This 313.9-mile journey from Caraway, Arkansas, to Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a straightforward drive that can be comfortably completed in about 5 hours and 49 minutes. Primarily utilizing major interstates, this route is well-suited for a single day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. With an estimated fuel cost of $47, it's an economical option for exploring more of Arkansas. The drive remains within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience throughout. Expect a highway-focused trip with minimal detours.
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
156.9 miles from Caraway, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
113.9 mi
1h 53m
I 57
74.5 mi
1h 16m
I 49
40.3 mi
40m
US 64
33 mi
42m
Highway 18
19.4 mi
28m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
East State Street
5.7 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 113.9 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caraway, AR and Fayetteville, AR.
1
Start on AR 158
5.7 mi·10 min·East State Street
2
Continue on AR 135
2.2 mi·3 min·AR 135
3
Turn left onto AR 135
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Rogers
4
Turn left onto US 78; AR 18
19 mi·28 min·Highway 18
5
Turn left onto AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
6
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
8
Merge onto I 57
75 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57
9
Take the exit onto US 64
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 64
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
33 mi·41 min·US 64
Toward US 64 West: Conway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
12
Merge onto I 40; US 65
114 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 40; US 65
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
14
Continue on I 49
40 mi·40 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward AR 112, AR 265
16
Turn slight right onto AR 265
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Cato Springs Road
17
Continue on South Razorback Road
1.4 mi·2 min·South Razorback Road
18
Turn right onto AR 180
0.9 mi·2 min·West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto South School Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·South School Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn slight right onto South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi·52 sec·South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
21
Continue on South College Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·South College Avenue
22
Turn right onto East Center Street
147 ft·8 sec·East Center Street
23
Turn right
79 ft·5 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 49-minute duration, an early morning departure from Caraway is recommended to maximize your daylight hours in Fayetteville. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel; the 113.9-mile stretch on I-40 is a good place to break up the drive. The fuel cost is estimated at $47, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your pacing, but paying attention to the transitions between I-57, I-40, and I-49 will help you navigate smoothly.
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 156.9 miles from Caraway, AR, or about 3h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.9 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 69 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.9 miles or 3h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Caraway, 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 Caraway, AR
This is one driving day of about 313.9 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Caraway, 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 113.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 47.4 and 313.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
47.4 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
122.3 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|US 64
Take the exit onto US 64 toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe,...
5
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 toward US 64 West: Conway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 64 West: Conway
5
310.2 mi into trip|~5h 41m in
Take the exit toward AR 112, AR 265
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 112, AR 265
6
313.2 mi into trip|~5h 47m in|South School Avenue
Turn left onto South School Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.58 one way
$87.15 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$48.75
$97.51
premium
$4.29
$53.00
$106.01
diesel
$4.80
$59.27
$118.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.2
1
$32.96
$15.07
Efficient EV
78.5
0
$27.47
$12.56
EV Truck/SUV
125.6
1
$43.95
$20.09
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Caraway, AR
Night
in Caraway on Saturday
Local time
9:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fayetteville, AR
Night
in Fayetteville on Saturday
Local time
9:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph26% chanceLive forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 49m 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?
Your drive will be predominantly on interstates, with 94% of the 313.9 miles being highway travel. This means you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising, making good time on stretches like the longest uninterrupted segment of 113.9 miles on I-40. While the profile is highway-focused, the shift between I-57, I-40, and I-49 will provide subtle changes in scenery and traffic patterns as you progress westward. Expect a consistent driving rhythm for much of the trip, ideal for covering distance efficiently.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 57. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 47.4 miles in.
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 313.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 122.3 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.7 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,696 ft227 ft
Total Climb
1,805 ft
Total Descent
625 ft
Highest Point
1,696 ft
~291.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,469 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 Caraway, AR to Fayetteville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Conway along the way.
Fayetteville is a city of 87,000 people (2018) in the Ozarks and the Ozarks Region of Arkansas.
It is home for the main campus of the University of Arkansas, and has many characteristics of a college town, including many bars, restaurants and specialty stores. It serves as a regional hub for live music and performances, with several venues. Fayetteville is also part of the booming Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers-Bentonville metropolitan area in Northwest Arkansas, and has experienced dramatic growth since the 1990s.
Fayetteville's core area of interest centers around the historic downtown square and Dickson Street, which runs between Highway 71B (also known as College Avenue) and the University of Arkansas campus, and is the "main drag" for restaurants and bars.
Top landmarks
•Campus of the University of Arkansas — College campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas, US
•Chi Omega Greek Theatre — outdoor theater on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas
•Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery — military cemetery in Arkansas
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 313.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.9 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Fayetteville, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 122.3 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.7 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fayetteville, AR before the return drive.
