I44

Interstate 44 (I-44) is an east–west Interstate Highway in the central United States. It runs from Wichita Falls, Texas, in the west to St. Louis, Missouri, in the east, covering roughly 630 miles (about 1,020 kilometers). The corridor passes through Oklahoma and Missouri, connecting the Great Plains with the Mississippi Valley and serving as a major freight and travel route in the region.

In Oklahoma, much of the I-44 corridor follows the Will Rogers Turnpike, a tolled highway that links the Oklahoma-Texas border area with eastern Oklahoma near the Missouri line. The route serves several urban centers in the state, including the Tulsa area, and provides a transition between the Texas panhandle region and the Missouri Ozarks.

Across Missouri, I-44 traverses central portions of the state, passing through or near several notable communities and serving as a key link between St. Louis and western Missouri. In Missouri, the highway connects the St. Louis metropolitan area with central Missouri towns such as Springfield and Joplin, continuing toward the western edge of the state before transitioning toward the broader interstate network.

History and significance: The I-44 designation was assigned during the development of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s and 1960s, with construction and realignment occurring through the 1960s and 1970s. The highway consolidates earlier regional routes into a continuous east–west corridor, facilitating interstate commerce, regional travel, and access between the Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri regions. It remains an important conduit for freight movement and for travelers seeking to connect the Great Plains with the Mississippi River basin.