Benton, AR to Alma, AR is 161.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 47 minutes via I-40 and US-70, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within Arkansas, taking you across the Southeast region. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a relatively straightforward journey. This route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing ample time for departure and arrival without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.8 miles from Benton, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
133.6 mi
2h 13m
US 70
13.1 mi
15m
I 30
11.7 mi
12m
Fayetteville Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
US Highway 71 North
0.5 mi
<1m
East Carpenter Street
0.3 mi
<1m
I-30 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 133.6 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, AR and Alma, AR.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·North Main Street
2
Continue on Military Road
0.1 mi·20 sec·Military Road
3
Turn left onto AR 35
0.3 mi·35 sec·East Carpenter Street
4
Turn straight
0.1 mi·26 sec
5
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.3 mi·29 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
6
Take the ramp
516 ft·12 sec
7
Merge onto I 30; US 67; US 70
12 mi·12 min·I 30; US 67; US 70
8
Take the exit onto US 70
13 mi·15 min·US 70
Exit 129Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort SmithUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 13BToward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
10
Merge onto I 40; US 65
134 mi·2 hr 13 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward US 71: Alma
12
Turn left onto US 71
0.5 mi·50 sec·US Highway 71 North
13
Continue on Fayetteville Avenue
448 ft·12 sec·Fayetteville Avenue
14
Keep slight left at fork onto Fayetteville Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fayetteville Avenue
15
Continue on Fayetteville Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·Fayetteville Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Fayetteville Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 47 minute drive time, consider an early morning departure from Benton to maximize your day upon arrival in Alma. With only one recommended stop and 98% highway driving, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 133.6-mile stretch on I-40, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $24 makes this an economical choice for a quick getaway.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.8 miles from Benton, AR, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.6 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 36 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.8 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alma, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Benton, 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 Benton, AR
This is one driving day of about 161.6 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Benton, 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 133.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 161.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.9 mi into trip|~15m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 129
Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
7
25.9 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13B
Toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
5
26.6 mi into trip|~31m in|I 40; US 65
Merge onto I 40; US 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
160.3 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward US 71: Alma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 71: Alma
5
161.1 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|Fayetteville Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto Fayetteville Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.41 one way
$48.81 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.79
$53.58
premium
$4.56
$29.01
$58.01
diesel
$5.61
$35.68
$71.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.5
0
$16.97
$7.76
Efficient EV
40.4
0
$14.14
$6.46
EV Truck/SUV
64.6
0
$22.62
$10.34
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Benton, AR
Late night
in Benton on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alma, AR
Late night
in Alma on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
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
2h 47m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the route on major roads like I-40 and I-30. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 133.6 miles on I-40, making for a consistent pace. While mostly interstate, the inclusion of US-70 offers a slight variation in scenery and road type for a portion of the trip. Expect efficient travel with minimal delays on this well-maintained highway network.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in near US 70.
Driving Effort5/10
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 161.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 12.9 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles (I 40; US 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Benton, AR to Alma, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 161.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133.6 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.9 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles (I 40; US 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alma, AR before heading back.
