Origin
Alma, AR
Night in Alma on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alma, AR to Bentonville, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
70.9 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alma, AR
Sami Aksu
Bentonville, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Alma to Bentonville covers 71.2 miles and takes approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a straightforward day trip. You will navigate via a combination of Fayetteville Avenue, Highway 71 North, and I-49 North. Since the entire route stays within the Southeast region of Arkansas, you won't experience major geographic shifts, but the transition from Alma to the Bentonville area is efficient. Budget around $10 for fuel to complete the journey. Because of the manageable duration, you can easily handle this as a single-day excursion without needing to worry about overnight lodging.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 65.6 mi | 1h 8m |
| Southeast 14th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Southeast J Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| US 71 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Fayetteville Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US Highway 71 North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| US 62 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alma, AR and Bentonville, AR.
1
Start on Fayetteville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Fayetteville Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto AR 162
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Fayetteville Avenue
3
Continue on US 71B; AR 162
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
US Highway 71 North
4
Turn left onto US 71
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 71
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
6
Continue on I 49
46 mi
·
47 min
·
I 49
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 62; AR 12
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 62; AR 12
Toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
9
Turn left onto AR 12; US 62
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast 14th Street
10
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast J Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto North Main Street
185 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.4 miles from Alma, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 49 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 70.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
48.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
I 49; US 62; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
US 62; AR 12
Take the exit onto US 62; AR 12 toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Sou...
6
69.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
Southeast J Street
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
70.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
East Central Avenue
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.71 one way
$21.42 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.75 | $23.51 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.73 | $25.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.65 | $31.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.44 | $3.40 |
| Efficient EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.93 | $4.54 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bentonville, AR
Night in Bentonville on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Fayetteville, AR
35 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 19m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While the path incorporates I-49 North, the route is defined by its technical nature as you navigate local stretches. With 0% highway share as strictly defined by long-haul interstate travel, you should prepare for constant engagement behind the wheel. There is no significant uninterrupted stretch on Fayetteville Avenue, meaning you will be navigating through various intersections and turns throughout the 71.2-mile journey. This is a drive that requires your full attention rather than one where you can put the vehicle on cruise control.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.6 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and Southeast 14th Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.9 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 48.5 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.7 miles (US 62; AR 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,617 ft
433 ft
Total Climb
1,314 ft
Total Descent
451 ft
Highest Point
1,617 ft
~30.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,183 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Bentonville, AR
Full guide →Bentonville is a city of 51,000 people (2018) in the Northwest region of Arkansas. Widely known as the home to the corporate headquarters of retail giant Walmart, the city was noted by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the "Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012".
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 70.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.6 miles on I 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 48.5 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.7 miles (US 62; AR 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bentonville, AR before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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