Bentonville, AR to Salem, AR is 175 miles and takes about 3h 37m via US 62, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, beginning in Arkansas and ending in Arkansas. It's a relatively short drive, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so you'll encounter both quicker highway sections and more local road segments. Consider this drive if you're looking for a straightforward journey between two points with a manageable travel time and cost.
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
87.5 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 62
80.2 mi
1h 31m
West Robinson Avenue
58.8 mi
1h 10m
US 65
12.4 mi
20m
I 49
7.4 mi
7m
Main Street
5.9 mi
8m
North Thompson Street
2.8 mi
5m
North Thompson Road
2 mi
3m
Southeast J Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 62
— 80.2 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Salem, 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
33 mi·37 min·US 62; US 412
21
Turn left onto US 62B; AR 9
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
AR 9
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 37m estimated duration, departing Bentonville in the morning will give you ample time to reach Salem with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you can be strategic about where you pull over. Consider fueling up before you leave Bentonville, as the longest stretch without a major road change is over 80 miles. While the fuel cost is estimated at $26, it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. The flexibility of a single-day trip like this means you can adjust your pace based on how you feel or if you find a place you'd like to briefly explore along the way.
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 87.5 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.2 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 39 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 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 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, 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 175 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 80.2 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
$26.43 one way
$52.86 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$29.01
$58.03
premium
$4.56
$31.41
$62.82
diesel
$5.61
$38.64
$77.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.5
0
$18.38
$8.40
Efficient EV
43.8
0
$15.31
$7.00
EV Truck/SUV
70
0
$24.50
$11.20
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Night
in Bentonville on Saturday
Local time
11:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Salem, AR
Night
in Salem on Saturday
Local time
11:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Harrison, AR
88 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 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 37m 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 drive features a mix of road types, with 57% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 62 and US 65, which are likely to be the primary arteries for much of the trip, alongside local roads like West Robinson Avenue. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience without a significant change in road type is 80.2 miles on US 62. Expect the driving to feel varied; some parts will allow for steady progress, while others might involve more turns or slower speeds as you navigate through different communities. The profile is described as 'Mixed drive,' so be prepared for this blend.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.2 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 175 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".
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 175 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.2 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 Salem, 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Salem, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
