Spanning 308.9 miles across Arkansas, this trip from Bella Vista to Forrest City is a manageable journey that takes approximately 5 hours and 21 minutes of drive time. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should plan on a full day behind the wheel to complete the trek. Budget roughly $47 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Southeast region of the state, you will find a consistent atmosphere throughout your travels. It is best suited as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination by evening without the need for an overnight stop.
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
154.4 miles from Bella Vista, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
227.8 mi
3h 50m
US 71
71.9 mi
1h 15m
Bella Vista Way
4.3 mi
6m
Washington Street
1.7 mi
2m
Cooper Road
1.1 mi
2m
West Lancashire Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
West Broadway Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
On Ramp Bella Vista Way
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 227.8 mi, about 3h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bella Vista, AR and Forrest City, AR.
1
Start on Hartsfield Lane
305 ft·14 sec·Hartsfield Lane
2
Turn right onto Billingsley Drive
205 ft·12 sec·Billingsley Drive
3
Turn right onto Cooper Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Cooper Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 340
0.4 mi·52 sec·West Lancashire Boulevard
5
Turn right onto On Ramp Bella Vista Way
0.2 mi·19 sec·On Ramp Bella Vista Way
6
Turn straight onto US 71
4.3 mi·6 min·Bella Vista Way
7
Take the ramp onto US 71
72 mi·1 hr 15 min·US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
9
Merge onto I 40; US 71
142 mi·2 hr 23 min·I 40; US 71
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
86 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 40
Toward MemphisUse the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward AR 1B South: Forrest City
12
Turn straight onto AR 1B
1.7 mi·2 min·Washington Street
13
Turn right onto US 70
0.3 mi·26 sec·West Broadway Avenue
14
Turn right onto North Division
31 ft·1 sec·North Division
15
Arrive at destination
North Division
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 308.9-mile journey, try to depart early in the morning to account for the slower pace of local roads. Since you only have one planned stop, use that time effectively to refuel and stretch your legs, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be more fatiguing than a standard highway drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially since your $47 estimate might fluctuate depending on idling time in local traffic. Given the lack of highway stretches, stay flexible with your arrival time and don't feel pressured to rush through the winding sections. Most importantly, prioritize your comfort by scheduling your single stop near the midpoint of the drive to break up the technical segments.
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 154.4 miles from Bella Vista, AR, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.8 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 68 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.4 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forrest City, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bella Vista, 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 Bella Vista, AR
This is one driving day of about 308.9 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Bella Vista, 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 40 for about 227.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 220.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Billingsley Drive
Turn right onto Billingsley Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Cooper Road
Turn right onto Cooper Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|AR 340 / West Lancashire Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto AR 340 / West Lancashire Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
7
220.7 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.65 one way
$93.30 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$51.21
$102.42
premium
$4.56
$55.44
$110.89
diesel
$5.61
$68.20
$136.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.7
1
$32.43
$14.83
Efficient EV
77.2
0
$27.03
$12.36
EV Truck/SUV
123.6
1
$43.25
$19.77
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Bella Vista, AR
Evening
in Bella Vista on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Forrest City, AR
Evening
in Forrest City on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Delaware, AR
154 mi in
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating roads like Billingsley Drive, Cooper Road, and West Lancashire Boulevard instead of cruising along monotonous interstates. Because this path avoids high-speed expressways, the pace is significantly slower and requires more frequent adjustments to your steering and speed. The road's personality is technical and winding, offering a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. You should be prepared for a steady, rhythmic drive that keeps you engaged with the local landscape from start to finish.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 227.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 71. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Billingsley Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 21m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Billingsley Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Cooper Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (AR 340 / West Lancashire Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bella Vista, AR and Forrest City, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock and Memphis.
Little Rock
78.1 mi in|~1h 26m
Memphis
220.7 mi in|~3h 51m|via I 40
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 308.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 227.8 miles on I 40. 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.
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 0.1 miles (Billingsley Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Cooper Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (AR 340 / West Lancashire Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Forrest City, AR before the return drive.
