Payless Car Hire
Oklahoma

After collecting your luggage, the most direct way to reach the car hire facility is to follow the airport signage for ground transport and rental car shuttles. These signs will direct you to a designated pick-up area outside the terminal where a courtesy shuttle operates. The shuttle runs in a continuous loop between the terminal and the consolidated Rental Car Centre, where the Payless desk is located. Taking that dedicated shuttle is the most efficient option and prevents any confusion trying to navigate the airport on foot.

Driving away from the Will Rogers World Airport hire car centre is generally straightforward. The exit road, Terminal Drive, leads directly to S Meridian Avenue, a major north–south route. From there, clear signage directs you towards the primary motorways, I-40 and I-240. The key is to have your destination set in your satnav beforehand so you know whether to head north or south on Meridian. That preparation will help you avoid last-minute lane changes as you approach the motorway on-ramps.

For a smooth, stress-free departure, a good rule of thumb is to arrive at the hire car return centre about three hours before your flight’s scheduled departure. This provides a comfortable buffer to complete the vehicle return without rushing. It also accounts for the shuttle ride back to the main terminal, checking in your bags with the airline, and going through security. This extra time is particularly helpful when managing luggage and children, ensuring you reach your gate with time to spare.

You’ll find several convenient, well-known petrol stations along South Meridian Avenue, the main road to and from the airport. These stations cater to traveller traffic and have spacious layouts, making them easy to enter and exit even with a large SUV. Refuelling at one of these locations before following the final signs for the airport entrance is common practice. That way you can complete your hire return smoothly without a last-minute search for fuel.

The morning commute into downtown Oklahoma City can be quite congested, particularly between 07:30 and 09:00. The main routes, I-40 eastbound and I-235 southbound, often experience significant slowdowns. For a potentially less stressful, though not necessarily faster, alternative consider using major surface roads like Classen Boulevard or Western Avenue. These routes can sometimes offer a more consistent pace compared with the stop-and-go on the motorways during peak rush hour.

Navigating Bricktown for the first time requires attention, as many of its main streets, such as Reno and Sheridan Avenues, are one-way. It’s highly recommended to use a satnav to guide you to your hotel or a parking garage. Garage entrances can be easy to miss as they’re often mid-block. A good tactic is to do a slow loop around the block once to get your bearings before committing to a turn into a car park.

The most convenient place to park is the Memorial’s dedicated car park, located just west of the museum with an entrance on NW 6th Street. This provides direct and easy access to the grounds. Once you’ve parked, the entire Memorial site and the surrounding city centre are very walkable. You can easily stroll to nearby attractions like the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Myriad Botanical Gardens, and Scissortail Park without needing to move your car.

The complex, known as the Adventure District, is best reached by taking the Martin Luther King Avenue exit from either I-35 or I-44. The route is well signed from the highway. On busy weekends, especially in summer, expect traffic to back up on the MLK Avenue exit ramp itself and on the final approach to the main car parks. Arriving when the attractions open or waiting until early afternoon can help you avoid the longest queues of cars.

The drive from Will Rogers World Airport to the First Americans Museum is remarkably quick and simple, typically taking only 10 to 15 minutes. The museum is situated at the major interchange of I-35 and I-40, making it very easy for visitors to find. The route is direct and prominent highway signs clearly guide you from the motorway exit straight to the museum entrance and its large, accessible car park.

Driving near Paycom Center on a game night requires planning for heavy traffic and crowds. The streets immediately surrounding the arena, such as Reno Avenue and Robinson Avenue, become very congested from about 90 minutes before the game. After the game, expect significant delays as thousands of fans and cars leave the city centre simultaneously. Many locals find it easier to have a post-match bite in Bricktown to let the initial traffic surge subside.

Most downtown hotels are well equipped for this and have a designated pull-in lane or valet area at their main entrance. The most effective approach is to pull into this temporary zone, allowing your passenger to wait safely with the luggage. You can then go to the front desk to check in. Once you have your room key, hotel staff can direct you to the self-parking garage or handle the car if you’re using valet.

Yes, visitors should be particularly cautious in districts like Midtown, the Arts District, and near Film Row. In these areas parking regulations can vary considerably from one block to the next. You might find metered parking on one side of the street and permit-only residential parking on the other. Always take a moment to read the signs posted for your specific space to avoid a ticket, as time limits and enforcement hours can be very specific.

Driving between these adjacent districts is generally easy, as they are connected by major roads like Classen Boulevard and Walker Avenue. The primary challenge is parking, especially in the Paseo Arts District, which has narrow streets and limited spaces. A common mistake is trying to find new parking at each stop. A better strategy is to park in a central spot within one district and use a rideshare for the short hops between them, saving you the hassle of repeatedly searching for a space.

