It then continues north to Lake Eufaula Dam, and then turns east to end at State Highway 2.

As the grid peters out on the outskirts of town, SH-71 breaks away to the west and then to the northwest to avoid Beaver Mountain, gradually curving around to a northerly heading as it approaches the county line.

[3] The road continues north in Haskell County until it veers northeast and crosses Longtown Creek.

[2] The highway serves the boat docks and campgrounds on the east side of the lake, which is the largest entirely within Oklahoma.

SH-71 merely cuts across the southeast corner of McIntosh County; the highway spends only 1.01 miles (1.63 km) within its boundaries.