If you are planning a trip from Benton to Tennessee, Arkansas, expect a journey covering 98.6 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a single-day excursion. Budgeting about $13 for fuel will cover your transit costs, which keeps this trip quite affordable. Since the route stays entirely within the Southeast region of Arkansas, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere from start to finish. Because the travel time is under two hours, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated logistics. Overall, this is a straightforward, practical connection between the two points that fits easily into a busy weekend schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.9 miles from Benton, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 530
43.3 mi
44m
Highway 530
22.9 mi
26m
I 30
20.6 mi
22m
US 425
15.7 mi
20m
West Gaines Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Highway 11
2 mi
2m
East Carpenter Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 530
— 43.3 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, AR and Tennessee, 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 left at fork onto I 30; US 67
0.2 mi·16 sec·I 30; US 67
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 530 South, US 65 South, US 167 South: Pine Bluff
10
Merge onto I 530; US 65; US 167
43 mi·44 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·52 sec
Exit 44Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
12
Continue on AR 530
23 mi·26 min·Highway 530
13
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11
2.0 mi·2 min·Highway 11
14
Turn right onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
15
Take the exit
226 ft·6 sec
16
Turn slight right onto US 278
2.6 mi·4 min·West Gaines Avenue
17
Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Tennessee Spur Road
18
Arrive at destination
Tennessee Spur Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best without worrying about complex planning. Because there are zero scheduled stops on this route, make sure you address any fuel or restroom needs before you leave Benton to avoid unnecessary interruptions. Given the turn-heavy nature of the roads, keep a close eye on your GPS and road signage to ensure you stay on track through the local intersections. If you are traveling during peak hours, factor in a little extra time to account for local traffic density. A pro tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation app active, as the frequent turns on local roads can be easy to miss if you aren't paying close attention.
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 54.9 miles from Benton, AR, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.3 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 24 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.9 miles or 59m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tennessee, 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 109.8 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Benton, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 530 for about 43.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 21.5 and 109.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
21.5 mi into trip|~25m in|I 30; US 67
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
21.7 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward I 530 South, US 65 South, US 167 South: Pine Bluff
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 South, US 65 South, US 167 South:...
6
65.4 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 44
Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
5
89.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|AR 11 / Highway 11
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11 / Highway 11
Navigation decision point
4
109.5 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|Tennessee Spur Road
Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.58 one way
$33.16 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.20
$36.41
premium
$4.56
$19.71
$39.42
diesel
$5.61
$24.24
$48.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.9
0
$11.53
$5.27
Efficient EV
27.5
0
$9.61
$4.39
EV Truck/SUV
43.9
0
$15.37
$7.03
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Benton, AR
Late night
in Benton on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tennessee, AR
Late night
in Tennessee on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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 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 5m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise for this 98.6-mile trek. While your navigation may utilize I-30, East Carpenter Street, and Military Road, the route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will be navigating local roads for the duration of the trip. You will find no long, monotonous stretches here, as the longest uninterrupted segment on Military Road is 0 miles. This dynamic road profile requires your full attention at the wheel, as the constant turns demand active driving. Prepare for a more hands-on experience that moves away from the typical highway grind and keeps you engaged with local traffic patterns.
95% 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: 43.3 mi on I 530.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 530 and Highway 530. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21.5 miles in near I 30; US 67.
Driving Effort6/10
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 109.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Tennessee, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
Tennessee is a US state in the South known for its rich history, music, and the Appalachian Mountains along its eastern border. Many visitors come to see Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 109.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.3 miles on I 530. 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 Tennessee, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.5 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Tennessee, AR before heading back.
