Benton, AR to Gentry, AR is 237.4 miles and takes about 4h 13m via I 40, I 49, and East Henri de Tonti Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving you from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll have plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
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
118.7 miles from Benton, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
134.7 mi
2h 14m
I 49
51.3 mi
52m
East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
16.4 mi
20m
US 70
13.1 mi
15m
I 30
11.7 mi
12m
AR 59
5.6 mi
8m
West Sunset Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
South Collins Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 134.7 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, AR and Gentry, 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
135 mi·2 hr 14 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
12
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
4.9 mi·5 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 72Toward US 412Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
193 ft·12 sec
Toward US 412Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 412
1.5 mi·2 min·West Sunset Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on US 412
16 mi·20 min·East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
336 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
19
Turn slight right onto AR 59
5.6 mi·8 min·AR 59
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto AR 59B
0.5 mi·1 min·South Collins Avenue
21
Turn right onto AR 59B
67 ft·1 sec·East Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
AR 59B
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 13m estimated drive time, starting your trip in the morning from Benton will allow you to arrive in Gentry with ample daylight. While the drive is manageable in one day, the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 134.7 miles on I 40, so planning one stop around the halfway point would be wise for stretching your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $33 and you want to avoid running low in potentially less populated areas. The final segment on East Henri de Tonti Boulevard is where you'll notice the change from interstate cruising to local roads.
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 118.7 miles from Benton, AR, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.7 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 52 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.7 miles or 2h 3m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gentry, 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 237.4 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 134.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 213.2 — 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
6
208 mi into trip|~3h 34m 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.
7
212.9 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 412
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72
Toward US 412
8
213.2 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 412
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward US 412
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.96 one way
$65.91 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$36.87
$73.74
premium
$4.29
$40.09
$80.17
diesel
$4.80
$44.83
$89.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.2
0
$24.93
$11.40
Efficient EV
59.4
0
$20.77
$9.50
EV Truck/SUV
95
1
$33.24
$15.19
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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 Jul 15, 2026
Origin
Benton, AR
Late night
in Benton on Sunday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Gentry, AR
Late night
in Gentry on Sunday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph20% chanceLive forecast
73°F
Delaware, AR
119 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 13m 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...
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 highway driving, with 91% of the trip on interstates. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 134.7 miles on I 40, which means you'll be on high-speed roads for a significant portion of the drive. The highway portion concludes as you transition to surface roads like East Henri de Tonti Boulevard closer to Gentry. Expect to see frequent exit ramps and potentially some merging traffic as you navigate the interstate system.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 134.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. 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 Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 237.4 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 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 208 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,718 ft277 ft
Total Climb
1,733 ft
Total Descent
909 ft
Highest Point
1,718 ft
~186.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,441 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 Benton, AR to Gentry, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 237.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 134.7 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.
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 Gentry, 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 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 208 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 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Gentry, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
