Category: Oklahoma’s Worst Roads

Oklahoma’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Oklahoma, Oklahoma Survival Prepper, Oklahoma's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Oklahoma’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster – And How to Escape Alive

By a Well-Traveled Survivalist

I’ve driven through wildfire smoke so thick it turned day to night. I’ve had angry mobs pound on my hood, forded flooded roads where only alligators belonged, and maneuvered past twisted wrecks on broken highways. Let me tell you something straight: no matter how good your bug-out bag is or how much water you’ve stashed, if you can’t drive your way out when the heat’s on, you’re already dead in the water.

Now, let’s talk Oklahoma—a land of brutal tornadoes, torrential rains, ice storms that shut everything down, and enough open space to vanish into if you know what you’re doing. But it’s also a place where the roads betray the unprepared. Infrastructure here isn’t designed for mass evacuations, and even the most seasoned drivers can get trapped on the wrong stretch of pavement. So buckle in. I’m going to walk you through the worst roads in Oklahoma during a disaster, the skills you need to survive behind the wheel, and how to keep moving when your gas runs dry.

Oklahoma’s Worst Roads in a Disaster

  1. I-35 – Oklahoma City to Norman and Beyond
    The spine of the state. It clogs instantly during mass movement. One overturned semi in a storm and you’re boxed in for hours.
  2. I-44 – Tornado Alley’s Trap
    From Lawton to Tulsa, this road slices through storm central. It’s surrounded by low-lying areas prone to flash flooding.
  3. I-40 – Cross-State Death Funnel
    Wide open, windy, and exposed—especially across the western plains. When tornadoes touch down, debris gets whipped into vehicles like shrapnel.
  4. US-69 – McAlester to Muskogee Corridor
    Two-lane bottlenecks meet erratic traffic. Heavy storms routinely knock out lights and signage.
  5. Turner Turnpike – OKC to Tulsa
    Sounds convenient until you’re stuck with toll booths and zero shoulder space to escape a wreck or gridlock.
  6. US-412 – Wind Shear Highway
    High elevation sections turn into white-knuckle drives during ice storms or high crosswinds.
  7. US-59 – Flood-Prone Backcountry
    Low water crossings near Sallisaw and Poteau make it unpredictable in spring. Flash floods hit hard and fast.
  8. OK-9 – South OKC to Norman
    Suburban sprawl and narrow lanes make for confusion and chaos when lights go out or intersections fail.
  9. OK-3 (Northwest Expressway)
    An urban escape route for OKC folks, but everyone has the same idea. Wrecks, stalled cars, and blocked intersections pile up quick.
  10. US-81 – Grain Hauler’s Corridor
    Filled with slow rigs, agricultural machinery, and limited passing lanes. One wrong move and the line behind you builds fast.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Save Lives

  1. Throttle Control
    Panic makes people mash pedals. Learn to feather your gas—smooth inputs keep your tires gripping in mud, ice, and debris.
  2. Reading Terrain Fast
    Scan for soft shoulders, water depth, drop-offs. Know if you’re about to dive into a ditch or sinkhole before you commit.
  3. Escape Route Mapping
    Always carry a physical map. GPS lies. Signal drops. And some of the best routes don’t even show up on an app.
  4. Driving Without Street Lights
    Practice night driving with only parking lights or no lights on moonlit nights—especially if you’re moving stealth.
  5. High-Centering Avoidance
    Know your vehicle’s ground clearance. Avoid cresting debris piles or road medians that can leave you stuck on your frame.
  6. River Ford Judgment
    If water is fast and touching your bumper, turn back. But slow, shallow water (6 inches or less)? Low gear and don’t stop.
  7. Skid Recovery
    Whether it’s ice or wet clay, know how to steer into the slide and recover control. Panic spinning only makes it worse.
  8. Two-Tire Recovery
    Ever had two tires drop off the pavement? Don’t jerk the wheel. Ease back onto the road gradually.
  9. Quick U-Turns in Tight Spaces
    Learn how to spin your vehicle around in a pinch—especially with limited room and traffic pressure behind.
  10. Dead Reckoning Navigation
    When GPS and cell towers go, your brain better know the compass. Read the sun. Use landmarks. Get oriented.
  11. Hood and Mirror Discipline
    Keep your hood clear. Check mirrors constantly. You’re not just looking at cars—you’re watching for threats, mobs, or road hazards.
  12. Barricade Breach Planning
    Think like an operator. Is the barrier manned? Wooden or steel? Can you hit a low point or shoulder and bypass safely?
  13. Silent Evasion Tactics
    Kill your engine when scouting on foot. Coast in neutral down slopes. Sound attracts attention—keep your vehicle quiet when needed.
  14. Fuel Conservation Driving
    Drive slow, shift early, coast when you can. Keep RPMs low to stretch that last gallon of gas like it’s your lifeline.
  15. Mechanical First Aid
    Basic roadside repair knowledge is gold. Swap belts, patch tires, jump a dead battery, or bypass a blown fuse with a paperclip.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

1. Gravity-Fed Fuel Siphon (No Suction Needed)
Carry 6-8 feet of clear tubing and a 2-gallon container. Drop one end deep into a donor vehicle’s tank, fill the hose with fuel manually, and lower the other end into your container. Gravity does the rest. No mouth-siphoning needed.

2. Propane to Gasoline Conversion (For Older Engines)
Some older carbureted vehicles can run on propane with a simple regulator and line adapter. If you’ve got camping propane tanks and the right rig, this can buy you escape miles in a pinch.

3. Ethanol Burn Trick (Rural Area Only)
Some farm towns keep high-purity ethanol or E85. If you’re in an older car not too picky about octane, you can mix ethanol 50/50 with gasoline to get home. Watch your fuel lines—it runs hot and lean.

Bonus Tips from the Road

  • Carry Jerry Cans – But Hide Them
    Thieves look for visible fuel. Mount internally or black out the cans and store low-profile.
  • Two-Way Radio Beats Cell Phones
    CBs or handheld ham radios keep you in contact even when the towers fall silent.
  • Camouflage Counts
    Don’t drive a decked-out survival truck screaming “I’m prepared.” Subtle wins. A dented old pickup draws fewer eyes.
  • One Road, One Chance
    Never back yourself into a single-exit road unless you know you can blast out in reverse or on foot. Always think: “If it closes behind me, how do I get out?”

Final Thoughts From Behind the Wheel

I’ve met people who spent years prepping gear, stashing supplies, and building bunkers—but forgot how to drive when the power went out or the roads flooded. Survival on the road isn’t about horsepower or tactical decals. It’s about brains, calm, and skill.

In Oklahoma, disasters don’t come with much warning. One minute the sky’s blue, the next it’s green, and then it’s gone. When that moment comes, you don’t rise to the occasion—you fall to your level of training.

So train hard. Drive smart. Keep your eyes on the road—and never, ever trust that the pavement will be there tomorrow.