Access to the Riversport complex in the Boathouse District is primarily from S Lincoln Boulevard, which runs along the east side of the Oklahoma River. The entrance is well signed from the main road. Visitors typically park in the large, dedicated surface lots located beside the main facilities. Parking is generally plentiful and the walk from your car to the ticket counters and activities is short and convenient.

While the drive to Norman normally takes about 30 minutes, you should plan for 90 minutes to two hours on a University of Oklahoma football game day. The main route, I-35 South, becomes extremely congested as you approach Norman. The primary bottleneck is at the main Norman exits, such as Lindsey Street and Main Street, where traffic can be at a near standstill as fans head for stadium parking.

For visitors, the most reliable and convenient option is the Oklahoma Memorial Union Parking Garage, located centrally on campus. This multi-level garage almost always has space available for hourly parking and allows easy walking access to the main campus grounds, the Bizzell Memorial Library, and the student union. Trying to find on-street parking in the busy Campus Corner area is often difficult, so heading straight to the union garage is a time-saving strategy.

During a severe weather alert, especially for tornadoes or large hail, safety is the top priority. If you are on the motorway, the recommended action is to exit as soon as possible and seek shelter inside a sturdy building like a petrol station or restaurant. If you cannot exit, some drivers use a motorway overpass as a last resort shelter from hail, but it’s critical to pull completely off the carriageway. Avoid stopping under trees, which can drop large branches in high winds.

Yes, some of the older sections of Oklahoma City’s highway system, particularly on I-40 and I-240, feature exit-only lanes or lanes that end with little advance warning. A good defensive driving strategy for visitors is to favour the centre or left lane on unfamiliar stretches of motorway. This helps you avoid being forced into a last-second merge or unintended exit, allowing you to move into the right lane deliberately as your intended exit approaches.

The most direct route to Stillwater is to take I-35 North from Oklahoma City for about 50 miles to exit 174 (State Highway 51), then head east for another 15 miles. The drive is straightforward and takes just over an hour. A great place for a rest stop is the historic town of Guthrie, located right off I-35 about halfway through your trip. It offers charming coffee shops and places to stretch your legs before continuing.

The drive to Tulsa is primarily on the Turner Turnpike (I-44 East). To have the smoothest exit from the Oklahoma City metro area, plan to be on the road before 07:00 or after 09:30 on a weekday. This timing allows you to miss the peak local commuter traffic on the roads leading to the turnpike entrance. Once on the turnpike, the drive is typically clear and takes about 90 minutes.

Turner Falls Park is an extremely popular destination and its car parks frequently reach capacity on summer weekends. To ensure you get a spot and avoid being turned away, plan to arrive at the park entrance no later than 09:00. The drive from Oklahoma City is about 90 minutes, so this requires an early start. Arriving early not only guarantees entry but also gives you a better choice of parking and picnic spots.

The most direct route is to take I-35 South to the town of Davis (Exit 55), then head east on State Highway 7 into Sulphur. The drive is about 90 minutes and is generally well signed. A common point of confusion for first-time visitors is navigating the multiple park entrances once in Sulphur. For best orientation, follow signs to the Travertine Nature Centre first, as it serves as an excellent starting point with maps and information.

For an easy and rewarding Route 66 experience near Oklahoma City, head a few miles east to Arcadia. There you’ll find the iconic Round Barn and the modern roadside attraction, Pops 66 Soda Ranch, both located directly on the historic route. To the west, the towns of Yukon and El Reno also offer classic Main Street charm and are simple to access. These stops provide a great taste of the Mother Road without requiring complex navigation off the main path.

Yes, Oklahoma has an extensive turnpike network and you can easily encounter one leaving the city. The most common are the Turner Turnpike (I-44) to Tulsa and the H.E. Bailey Turnpike (I-44) to Lawton. If you wish to avoid them, select the 'avoid tolls' option in your satnav or mapping app. However, if you do find yourself on one, don’t worry — many use a cashless PlatePay system that will mail a bill to the hire company.

For the most part, driving in Oklahoma City at night is straightforward, with well-lit motorways and major arterial roads. The city centre and Bricktown are also brightly illuminated. The one area that can be confusing for visitors, day or night, is the complex interchange where I-40, I-35 and I-235 converge near downtown. It’s wise to pay close attention to your satnav when passing through this section to ensure you are in the correct lane for your intended route.

