Bella Vista, AR to Texarkana, AR is 269.5 miles and takes about 5h 23m via US 71 and US 59, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Arkansas, traveling south through the Southeast region. With 94% highway driving, expect a fairly direct trip with minimal city navigation. It's designed for a single day of travel, making it a convenient option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. The drive is mostly highway, so you'll spend the bulk of your time on major roads.
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
134.8 miles from Bella Vista, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
205.7 mi
3h 54m
US 59
44.5 mi
1h
East Collin Raye Drive
8 mi
11m
Bella Vista Way
4.3 mi
6m
I 40
4.3 mi
4m
Cooper Road
1.1 mi
2m
West Lancashire Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
East 24th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 205.7 mi, about 3h 54m
Traffic on I-540
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,340 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~91 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 12 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bella Vista, AR and Texarkana, 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 right at fork
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
9
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi·4 min·I 40; US 71
10
Take the exit onto US 71
12 mi·14 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
11
Take the exit onto US 71
0.3 mi·44 sec·US 71
Toward US 71 South: Texarkana
12
Turn left onto US 71
121 mi·2 hr 23 min·US 71
13
Turn left onto US 59; US 70; US 71; US 371
8.0 mi·11 min·East Collin Raye Drive
14
Continue on US 59; US 71; US 371
44 mi·1 hr·US 59; US 71; US 371
15
Turn left onto East 24th Street
0.3 mi·32 sec·East 24th Street
16
Turn right onto County Avenue
0.3 mi·42 sec·County Avenue
17
Turn left onto East 20th Street
180 ft·7 sec·East 20th Street
18
Arrive at destination
East 20th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 23m estimated drive time, starting in the morning is your best bet to complete this 269.5-mile trip comfortably within daylight. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch of continuous driving is 205.7 miles on US 71, so consider getting gas before you begin that segment. The estimated fuel cost is $39, but it's always wise to factor in a little extra. Since this is a one-day route, you have flexibility in your departure time and pacing.
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 134.8 miles from Bella Vista, AR, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 205.7 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 59 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.8 miles or 2h 33m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Texarkana, 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 269.5 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 US 71 for about 205.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10 to $20
Mena, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+14793941112
Phase II - Bar & Grill Restaurant
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10 to $20
Texarkana, Texas
Hours: 5:30–11 PM
+19037923222
Mr. D’s
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Texarkana, Arkansas
Hours: Closed
+18707723819
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 269.5 — 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
6
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
5
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
5
269.2 mi into trip|~5h 22m in|County Avenue
Turn right onto County Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
269.5 mi into trip|~5h 23m in|East 20th Street
Turn left onto East 20th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.95 one way
$83.91 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.25
$92.50
premium
$4.71
$49.98
$99.97
diesel
$6.18
$65.56
$131.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.9
0
$28.30
$12.94
Efficient EV
67.4
0
$23.58
$10.78
EV Truck/SUV
107.8
1
$37.73
$17.25
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Bella Vista, AR
Late night
in Bella Vista on Monday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Texarkana, AR
Late night
in Texarkana on Monday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
86°F
Booneville, AR
135 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 23m 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?
This drive is primarily highway, with 94% of the 269.5 miles on major roads like US 71 and US 59. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on US 71, covering 205.7 miles. Surface roads become more prominent closer to Texarkana, specifically on East Collin Raye Drive. Expect frequent exits and varying traffic as you transition from rural cruising to more developed areas.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 205.7 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and US 59. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Billingsley Drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 23m drive. You will face about 13 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 78.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.7 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,592 ft332 ft
Total Climb
1,091 ft
Total Descent
1,939 ft
Highest Point
1,592 ft
~57.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,260 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bella Vista, AR to Texarkana, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
The longest stretch is about 205.7 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Billingsley Drive): Navigation decision point; at 78.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.7 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Texarkana, AR before the return drive.
