Spanning 238.6 miles across Arkansas, this trip from Blytheville to Hot Springs is a manageable undertaking that takes approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes behind the wheel. Given the duration, it works perfectly as a single-day journey, though you may prefer to stay overnight in Hot Springs to fully enjoy your destination. Budgeting around $32 for fuel should cover your transit, which relies on a mix of local roads like South Division Street and Barker Road before connecting to I-40 West. You are traveling entirely within the Southeast region, moving from the northeastern corner of the state toward the central Ouachita region. It is a straightforward route, but the turn-heavy nature of the local sections requires you to stay alert and ready for navigation changes.
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
119.2 miles from Blytheville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
117.5 mi
1h 58m
I 55
55.4 mi
55m
I 30
26.6 mi
29m
US 70
24.6 mi
31m
East Belt Freeway
9.8 mi
11m
South Division Street
2.7 mi
4m
Barker Road
0.2 mi
<1m
West Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 117.5 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blytheville, AR and Hot Springs, AR.
1
Start on US 78; AR 18
46 ft·4 sec·West Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 61
2.7 mi·4 min·South Division Street
3
Turn right onto Barker Road
0.2 mi·14 sec·Barker Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
5
Merge onto I 55; US 78
55 mi·55 min·I 55; US 78
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
7
Merge onto I 40
118 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 40
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 440 West: Texarkana
10
Merge onto I 440
9.8 mi·11 min·East Belt Freeway
11
Continue on I 30; US 67
24 mi·26 min·I 30; US 67
12
Continue on I 30; US 70
2.9 mi·3 min·I 30; US 70
13
Take the exit onto US 70
25 mi·31 min·US 70
Toward US-70 West: Hot Springs
14
Arrive at destination
US 70B; US 270B
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 42-minute trek, plan to leave Blytheville early to avoid any unexpected local traffic congestion. Since the trip includes one recommended stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $32 budget in mind for mid-trip fill-ups. Because the drive involves a high number of turns early on, double-check your GPS settings before you depart to ensure you don't miss a transition between the local roads and the interstate. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the relatively short distance allows you to depart at your leisure without the pressure of an overnight split. If you are prone to fatigue, prioritize your single stop around the halfway mark to maintain your focus for the final stretch into Hot Springs.
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 119.2 miles from Blytheville, AR, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.5 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 52 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.2 miles or 2h 2m 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 23m
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 Blytheville, 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 Blytheville, AR
This is one driving day of about 238.5 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Blytheville, 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 117.5 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 213.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 61 / South Division Street
Turn right onto US 61 / South Division Street
Navigation decision point
5
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 40 West: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 8
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
7
176.6 mi into trip|~3h in
Take the exit toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
5
176.8 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 440 West: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 440 West: Texarkana
4
213.9 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward US-70 West: Hot Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US-70 West: Hot Springs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.02 one way
$72.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$39.54
$79.08
premium
$4.56
$42.81
$85.62
diesel
$5.61
$52.66
$105.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
22 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Cracker Barrel - Tesla Supercharger
North Little Rock, AR
Tesla
16 DCFC
Outlets of Little Rock - Tesla Supercharger
Little Rock, AR
Tesla
10 DCFC
Pine Crest Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger
Brinkley, AR
Tesla
8 DCFC
Walmart 124 (Little Rock, AR)
Little Rock, AR
Electrify America
8 DCFC
Little Rock, AR Rechargery Relay @ Casey's - Stagecoach Rd
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.6
0
$25.04
$11.45
Efficient EV
59.6
0
$20.87
$9.54
EV Truck/SUV
95.4
1
$33.39
$15.26
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Blytheville, AR
Night
in Blytheville on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hot Springs, AR
Night
in Hot Springs on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 5 to 10 mph10% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Jacksonville, AR
119 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
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 14m 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.
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 238.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that transitions from local navigation into longer highway stretches. Since this route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, you will find yourself navigating through town roads early on, with no single stretch on South Division Street offering a long, uninterrupted run. The trip features a zero percent highway share in its initial local segments, meaning you will need to pay close attention to turns before eventually merging onto I-40 West. As you progress, the personality of the road shifts from the frequent maneuvering required on Barker Road to the more consistent pace of the interstate. You won't be staring at a monotonous highway for the entire duration, so keep your focus sharp for the varied road types you will encounter.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.5 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 55. 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 US 61 / South Division Street.
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 238.5 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 (US 61 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 176.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
604 ft189 ft
Total Climb
431 ft
Total Descent
96 ft
Highest Point
604 ft
~228.6 mi in
Elevation Range
415 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 Blytheville, AR to Hot Springs, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Texarkana
176.6 mi in|~3h
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 238.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m 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 117.5 miles on I 40. 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.
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 (US 61 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 176.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Hot Springs, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
