Bentonville, AR to Cave City, AR is 214.8 miles and takes about 4h 31m via US 62 and US 65, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Northwest region to the Southeast. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving, making it a manageable one-day excursion. You'll encounter a significant portion on main highways, interspersed with more local routes as you approach your destination.
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
107.4 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 62
97.3 mi
1h 50m
West Robinson Avenue
58.8 mi
1h 10m
US 65
12.4 mi
20m
Ash Flat Drive
11.9 mi
17m
Evening Shade Drive
9.5 mi
14m
I 49
7.4 mi
7m
Main Street
5.9 mi
8m
North Thompson Street
2.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 62
— 97.3 mi, about 1h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Cave City, 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
7.4 mi·7 min·I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 78Toward AR 264: West Monroe Avenue
8
Turn left onto AR 264
0.9 mi·1 min·West Monroe Avenue
9
Turn right onto US 71B
1.0 mi·1 min·South Bloomington Street
10
Continue on US 71B
2.0 mi·3 min·North Thompson Road
11
Continue on US 71B
2.8 mi·5 min·North Thompson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 412
154 ft·3 sec·US 412
13
Continue on US 412
0.1 mi·19 sec·US 412
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 412
59 mi·1 hr 10 min·West Robinson Avenue
15
Continue on US 62; US 412
5.9 mi·8 min·Main Street
Use the right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·22 sec
17
Turn right onto US 65
12 mi·20 min·US 65
18
Continue on US 62; US 412
31 mi·35 min·US 62; US 412
19
Continue on US 62; US 412
16 mi·18 min·US 62; US 412
20
Take the exit onto US 62; US 412
50 mi·56 min·US 62; US 412
21
Turn right onto US 167
12 mi·17 min·Ash Flat Drive
22
Continue on US 167
9.5 mi·14 min·Evening Shade Drive
23
Continue on US 167; AR 58
1.6 mi·2 min·North Main Street
24
Turn right onto West Center Street
12 ft·0 sec·West Center Street
25
Arrive at destination
West Center Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 31m estimated drive time, departing Bentonville in the morning allows ample time to reach Cave City before evening. Plan for one significant stop to break up the 97.3-mile stretch on US 62. With a fuel cost estimated around $31, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is advisable, especially as you transition to surface roads. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on local conditions or your preference for a leisurely start.
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 107.4 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 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 47 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.4 miles or 2h 20m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cave City, 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 214.8 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 62 for about 97.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.5 — 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.
5
10.3 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward AR 264: West Monroe Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78
Toward AR 264: West Monroe Avenue
5
17.5 mi into trip|~27m in|US 412 / West Robinson Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 412 / West Robinson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.01 one way
$66.03 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$36.52
$73.03
premium
$4.65
$39.30
$78.60
diesel
$5.35
$45.24
$90.49
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: 75.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.4
0
$22.55
$10.31
Efficient EV
53.7
0
$18.80
$8.59
EV Truck/SUV
85.9
1
$30.07
$13.75
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of May 29, 2026
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Afternoon
in Bentonville on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 29 at 1:27PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 29 at 10:12AM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Cave City, AR
Afternoon
in Cave City on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
ESE 5 mph83% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 29 at 1:27PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 29 at 10:12AM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
70°F
Summit, AR
107 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
2 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
4h 31m 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 214.8-mile trip involves 55% highway driving. You'll experience a longest stretch of 97.3 miles on US 62 before transitioning to a mix of highway and surface roads. Expect a considerable amount of time on US 65, which offers a more direct path through the region. The latter part of the drive will likely feel more rural as you move away from major thoroughfares.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.3 mi on US 62.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
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 214.8 miles you will encounter 13 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: 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.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 214.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.3 miles on US 62. 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 Cave City, 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: 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Cave City, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
