Bentonville to Magnolia is 322.2 miles and takes about 6h 8m via I-49, I-40, and I-30, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving south from the Ozark foothills region to the Gulf Coastal Plain. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making for a straightforward drive. Given the duration and highway profile, it's entirely manageable as a single-day trip, though planning your departure time is key to avoiding congestion.
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
161.1 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
65.7 mi
1h 8m
I 40
64.9 mi
1h 4m
I 30
51.3 mi
51m
South State Highway 7
44.8 mi
50m
US 278
17.9 mi
26m
US 371
17 mi
25m
AR 7 South
14.4 mi
16m
Malvern Road
12.2 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 65.7 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Magnolia, 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 Hot Springs Bypass
222 ft·2 sec·Hot Springs Bypass
19
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
6.0 mi·6 min·Hot Springs Bypass
20
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi·2 min·Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
22
Keep slight left at fork
81 ft·8 sec
23
Turn left onto US 270
0.6 mi·46 sec·Malvern Avenue
24
Continue on US 270
12 mi·13 min·Malvern Road
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
26
Merge onto I 30
51 mi·51 min·I 30
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward AR 19: Prescott
28
Turn left onto AR 19
2.4 mi·4 min·Delight Highway
29
Turn right onto US 67; US 371
0.4 mi·39 sec·West 1st Street South
30
Turn right onto US 371
17 mi·25 min·US 371
31
At end of road, turn left onto US 278; US 371
18 mi·26 min·US 278; US 371
32
Turn left onto US 371
7.2 mi·10 min·East McKissack
33
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·West Main Street
34
Enter roundabout onto East Main Street
443 ft·10 sec·East Main Street
35
Continue on East Main Street
326 ft·9 sec·East Main Street
36
Turn right onto US 79B; AR 19
10 ft·0 sec·Jackson Street
37
Arrive at destination
US 79B; AR 19
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, consider leaving Bentonville early in the morning to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic delays, especially around larger towns. The route is mostly highway, so you can cover ground efficiently. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel; the longest stretch without a major town is about 65.7 miles on I-49. Given the manageable duration, you have flexibility in when and where you take your break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be more spread out on certain interstate segments.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161.1 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 2h 54m 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 71 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.1 miles or 2h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Magnolia, 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 322.2 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 322 — 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
7
322 mi into trip|~6h 8m in|East Main Street
Enter roundabout onto East Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.52 one way
$99.04 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$54.77
$109.55
premium
$4.65
$58.95
$117.89
diesel
$5.35
$67.86
$135.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.7
1
$33.83
$15.47
Efficient EV
80.6
0
$28.19
$12.89
EV Truck/SUV
128.9
1
$45.11
$20.62
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Afternoon
in Bentonville on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Magnolia, AR
Afternoon
in Magnolia on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
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
6h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 211.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 87% of this route on highways, you'll primarily be on interstates. Expect a longest stretch of 65.7 miles on I-49 before transitioning to other major roadways like I-40 and I-30. The vast majority of your time will be spent cruising on these high-speed corridors. You'll notice frequent exits and interchanges as you navigate through various parts of Arkansas.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 322.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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
1,463 ft247 ft
Total Climb
1,068 ft
Total Descent
2,028 ft
Highest Point
1,463 ft
~46 mi in
Elevation Range
1,215 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 Magnolia, 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 8m. Total distance: 322.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 Magnolia, 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. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Magnolia, AR before the return drive.
