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Turner Turnpike's New Plaza: Bigger, Better Travel Stop Opens
18 Nov
Summary
- New Love's Travel Stop replaces a 40-year-old midway station.
- Expanded facilities offer 159 truck parking spaces, up from 45.
- The $38.5 million project aims to improve safety and convenience.
A significantly upgraded travel plaza is now operational on the westbound Turner Turnpike in Stroud, Oklahoma, marking the end of a major infrastructure project. This new Love's Travel Stop, complete with Godfather's Pizza and McDonald's, replaces a four-decade-old service plaza that was removed to facilitate the realignment and widening of the state's oldest toll road. The expansion dramatically increases capacity, offering 159 truck parking spaces compared to the previous 45, alongside enhanced amenities for professional drivers and travelers.
The $38.5 million contract awarded for the Turner Turnpike realignment west of SH-99 in Stroud includes substantial improvements. The new plaza features more restrooms, a dog park, laundry facilities, and numerous showers, aiming to provide a superior travel experience. Future enhancements include a Love's truck care operation expected to open in early 2026. This strategic location, situated between Oklahoma's two largest metro areas, is designed to offer greater convenience and improved safety.
This development marks a modernization of a turnpike that first opened in 1953. Historically, the Stroud Travel Plaza served both directions, but the turnpike authority has transitioned to a model with a single, comprehensive service stop on each side of the road. This evolution from the original Phillips 66 and Howard Johnson's to the current state-of-the-art facility underscores a commitment to enhancing the state's transportation infrastructure and traveler services.