Several attractions are great for pushchairs. The Oklahoma City Zoo features vast, flat car parks directly adjacent to the main entrance, making for a very short and easy walk. Similarly, the First Americans Museum has a large, convenient lot with a simple path to its doors. For a city-centre option, Scissortail Park is excellent; you can park in the garage beneath the Omni Hotel and take a lift directly up to the park grounds.

The commute from the suburb of Edmond into downtown Oklahoma City can be quite slow during peak weekday morning hours, typically from 07:00 to 09:00. The main routes, I-235 (also known as the Broadway Extension) and I-35, become very congested with commuter traffic. Expect a journey that might take 25 minutes in light traffic to last anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes during the morning rush.

Penn Square Mall is very easy to access, located directly off I-44 at the Northwest Expressway exit. Quail Springs Mall is further north, situated near the junction of the John Kilpatrick Turnpike and N Pennsylvania Avenue. Traffic can get particularly congested on the surface streets surrounding both malls, especially on Memorial Road near Quail Springs, during evenings and at weekends. Allow extra time when heading to these popular retail hubs.

The most direct and simplest route is to take S Meridian Avenue south from the airport area for a short distance to the entrance for I-240 East. This motorway acts as a southern loop around the city. Follow I-240 East until it merges with I-35 South, which will take you directly into the heart of Moore and South Oklahoma City. This route lets you bypass the more complex downtown motorway interchanges.

When a major convention or an event at the Paycom Center is taking place, it’s wise to add at least 30 to 45 minutes to your usual travel time to the airport from downtown. The streets around the convention centre and Bricktown can become heavily congested, significantly slowing your access to the I-40 westbound on-ramp. Planning for this extra buffer helps ensure you won’t be rushing to catch your flight.

For the most part, satnav rerouting in Oklahoma City is reliable and safe. However, if you are diverted onto a network of smaller residential streets in some of the older neighbourhoods, particularly south of the river, be aware that road conditions can be less than ideal. These streets may be narrower or have unexpected dead ends. If a route feels uncomfortable, it’s often best to manually navigate back to a larger, more familiar main road.

If you prefer open-air surface lots over multi-storey garages, your best bet is the large lots located just east of the railway tracks that border Bricktown. These lots, situated opposite the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, are expansive and simple to navigate. While it requires a slightly longer walk across the tracks into the main canal area, many visitors find the ease of parking well worth the extra few steps.

Scissortail Park is fully accessible in the early morning, making it a great spot for sunrise photography. At that hour parking is typically very easy to find. You can usually find ample on-street parking along the roads bordering the park, such as S Robinson Avenue or S Harvey Avenue. Before enforcement hours begin, these metered spots are often free and provide immediate access to the park’s lawns and pathways for capturing views of the sunrise against the city skyline.

Visiting Stockyards City is a low-stress experience when it comes to parking. You can typically find plenty of free on-street parking directly on the main thoroughfare, South Agnew Avenue, or on the adjacent side streets. The historic district is very compact and easily walkable. Once you park your car, you can comfortably stroll between the western-wear outfitters, restaurants, and historic buildings without needing to drive again.

The road circling Lake Hefner is a very popular recreational loop, so drivers should always be prepared for slower speeds and increased pedestrian activity. The east side of the lake, near the marina and several restaurants, tends to be the busiest section with both vehicle and foot traffic. Be especially vigilant for cyclists, runners and families crossing the road to access the lakeside trails, particularly during evenings and at weekends when the area is most active.

Frontier City is conveniently located right at the interchange of I-35 and I-44, making it very easy to reach by car from anywhere in the metro. The main entrance is directly off the I-35 service road. On popular days, such as summer weekends, the entrance road leading into the main car parks can begin to back up 20 to 30 minutes before the park’s official opening time. Arriving early is the best way to secure a closer parking spot and avoid a long wait.

To ensure a smooth trip from north OKC or Edmond, plan your route to the airport using the Hefner Parkway (OK-74) or the John Kilpatrick Turnpike to connect to I-44 West. These routes are often quicker than navigating the central I-235/I-35 corridor. Proceed directly to the airport terminal to drop off your passenger and luggage at the departures curb. Afterwards, simply follow the prominent signs for 'Rental Car Return' to complete your journey.

One common mistake is underestimating the city’s geographic spread and not allowing enough time to drive between attractions. Another is being unprepared for the local turnpike system; know that most are cashless and will bill by mail. Finally, many visitors misjudge the severity of rush-hour traffic, especially on I-235 (Broadway Extension) and I-40 through the city centre. Always build a little extra time into your schedule when driving during peak morning and evening commute hours.