From here, the highway and heads east, curving through the hilly terrain of southeastern Seminole County.

The highway then bisects the town of Wewoka, intersecting US-270 and concurring with its business loop.

The highway continues north, intersecting SH-99A in Cromwell and interchanging with I-40 near the unincorporated community of Schoolton.

However, there is a separate loop route segment of SH-56 that starts from a more northerly point on US-75 and runs a short distance to US-62.

At that time, the highway only consisted of the portion of the route extending from the SH-99 junction (then SH-48) east to Sasakwa, thence north to end at SH-3 south of Wewoka.

[2][8] Other than minor realignments and establishment of the Loop route segment, the highway has undergone no further changes since 1942.

Among other functions, the highway provides access to Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology as well as the College of the Muscogee Nation.