Bentonville, AR to Mayflower, AR is 193.4 miles and takes about 3h 21m via I 49 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a highway-focused experience for the vast majority of your trip. With a recommended single day for this drive, it’s a straightforward journey that’s easy to accomplish. Consider this route if you need a direct connection between these two points with minimal fuss.
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
96.7 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
122.5 mi
2h 2m
I 49
65.7 mi
1h 8m
Southeast J Street
1 mi
2m
Southeast 14th Street
1 mi
1m
State Highway 365
0.8 mi
1m
East Central Avenue
0.7 mi
2m
Highway 365
0.3 mi
<1m
Miller Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 122.5 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Mayflower, 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
123 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 40; US 71
9
Take the exit
365 ft·8 sec
Toward AR 89, AR 365: Mayflower
10
Keep slight right at fork
517 ft·18 sec
11
At end of road, turn left onto AR 365
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 365
12
Continue on AR 365
0.3 mi·44 sec·Highway 365
13
Continue on AR 365
158 ft·5 sec·AR 365
14
Turn right onto Miller Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Miller Street
15
Arrive at destination
Miller Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day drive covering 193.4 miles, you have plenty of flexibility. Aim to depart in the morning to make the most of daylight hours and allow for any unexpected traffic. The fuel cost is estimated at $29, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Bentonville, as the longest stretch on I 40 is quite substantial at 122.5 miles. There's only one recommended stop, suggesting this route is best for a direct transit. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the latter half of the drive on I 40.
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 96.7 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.5 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 43 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.7 miles or 1h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mayflower, 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 193.4 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 40 for about 122.5 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 0 and 191.8 — 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
191.8 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Take the exit toward AR 89, AR 365: Mayflower
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 89, AR 365: Mayflower
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.21 one way
$58.42 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$32.06
$64.13
premium
$4.56
$34.71
$69.43
diesel
$5.61
$42.70
$85.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58
0
$20.31
$9.28
Efficient EV
48.4
0
$16.92
$7.74
EV Truck/SUV
77.4
0
$27.08
$12.38
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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 15, 2026
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Night
in Bentonville on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mayflower, AR
Night
in Mayflower on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Ozark, AR
97 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 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is largely a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on I 49 and I 40, offering a smooth and consistent experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 122.5 miles on I 40, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While the majority is interstate, the initial part of the drive may involve local roads like Southeast J Street before merging onto the faster highways. Overall, expect a practical and efficient transit rather than a winding scenic tour.
98% 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: 122.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. You will hit about 10 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 Effort5/10
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 193.4 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: 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.
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 Mayflower, 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".
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 193.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Mayflower, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
