Spanning 199.3 miles across Arkansas, this trip from Cave City to Fayetteville is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 4 hours and 14 minutes to complete. Because the total drive time is manageable, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion, though you should factor in about $30 for fuel costs to cover the distance. You will primarily navigate via T & C Boulevard, US 62, and US 412, moving through the Southeast region of the state. Since the route requires only one recommended stop, you can easily maintain a steady pace without needing an overnight stay. It is a practical path for those looking to connect these two Arkansas locations efficiently while keeping travel logistics simple.
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
99.6 miles from Cave City, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
T & C Boulevard
49.9 mi
56m
US 62
41.4 mi
55m
US 412
40.2 mi
46m
Shield-Hopper Bypass
19.1 mi
22m
AR 45
18.9 mi
30m
Ash Flat Drive
11.9 mi
17m
North Main Street
11.1 mi
16m
Shied-Hopper Bypass
5.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
T & C Boulevard
— 49.9 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave City, AR and Fayetteville, AR.
1
Start on West Center Street
12 ft·7 sec·West Center Street
2
Turn left onto US 167
11 mi·16 min·North Main Street
3
Continue on US 167
12 mi·17 min·Ash Flat Drive
4
Turn left onto US 62; US 412
50 mi·56 min·T & C Boulevard
5
Turn left onto US 62; US 412
332 ft·4 sec·Shield-Hopper Highway
6
Continue on US 62; US 412
5.4 mi·6 min·Shied-Hopper Bypass
7
Continue on US 62; US 412
19 mi·22 min·Shield-Hopper Bypass
8
Turn right onto US 62; US 412
23 mi·25 min·US 62; US 412
9
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412
7.2 mi·11 min·US 62; US 65; US 412
10
Take the exit onto US 62; US 65; US 412
5.0 mi·7 min·US 62; US 65; US 412
11
Take the exit onto US 62; US 412
6.1 mi·8 min·US 62; US 412
12
Continue on US 62; US 412
0.5 mi·1 min·US 62; US 412
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 412
40 mi·46 min·US 412
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto US 412B
0.5 mi·54 sec·US 412B
15
Turn slight left onto AR 45
19 mi·30 min·AR 45
16
At end of road, turn right onto AR 45
0.4 mi·1 min·East Lafayette Street
17
Turn left onto North College Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·North College Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto East Center Street
147 ft·8 sec·East Center Street
19
Turn right
79 ft·5 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 199.3-mile journey, aim to depart early in the day to allow for a comfortable arrival in Fayetteville before evening. Given the single recommended stop, plan to take your break near the midpoint of the route to maximize your efficiency behind the wheel. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is approximately $30, so it is wise to top off your tank before leaving Cave City to avoid unnecessary detours. Since the drive is under five hours, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions along US 62 and US 412. Stay mindful of the 49.9-mile stretch on T & C Boulevard, as this is your longest period of continuous driving.
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 99.6 miles from Cave City, AR, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.9 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 44 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.6 miles or 2h 1m 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 Fayetteville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cave City, 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 Cave City, AR
This is one driving day of about 199.3 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Cave City, 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 T & C Boulevard for about 49.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 198.8 — 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|US 167 / North Main Street
Turn left onto US 167 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
22.9 mi into trip|~34m in|US 62; US 412 / T & C Boulevard
Turn left onto US 62; US 412 / T & C Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
120 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|US 62; US 65; US 412
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412
Navigation decision point
5
138.8 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|US 412
Turn left onto US 412
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
198.8 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|North College Avenue
Turn left onto North College Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.10 one way
$60.20 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.04
$66.08
premium
$4.56
$35.77
$71.54
diesel
$5.61
$44.00
$88.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.8
0
$20.93
$9.57
Efficient EV
49.8
0
$17.44
$7.97
EV Truck/SUV
79.7
0
$27.90
$12.76
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Cave City, AR
Morning
in Cave City on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fayetteville, AR
Morning
in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Sunny
N 10 to 15 mph0% 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
16 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing highway travel with local road navigation. With roughly 51% of the journey spent on highways, you will experience varied road conditions throughout the 4-hour drive. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 49.9 miles along T & C Boulevard. As you transition between the specified main roads, expect the driving environment to shift from regional thoroughfares to more localized transit. The overall experience is functional and varied, requiring you to remain alert as the road character changes from the initial long stretches to the subsequent segments of the trip.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.9 mi on T & C Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 167 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 14m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 167 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (US 62; US 412 / T & C Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 120 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 199.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 49.9 miles on T & C Boulevard. 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 167 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (US 62; US 412 / T & C Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 120 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Navigation decision point.
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 Fayetteville, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
