Interstate 244: Tulsa – Oklahoma

Take a short but dynamic ride around the edge of downtown Tulsa as we head eastbound along Interstate 244, Oklahoma’s Crosstown Expressway. This two-mile urban segment wraps around the city’s core, threading through a tightly packed web of interchanges, overpasses, and cityscape views that showcase the constant motion of Tulsa’s transportation network.

We begin our journey merging onto I-244 east from U.S. Highway 64, just southwest of downtown. Immediately, the surroundings shift into a dense concrete corridor, bracketed by ramps and bridges that layer and intertwine—a classic feature of mid-20th-century urban freeway design. As we curve north along the western fringe of downtown, the skyline rises just to our right. Skyscrapers like the BOK Tower and the Mid-Continent Tower reflect the morning sun, while old industrial buildings hint at the city’s roots in oil and rail. This segment of I-244 is actually part of what used to be designated as Interstate 444, an unsigned loop around downtown that still functions as such in all but name.

Not far into our drive, we reach a key junction with U.S. Route 412 and the L.L. Tisdale Parkway—Tulsa’s western freeway spur leading up to the historic Greenwood District and the Osage Hills. Here, I-244 pivots east, cutting across the northern edge of downtown in a graceful arc. The change in direction also marks a shift in the vibe: the route transitions from the edge of downtown’s business towers to a more utilitarian stretch where railroad lines, service roads, and elevated viaducts crisscross beneath and beside us. The Crosstown Expressway here forms a vital link between Tulsa’s west side and the northeastern neighborhoods, all while offering fleeting views of the Arkansas River’s meandering path just out of sight to the south.

Just before the expressway straightens again, we reach the final interchange of this brief but busy segment—U.S. Route 75 northeast of downtown. Here, we veer off to the left, exiting toward the northbound lanes of US-75. This marks the end of our ride on I-244 eastbound, concluding a loop around one of Oklahoma’s most traffic-critical and spatially complex urban interstates. It’s a route that may be short in miles but rich in infrastructure, history, and urban energy.