US-259 road conditions and the day's best drive windows. Turn on Road conditions and it notifies you about reported closures or accidents around Hochatown, or ice, snow or flooding on US-259 — handy on the drive in.
Download on the App Store About the appTulsa to Hochatown: questions
How far is Hochatown from Tulsa?
Hochatown is about 220 miles from downtown Tulsa, about 4 hr of driving (3 hr 35 min–4 hr 20 min depending on the routing) without traffic or stops.
How far is Broken Bow from Tulsa?
Broken Bow is about 210 miles from Tulsa, about 3 hr 45 min without traffic or stops. Hochatown is another 10 miles north on US-259.
What's the best route from Tulsa to Hochatown?
US-75 to Henryetta, the Indian Nation Turnpike to Hugo, then US-70 and US-259. A northern route via Muskogee and Poteau is about the same distance and time but brings you in from the north on a mountain highway.
Where should I stop between Tulsa and Hochatown?
The practical fuel and food stops are Okmulgee, OK (about 35 miles in); Henryetta, OK (about 50 miles); and Hugo, OK (about 155 miles). Like the Oklahoma City route, the 105-mile turnpike stretch has only McAlester and Antlers near it. Top off in Henryetta. Do your grocery run in Broken Bow; Hochatown has no full grocery store.
What time should I leave Tulsa on a Friday?
Our traffic model says arrive in Hochatown before 2:30 PM on Friday and avoid 3-7 PM, when cabin check-ins stack up on US-259. Using the slower drive estimate, that means leaving Tulsa by about 10:00 AM, earlier if you plan to stop.
What's the nearest airport if I fly instead of driving from Tulsa?
The closest commercial airport to Hochatown is Texarkana Regional (TXK) in Texarkana, AR, about 90 miles away. From TUL it's about 210 miles by road. Every option ends with a drive, so plan on a car.
Driving from somewhere else?
Dallas · Fort Worth · Oklahoma City · Texarkana · Shreveport · Houston · All drive times & airports