Bentonville, AR to Hot Springs, AR is 211.5 miles and takes about 3h 54m via I 49 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Ozarks region down towards the Ouachita Mountains. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major interstates, making it a practical choice if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points in the Southeast. Plan for this to be a relatively easy day trip, requiring just one day for completion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
105.7 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
65.7 mi
1h 8m
I 40
64.9 mi
1h 4m
South State Highway 7
44.8 mi
50m
AR 7 South
14.4 mi
16m
Park Avenue
6.2 mi
9m
South Arkansas Avenue
4.9 mi
5m
West Main Street
3.1 mi
4m
US 64
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Hot Springs, 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 left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
8
Merge onto I 40; US 71
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40; US 71
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 78Toward US 64
10
Turn left onto US 64
1.6 mi·2 min·US 64
11
Continue on US 64; Hwy 326
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
12
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·South Arkansas Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7
0.2 mi·29 sec·North State Highway 7
14
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·AR 7 South
15
Continue on AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
16
Turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·17 sec·AR 7
17
Turn left onto AR 7
45 mi·50 min·South State Highway 7
18
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
98 ft·1 sec·Park Avenue
19
Continue on AR 7
6.1 mi·9 min·Park Avenue
20
Continue on AR 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Central Avenue
21
Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B
429 ft·20 sec·West Grand Avenue
22
Continue on US 70B; US 270B
348 ft·12 sec·West Grand Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
US 70B; US 270B
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 54m estimated drive time, you can comfortably start your day any time after breakfast and still arrive well before dinner. The route is primarily highway, so aim to fuel up before you leave Bentonville. You'll encounter the longest stretch without exits on I 49 for over 65 miles, so make sure you're comfortable with that segment. With only one recommended stop and a clear path, you have flexibility to adjust your pace, but keep an eye on the time as you approach Hot Springs to maximize your daylight hours there.
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 105.7 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 47 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.7 miles or 1h 51m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hot Springs, 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 211.5 miles and 3h 54m.
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 I 49 for about 65.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10 to $20
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hours: 11 AM–10 PM
+15015251616
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 134.1 — 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 left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
5
134.1 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78
Toward US 64
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.37 one way
$64.75 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$35.86
$71.71
premium
$4.65
$38.71
$77.42
diesel
$6.28
$52.26
$104.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.21
$10.15
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.51
$8.46
EV Truck/SUV
84.6
1
$29.61
$13.54
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Morning
in Bentonville on Thursday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Sunny
S 0 to 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hot Springs, AR
Morning
in Hot Springs on Thursday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
73°F
Delaware, AR
106 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
4 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
3h 54m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
1 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 211.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 91% of this trip, covering 211.5 miles. Expect a long stretch of 65.7 miles on I 49 before transitioning to I 40. Surface roads make up the remaining 9%. This means you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising with frequent exits as you get closer to your destination.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.7 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and I 40. 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 3h 54m drive. You will face about 14 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
1,411 ft351 ft
Total Climb
805 ft
Total Descent
1,511 ft
Highest Point
1,411 ft
~29.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,061 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 Hot Springs, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock 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
Hot Springs is a city in the Central region of Arkansas and home to Hot Springs National Park, a United States national park. It is also the childhood home of former President Bill Clinton.
Top landmarks
•Bathhouse Row — park in Hot Springs, Garland County, United States of America
•Central Avenue Historic District — historic district in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
•Whittington Park Historic District — historic district in Arkansas, United States
The longest stretch is about 65.7 miles on I 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Hot Springs, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
