Origin
Benton, AR
Late night in Benton on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Benton, AR to Conway, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
48.4 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Benton, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Conway, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 48.4-mile drive from Benton, Arkansas, to Conway, Arkansas, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 55 minutes to complete. The route primarily utilizes major highways like I-40, US-70, and I-30, with a substantial 93% of the journey on highway roads. Given its short duration and low estimated fuel cost of just $7, it’s a convenient option for a quick local excursion within the Southeast region. There are no specific stops recommended, making it a direct point-to-point journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 20.1 mi | 20m |
| US 70 | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| I 30 | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| East Oak Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Carpenter Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Oak Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I-30 Frontage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 20.1 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, AR and Conway, 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 129
Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 13B
Toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
10
Merge onto I 40; US 65
20 mi
·
20 min
·
I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 64
12
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft
·
8 sec
13
Turn left onto US 64
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Oak Street
14
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Oak Street
15
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft
·
19 sec
·
Locust Avenue
16
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from Benton, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 47 — 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
46.8 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 64
5
47 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.31 one way
$14.62 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.02 | $16.05 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.69 | $17.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.69 | $21.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.08 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.78 | $3.10 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Conway, AR
Late night in Conway on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
55m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this 48.4-mile stretch. With 93% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on interstates and major US routes. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 20.1 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The road's personality is direct and efficient, designed for covering ground rather than leisurely sightseeing. This is a route where you'll likely maintain steady highway speeds for the majority of your travel time.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in near US 70.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 48.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
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.
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 Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Oklahoma City
25.9 mi in
|
~30m
About the Cities
Starting in Benton, AR
Full guide →Benton is in the Central region of Arkansas.
Arriving in Conway, AR
Full guide →Conway is a college town in the Central region of Arkansas, northwest of Little Rock. Do not be deceived into thinking Conway is just another suburb of Little Rock. The "City of Colleges" has crafted its own unique identity, with beautiful college campuses, peaceful nature trails, access to two gorgeous lakes, one impressive river, and plenty of restaurants and shops to boot.
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 55m. Total distance: 48.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Conway, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 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 Conway, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Conway, AR
More trips to Conway, AR
Explore more options from Benton, AR or browse trips ending in Conway, AR.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AR road trips.