OKHighways.com -- Interstate 44 (Miles 242-328)

Highway Review:
Leaving the Tulsa area and the Creek Turnpike behind, Interstate 44 becomes the Will Rogers Turnpike just north of the Pine St. on-ramp. About five miles later, it sees its first interchange, and also its newest. Built during 2002, Exit 248 (OK 266 West) provides much easier access from Interstate 44 to the Port of Catoosa. The rest of the turnpike has remained basically the same since its completion 50 years ago.

The Will Rogers Turnpike has six interchanges besides the one at OK 266. Exit 255 (OK 20) serves Claremore, Exit 269, a half-interchange with only an eastbound off-ramp and a westbound on-ramp, serves OK 28, Exit 283 (U.S. 69) serves Big Cabin, Exit 289 (U.S. 60/U.S. 69) serves Vinita, Exit 302 (U.S. 59/U.S. 60/U.S. 69) serves Afton and the Grand Lake area, and Exit 313 (OK 10) serves Miami. Oh, and by the way, the town at that last exit is pronounced my-am-uhh, not my-am-ee. This isn't Florida, this is Oklahoma, and we say things differently around here!

The toll plaza is located between Exit 283 (U.S. 69) and Exit 289. (U.S. 60/69) Motorists traveling all 86 miles of the turnpike pay $3.50, or if they have a Pike Pass, it's a little less than that. If you don't have the money to pay the toll, then you'd better have $117 laying around somewhere, because that's how much the fine is in Oklahoma for refusing to pay toll.

PICTURES

	Interstate 44 East at Exit 248 - OK 266 West - Port of Catoosa. The trumpet interchange, completed in 2002, provides easier access from the turnpike to the Port of Catoosa. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 West at Exit 248 - OK 266 West - Port of Catoosa. OK 266 connects U.S. 169 south of Owasso to Interstate 44. (Photo taken 12/1/02)
	Interstate 44 East at Exit 255 - OK 20 - Claremore/ Pryor. Claremore is home to the Will Rogers Memorial and the J.M. Davis Gun Museum. (Photo taken 3/13/03)
	Interstate 44 West at Exit 255 - OK 20 - Claremore/ Pryor. (Photo taken 12/1/02)
	Interstate 44 East at Exit 269 - OK 28 - Adair/ Chelsea/S. Grand Lake. Only return access to Interstate 44 West is available. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 East at Exit 283 - U.S. 69 - Big Cabin. The toll plaza is about three and a half miles ahead. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 West at Exit 283 - U.S. 69 - Big Cabin. This is the northern end of U.S. 69's 4-lane divided expressway, which extends from Denison, Texas, all the way to here. (Photo taken 12/1/02)
	The first warning of the upcoming toll plaza is seen here, three miles to the west of the plaza. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 East approaching toll plaza - 2 miles. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 East approaching toll plaza - 1 1/2 miles. All signs along the turnpike were replaced in 2002, and guide signs like this one have a font similar to signs seen in the state of Georgia. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	This sign actually looks like the one that was there before 2002 in the normal font seen in Oklahoma. The toll plaza is now one mile away, which means in just a couple minutes, you'll be $3.50 poorer, or maybe more, depending on how many axles your vehicle has. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 East approaching the toll plaza, about 1/2 mile west. These signs indicate which lanes travelers should go in to pay toll. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 East at the split of the PikePass and cash vehicle lanes at the toll plaza. Get your money ready; the toll plaza is coming very soon. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	A closer look at the Will Rogers Turnpike toll plaza. Similar to the Turner Turnpike toll plaza, this one provides five lanes for travelers to pay toll, with one at the far right for those vehicles too tall to fit under the canopy. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Cash-paying customers and PikePass holders go their separate ways here on Interstate 44 West. (Photo taken 12/1/02)
	A look at the toll plaza from Interstate 44 West. This picture was taken on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so there was a little bit of a wait to pay the toll. (Photo taken 12/1/02)
	Pop quiz: Where is the world's largest McDonald's in terms of square feet? The answer: right here, in Vinita, Oklahoma, right off the Will Rogers Turnpike. This shot taken from the parking lot shows how it crosses over the interstate. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	From Interstate 44 West, the World's Largest McDonald's. It is neat to be eating at McDonald's and see several vehicles heading directly underneath you going about 75 mph. (Photo taken 12/1/02)
	Interstate 44 East at Exit 289 - OK 66/U.S. 60. U.S. 69 should be mentioned on this sign instead of OK 66; it actually exists on the roadway that the exit leads to! This sign was replaced in 2002, but the same error that was there before is still there; the mention of OK 66. On the old sign, the sign had "U.S. 66" on it. Now it says OK 66, but the highway doesn't begin for another couple miles to the west in Vinita!(Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 West at Exit 289 - OK 66 (wrong again!) and U.S. 60 - Vinita. (Photo taken 12/1/02)
	Interstate 44 East at Exit 302 - U.S. 59/U.S. 60 - Afton/Fairland/Grove. The exit ramp leads to a cloverleaf interchange, where divisions are made between U.S. 59, U.S. 60, and U.S. 69. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 West at Exit 302 - U.S. 59/U.S. 60 - Afton/Fairland/Grove. The exit also provides access to the nearby Grand Lake. (Photo taken 12/1/02)
	Interstate 44 East at Exit 313 - OK 10 - Miami. OK 10, one of the state's longest highways, runs from OK 99 north of Pawhuska east almost to Missouri, then heads south to Interstate 40 south of Gore. (Photo taken 11/28/02)
	Interstate 44 West at Exit 313 - OK 10 - Miami. And, remember, that's my-am-uhh, not my-am-ee! (Photo taken 12/1/02)