Origin
Benton, AR
Night in Benton on Saturday
Local time
10:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Benton, AR to Marianna, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 24m
Distance
120.5 mi
194 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 14m
★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Benton, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Marianna, AR
Andrea Piacquadio
Trip Overview
The drive from Benton, AR to Marianna, AR covers 120.5 miles and takes about 2h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 30, AR 78 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.4 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.2 miles from Benton, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 61.4 mi | 1h 1m |
| I 30 | 20.3 mi | 22m |
| AR 78 | 14.7 mi | 25m |
| US 79 | 11.9 mi | 18m |
| East Belt Freeway | 10 mi | 11m |
| 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
— 61.4 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, AR and Marianna, 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
20 mi
·
22 min
·
I 30; US 67; US 70
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 440
10 mi
·
11 min
·
East Belt Freeway
Toward I 440 East: Little Rock Airport, Little Rock River Port, Memphis
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 40 East: Memphis
11
Merge onto I 40
61 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 40
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward Wheatley
13
Turn right onto AR 78
15 mi
·
25 min
·
AR 78
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 79
12 mi
·
18 min
·
US 79
15
Turn right onto North Poplar Street
295 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Poplar Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Poplar Street
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from Benton, AR, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.4 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.2 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marianna, 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 120.5 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Benton, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 61.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.2 miles from Benton, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.4 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 21.5 and 108.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
21.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 440 / East Belt Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 440 / East Belt Freeway toward I 440 East: Little Rock Airport, Little Rock River Port, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 440 East: Little Rock Airport, Little...
6
31.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
5
31.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Memphis
4
93.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward Wheatley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Wheatley
4
108.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
|
US 79
At end of road, turn left onto US 79
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.65 one way
$35.31 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $19.60 | $39.20 |
| premium | $4.49 | $21.28 | $42.56 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $26.56 | $53.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.65 | $5.78 |
| Efficient EV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.54 | $4.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.87 | $7.71 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Marianna, AR
Night in Marianna on Saturday
Local time
10:57 PM
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
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
2h 24m 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?
120.5 mi in 2h 24m, mostly highway — 61.4 mi of that is on I 40.
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: 61.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 30. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21.5 miles in near I 440 / East Belt Freeway.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 120.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 21.5 miles (I 440 / East Belt Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
411 ft
188 ft
Total Climb
58 ft
Total Descent
242 ft
Highest Point
411 ft
Elevation Range
224 ft
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.
Between Benton, AR and Marianna, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock River Port, Memphis, Fort Smith and Wheatley.
Little Rock River Port
21.5 mi in
|
~25m
|
via I 440
Memphis
21.5 mi in
|
~25m
|
via I 440
Fort Smith
31.5 mi in
|
~36m
Wheatley
93.6 mi in
|
~1h 39m
About the Cities
Starting in Benton, AR
Full guide →Founded 1833
Benton is in the Central region of Arkansas.
Top landmarks
- • Old River Bridge — bridge in Benton, Arkansas
- • Royal Theatre — movie theater in Benton, Arkansas, United States
- • Benton Commercial Historic District — historic district in Arkansas, United States
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 2h 24m. Total distance: 120.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m 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 61.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 21.5 miles (I 440 / East Belt Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Marianna, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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