Bentonville, AR to Ashdown, AR is 241.7 miles and takes about 4h 46m via US 71 and I 49, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region for its entirety. Given its primarily highway nature and manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll find the travel straightforward, with most of your time spent on major thoroughfares. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to B efficiently within the state.
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
120.8 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
133.8 mi
2h 38m
I 49
65.7 mi
1h 8m
US 59
26.6 mi
36m
East Collin Raye Drive
8 mi
11m
I 40
4.3 mi
4m
Southeast J Street
1 mi
2m
Southeast 14th Street
1 mi
1m
East Central Avenue
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 133.8 mi, about 2h 38m
Traffic on I-540
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,340 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~91 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 12 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Ashdown, AR.
1
Start on North Main Street
185 ft·13 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·East Central Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Southeast J Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto AR 102
1.0 mi·1 min·Southeast 14th Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp onto US 62; AR 12
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 62; AR 12
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12
66 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
8
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi·4 min·I 40; US 71
9
Take the exit onto US 71
12 mi·14 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
10
Take the exit onto US 71
0.3 mi·44 sec·US 71
Toward US 71 South: Texarkana
11
Turn left onto US 71
121 mi·2 hr 23 min·US 71
12
Turn left onto US 59; US 70; US 71; US 371
8.0 mi·11 min·East Collin Raye Drive
13
Continue on US 59; US 71; US 371
27 mi·36 min·US 59; US 71; US 371
14
Turn left onto East Main Street
83 ft·2 sec·East Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
To maximize daylight and minimize traffic, consider departing Bentonville in the morning. With a drive time under 5 hours, you can easily complete this trip in one day, but a single stop is recommended for a break. The longest stretch without a major road change is 133.8 miles on US 71, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment. The estimated fuel cost is around $35, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before setting off. Given the 95% highway profile, you'll have ample opportunity to maintain speed, but be mindful of exit ramps as you approach Ashdown.
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 120.8 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.8 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 53 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.8 miles or 2h 16m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ashdown, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bentonville, 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 Bentonville, AR
This is one driving day of about 241.7 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Bentonville, 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 US 71 for about 133.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Mena, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+14793941112
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 0 and 73.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Central Avenue
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|Southeast J Street
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|AR 102 / Southeast 14th Street
Turn left onto AR 102 / Southeast 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
5
73.3 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.63 one way
$75.25 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.48
$82.96
premium
$4.71
$44.83
$89.66
diesel
$6.18
$58.80
$117.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.5
0
$25.38
$11.60
Efficient EV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
EV Truck/SUV
96.7
1
$33.84
$15.47
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Morning
in Bentonville on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ashdown, AR
Morning
in Ashdown on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
86°F
Booneville, AR
121 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
5 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
4h 46m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 95% of the 241.7 miles on major roads like US 71 and I 49. You'll experience a long stretch of 133.8 miles on US 71 before transitioning to other routes. Expect consistent cruising with fewer interruptions, though you'll encounter numerous exits as you travel. The shift to non-highway roads will likely occur closer to your destination, marking the end of the high-speed travel.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133.8 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 49. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 46m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Southeast J Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (AR 102 / Southeast 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,336 ft328 ft
Total Climb
804 ft
Total Descent
1,773 ft
Highest Point
1,336 ft
~34.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,008 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 Bentonville, AR to Ashdown, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
Bentonville is a city of 51,000 people (2018) in the Northwest region of Arkansas. Widely known as the home to the corporate headquarters of retail giant Walmart, the city was noted by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the "Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012".
Top landmarks
•Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art — art museum in Bentonville, Arkansas
•Bentonville Confederate Monument — monument in Bentonville, United States of America
•Benton County Courthouse — courthouse in Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas
The longest stretch is about 133.8 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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: near the start (East Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Southeast J Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (AR 102 / Southeast 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Ashdown, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
