Arkadelphia to Bentonville is 250.7 miles and takes about 4h 36m via I 49, I 40, and AR 7, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey primarily stays within Arkansas, transitioning from the Southeast region to itself. Expect a drive focused on efficient travel, making it a solid choice for a single-day trip. It's a straightforward path that prioritizes reaching your destination with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.3 miles from Arkadelphia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
65.6 mi
1h 8m
I 40
64.8 mi
1h 4m
AR 7
45.1 mi
51m
I 30
20.3 mi
20m
4th Street
14.4 mi
16m
Martin Luther King Road
12.3 mi
14m
Hot Springs Bypass
5.9 mi
6m
Union Street
4.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arkadelphia, AR and Bentonville, AR.
1
Start on US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51
0.2 mi·21 sec·Caddo Street
2
Turn right onto US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51
3.8 mi·5 min·North 10th Street
3
Continue on US 67; AR 7
0.7 mi·1 min·Valley Street
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
5
Merge onto I 30
20 mi·20 min·I 30
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 270 West: Hot Springs
7
Merge onto US 270
12 mi·14 min·Martin Luther King Road
8
Continue on US 270
0.5 mi·33 sec·Malvern Avenue
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
10
Merge onto US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway
11
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
5.9 mi·6 min·Hot Springs Bypass
12
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
185 ft·2 sec·AR 7
13
Continue on AR 7
45 mi·50 min·AR 7
14
At end of road, turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·20 sec·AR 7
15
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·23 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
16
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·4th Street
17
Continue on AR 7
0.2 mi·15 sec·North State Highway 7
18
Continue on AR 22
374 ft·9 sec·AR 22
19
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·Union Street
20
Turn left onto US 64
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
21
Continue on US 64
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Street
22
Turn right onto Mission Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mission Road
23
Continue on Lakewood Drive
367 ft·9 sec·Lakewood Drive
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 78Toward I-40
25
Merge onto I 40
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
27
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
28
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.
29
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
30
Turn left onto AR 12; US 62
1.1 mi·2 min·Southeast 14th Street
31
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Southeast J Street
Use the left lane.
32
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·East Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
33
Turn right onto North Main Street
185 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
34
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 36m duration, starting your drive in Arkadelphia after breakfast allows ample time to reach Bentonville without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $38, planning fuel and restroom breaks should be straightforward. Keep an eye on the road conditions as you transition between I 40 and I 49. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to depart a bit later if needed, but an earlier start maximizes your time upon arrival.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.3 miles from Arkadelphia, AR, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 55 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.3 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bentonville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arkadelphia, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arkadelphia, AR
This is one driving day of about 250.7 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Arkadelphia, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 49 for about 65.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 46.6 and 248.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
46.6 mi into trip|~52m in|AR 7
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
116.4 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 78
Toward I-40
6
228.3 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
247.6 mi into trip|~4h 29m 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
248.9 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|Southeast J Street
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.86 one way
$75.72 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$41.56
$83.13
premium
$4.56
$45.00
$90.00
diesel
$5.61
$55.35
$110.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.2
0
$26.32
$12.03
Efficient EV
62.7
0
$21.94
$10.03
EV Truck/SUV
100.3
1
$35.10
$16.04
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Arkadelphia, AR
Late night
in Arkadelphia on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bentonville, AR
Late night
in Bentonville on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
6 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
4h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hot Springs National Park
National Park
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 43.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 79% of it on major roadways. You'll experience long stretches of efficient travel, including a continuous segment of 65.6 miles on I 49. While the majority of the trip involves higher speeds and consistent road conditions, there are portions on AR 7 that offer a change of pace. The drive generally keeps you moving steadily toward Bentonville.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46.6 miles in near AR 7.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 250.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 46.6 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 116.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 228.3 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Arkadelphia is in the Ouachitas of Arkansas. Compared to its surroundings, it has somewhat of an erudite feel, given that it has not one but two colleges — Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University. Nonetheless, it still retains a bit of provincial flavor and charm.
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".
Top landmarks
•Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art — art museum in Bentonville, Arkansas
•Bentonville Confederate Monument — monument in Bentonville, United States of America
•Benton County Courthouse — courthouse in Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 250.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bentonville, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 46.6 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 116.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 228.3 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Bentonville, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
