Bull Shoals, AR to Springdale, AR is 116.2 miles and takes about 2h 32m via US 412 and US 62, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a drive primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a straightforward trip. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B without significant detours, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to cover this stretch of the state.
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
58.1 miles from Bull Shoals, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 412
56.4 mi
1h 6m
US 62
46.7 mi
1h 1m
Central Boulevard
10 mi
17m
East Emma Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Butterfield Coach Road
1.3 mi
2m
North Commercial Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Broadway Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 412
— 56.4 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bull Shoals, AR and Springdale, AR.
1
Start on Broadway Avenue
36 ft·3 sec·Broadway Avenue
2
Turn right onto AR 178
10.0 mi·17 min·Central Boulevard
3
Turn right onto US 62; US 412
5.4 mi·6 min·US 62; US 412
4
Turn right onto US 62; US 412
23 mi·25 min·US 62; US 412
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412
7.2 mi·11 min·US 62; US 65; US 412
6
Take the exit onto US 62; US 65; US 412
5.0 mi·7 min·US 62; US 65; US 412
7
Take the exit onto US 62; US 412
6.1 mi·8 min·US 62; US 412
8
Continue on US 62; US 412
0.5 mi·1 min·US 62; US 412
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 412
56 mi·1 hr 6 min·US 412
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto Butterfield Coach Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Butterfield Coach Road
11
Turn left onto East Emma Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·East Emma Avenue
12
Turn right onto North Commercial Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·North Commercial Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Commercial Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 32 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You could depart anytime in the morning or early afternoon and still have ample time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of around $18, planning is minimal. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the longer 56.4-mile stretch on US 412, ensuring you're topped off before heading into that segment.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.1 miles from Bull Shoals, AR, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.4 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 26 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.1 miles or 1h 20m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springdale, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bull Shoals, 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 Bull Shoals, AR
This is one driving day of about 116.2 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Bull Shoals, 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 412 for about 56.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 116.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AR 178 / Central Boulevard
Turn right onto AR 178 / Central Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
37.9 mi into trip|~49m in|US 62; US 65; US 412
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412
Navigation decision point
3
45.1 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 62; US 65; US 412
Take the exit onto US 62; US 65; US 412
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
56.7 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 412
Turn left onto US 412
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
116.1 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|North Commercial Street
Turn right onto North Commercial Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.55 one way
$35.10 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.26
$38.53
premium
$4.56
$20.86
$41.71
diesel
$5.61
$25.66
$51.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.9
0
$12.20
$5.58
Efficient EV
29.1
0
$10.17
$4.65
EV Truck/SUV
46.5
0
$16.27
$7.44
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Bull Shoals, AR
Night
in Bull Shoals on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springdale, AR
Night
in Springdale on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Harrison, AR
58 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
3 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
2h 32m 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 is largely a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the route utilizing major roadways like US 412 and US 62, along with Central Boulevard towards the end. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 56.4 miles on US 412, offering a consistent pace. The road character remains predominantly that of a standard highway, facilitating steady progress. There aren't significant shifts in road type, meaning you can settle into a comfortable driving rhythm for most of the trip.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.4 mi on US 412.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 412 and US 62. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 178 / Central Boulevard.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bull Shoals, AR to Springdale, AR is easy. At 2h 32m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 178 / Central Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Navigation decision point; at 45.1 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The longest stretch is about 56.4 miles on US 412. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (AR 178 / Central Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Navigation decision point; at 45.1 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Springdale, AR before heading back.
