Spanning 245.6 miles across Arkansas, this trek from Bethel Heights to Pine Bluff is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 42 minutes behind the wheel. Because the duration is relatively manageable, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $38 on fuel, making it a fairly economical choice for travel within the Southeast region. You will navigate primarily through local roads, including East Morris Avenue, North Thompson Road, and North Thompson Street, rather than major interstates. It is a practical route for those who prefer steady, local travel over the high-speed intensity of the freeway system.
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
120.9 miles from Bethel Heights, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
140.4 mi
2h 21m
Fulbright Expressway
48.3 mi
49m
I 530
35 mi
35m
US 65B
5.6 mi
9m
North Thompson Street
4.9 mi
8m
US 65
4.6 mi
6m
North College Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
East Morris Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 140.4 mi, about 2h 21m
Traffic on I-530
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~881 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,083
Quietest
2 AM
~65 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 15 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethel Heights, AR and Pine Bluff, AR.
1
Start on Alliance Drive
139 ft·8 sec·Alliance Drive
2
Turn right onto East Morris Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East Morris Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 71B
0.3 mi·22 sec·North Thompson Road
4
Continue on US 71B
4.9 mi·8 min·North Thompson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 71B
1.5 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
48 mi·49 min·Fulbright Expressway
Use the straight lane.
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
140 mi·2 hr 21 min·I 40; US 71
9
Take the exit onto US 65
4.6 mi·6 min·US 65
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
35 mi·35 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 65B
5.6 mi·9 min·US 65B
12
Turn right onto North Pine Street
302 ft·18 sec·North Pine Street
13
Turn left onto West Barraque Street
312 ft·15 sec·West Barraque Street
14
Turn right onto South Main Street
349 ft·15 sec·South Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 3-hour and 42-minute drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid peak local congestion. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and break up the constant steering required on these local roads. Since you are not relying on high-speed interstates, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge and budget for the estimated $38 cost before you head out. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the lack of highway segments allows you to adjust your pace easily if you encounter unexpected local traffic. A pro tip for this specific route is to double-check your navigation settings to ensure you stay on the intended path along North Thompson Road, as the local turn-heavy profile can be easy to miscalculate.
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 120.9 miles from Bethel Heights, AR, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.4 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 53 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.9 miles or 2h 9m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pine Bluff, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethel Heights, 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 Bethel Heights, AR
This is one driving day of about 241.9 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Bethel Heights, 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 140.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 241.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.2 mi into trip|~13m in|US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 3m 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
6
201.2 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|I 530; US 65; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
5
241.8 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|West Barraque Street
Turn left onto West Barraque Street
Navigation decision point
5
241.8 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.58 one way
$67.16 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$37.57
$75.14
premium
$4.29
$40.85
$81.69
diesel
$4.80
$45.68
$91.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.6
0
$25.40
$11.61
Efficient EV
60.5
0
$21.17
$9.68
EV Truck/SUV
96.8
1
$33.87
$15.48
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Bethel Heights, AR
Late night
in Bethel Heights on Sunday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Pine Bluff, AR
Late night
in Pine Bluff on Sunday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
W 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
73°F
Delaware, AR
121 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
4h 17m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through various street-level stretches. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route features zero highway miles, forcing you to adjust to the rhythm of local traffic and varied road geometries. You will find that the journey feels more hands-on, requiring you to stay alert through the transitions between North Thompson Street and other local thoroughfares. Because the entire 245.6-mile distance is comprised of non-highway roads, the drive offers a consistent, albeit technical, experience from start to finish. Expect a steady pace that reflects the character of the local infrastructure rather than the rapid transit of a major highway.
97% 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: 140.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Fulbright Expressway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.2 miles in near US 71B / Fulbright Expressway.
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 241.9 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 7.2 miles (US 71B / Fulbright Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.2 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,616 ft220 ft
Total Climb
485 ft
Total Descent
1,614 ft
Highest Point
1,616 ft
~34.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,396 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 Bethel Heights, AR to Pine Bluff, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 241.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
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 Pine Bluff, 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.2 miles (US 71B / Fulbright Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.2 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Pine Bluff, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
