Everyone who knows me knows how much I don’t like driving in cities. Coming back from MO yesterday, Vince asked me how many times I’ve driven to MO since we left there and we guestimated it to be about 36 times. Three of those times he’s gone with me so 33 of those times, I was by myself. Of the three times that he went, first trip . . we drove my regular route through Oklahoma City and Tulsa but we came back through McAlester, OK and across Texas through Denton and near Fort Worth. The second trip . . we came up from Louisiana so we didn’t go through OKC or Tulsa, and we went back to Louisiana. This trip was the third trip and we went my normal route through OKC and Tulsa. I drove through Oklahoma City and Vince drove through Tulsa but he decided there had to be a better way.
I had driven the Creek Nation Turnpike around Tulsa once but there’s a bridge at the end of it that kinda scared me and I never tried it again. Vince drove it going and coming back and we totally missed almost all of Tulsa. I think I can do it!
A friend who lives in OK had once mentioned the Kilpatrick Turnpike as an option to bypassing OKC but, without knowing if there were bridges of overpasses, I was afraid to try it. Since Vince was with me this trip, he said he’d drive it and see what I thought. There was one bridge I got a bit nervous going over, and at the time we drove through there, the traffic was very light. I told Vince . . I can do that one too! We pretty much missed all of OKC traffic and came out near Chickasha.
The next time I go, he’ll probably go again and I’ll drive but he’ll be there for moral support and if I’m ok with both those routes, I should never have to drive through OKC and Tulsa on I-44 again. My travels to and from Missouri will be so much easier.
It took a few minutes more. I think the total time added to the trip for both those bypasses was 12 minutes. Small price to pay for missing that crazy traffic.
vivoaks says
When we head into Ohio we generally go the turnpike. For some strange reason, Ohio and PA decided NOT to toll us on the way out of PA, but the till INTO the state is ridiculous – about $11.00!! We’ve learned to go out to Ohio by way of the turnpike, but when we come back into the state we get off the turnpike at the last exit before PA. It only add 5 minutes to our trip and saves us $11 each trip. I feel bad for all the people who make that trip but don’t realize how bad the toll is going into the state. Ridiculous!!! Luckily we don’t hit many cities the way we go!! 🙂
Liz says
Another advantage of using the Kilpatrick & Creek Turnpikes over the I35 (OKC) and I44 (Tulsa) routes is that during the winter, the turnpike authority does a better job of keeping the road plowed and sanded. They just have fewer miles of road.
However, in OKC area, there are “snow routes”, so the major roads are done first and then the secondary. The side roads going into your subdivision, well just forget about seeing a plow. But, wait a day or two and it all melts. Of course, in my subdivision, I have a short east-west road section with a slope and plenty of “shade” from the trees and houses. It may get a bit slushy during the day, but ices up again at night. I just fix myself a pot of good soup and either read or quilt!
dezertsuz says
Definitely worth it, at twice that. I take a longer, but less traveled, route to the Nashville temple which is actually south of Nashville in Franklin. Since I found the 840 go-around, it is so much nicer to go and return, and so much less stressful!
cassews says
Traffic is only gonna get worse.. I try to pick the easiest way there ; may take me a few minutes more but well worth it in the end. Especially when I go to Utah by myself and the furkid.
Twyla says
My friends insist on driving I-35 to Austin area. I go backroads thru small towns and see beautiful old architecture and takes me about 30 minutes more. Sometimes they get into heavy traffic or there happens to be a wreck then I am there first.. Going to Priddy I came down to Hillsboro and took 22 across such pretty landscape. Made the trip in 3 hours. They went to Cleburne Friday traffic and took 5 1/2 hours. Give me the backroads and old highways.