Carlisle to Springdale is 225.6 miles and takes about 3h 57m via I 40 and I 49, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region. Given its mostly highway profile and a single recommended day, this route is a straightforward connection between two points. You'll spend almost all your time on major interstates, making it a practical choice for getting from A to B efficiently.
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
112.8 miles from Carlisle, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
169.7 mi
2h 52m
I 49
46.4 mi
47m
South Thompson Street
3.3 mi
5m
Fulbright Expressway
2.2 mi
2m
North College Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Bobby L Glover Highway
0.6 mi
1m
West Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
North Williams Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 169.7 mi, about 2h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlisle, AR and Springdale, AR.
1
Start on North Court Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Court Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto West 4th Street
363 ft·12 sec·West 4th Street
3
Turn right onto North Williams Avenue
0.4 mi·54 sec·North Williams Avenue
4
Continue on West 10th Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·West 10th Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto AR 13
0.6 mi·1 min·Bobby L Glover Highway
6
Continue on AR 13
0.2 mi·20 sec·State Highway 13
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
8
Merge onto I 40
170 mi·2 hr 52 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
10
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
2.2 mi·2 min·Fulbright Expressway
Exit 67BToward US 71B: Fayetteville Business DistrictUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on US 71B
1.3 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
13
Continue on US 71B
3.3 mi·5 min·South Thompson Street
14
Turn right onto West Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·West Johnson Avenue
15
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
119 ft·5 sec·North Commercial Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Commercial Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3h 57m drive, aim for an early morning departure from Carlisle to avoid any potential midday traffic. With only 225.6 miles and a fuel cost around $33, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. The longest stretch without a major break is 169.7 miles on I 40, so plan a fuel or rest stop before you reach that point. Consider stopping around the halfway mark to stretch your legs and grab a quick bite before continuing on I 49.
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 112.8 miles from Carlisle, AR, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 169.7 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 50 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.8 miles or 1h 56m 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 10m
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 Carlisle, 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 Carlisle, AR
This is one driving day of about 225.6 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Carlisle, 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 169.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 218.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West 4th Street
At end of road, turn left onto West 4th Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|North Williams Avenue
Turn right onto North Williams Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|AR 13 / Bobby L Glover Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AR 13 / Bobby L Glover Highway
Navigation decision point
5
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
218.2 mi into trip|~3h 44m in|US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.12 one way
$70.24 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.72
$77.43
premium
$4.71
$41.84
$83.69
diesel
$6.18
$54.88
$109.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.7
0
$23.69
$10.83
Efficient EV
56.4
0
$19.74
$9.02
EV Truck/SUV
90.2
1
$31.58
$14.44
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Carlisle, AR
Morning
in Carlisle on Saturday
Local time
7:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 20 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Springdale, AR
Morning
in Springdale on Saturday
Local time
7:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
N 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
85°F
Delaware, AR
113 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
3h 57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 is predominantly highway, with 97% of the 225.6 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 169.7 miles on I 40 before transitioning to I 49. Surface roads, like South Thompson Street, come into play only for the final portion of the trip. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate these major roadways.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 169.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near West 4th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 57m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (West 4th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (North Williams Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (AR 13 / Bobby L Glover Highway): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 169.7 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: at 0.2 miles (West 4th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (North Williams Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (AR 13 / Bobby L Glover Highway): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Springdale, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
