Centerton, AR to Texarkana, AR is 263.4 miles and takes about 5h 15m via US 71 and I-49, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region both from and to its destination. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With just one recommended stop and a duration well under a full day's travel, this route is a solid option if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without much fuss.
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
131.7 miles from Centerton, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
133.8 mi
2h 38m
I 49
65.7 mi
1h 8m
US 59
44.5 mi
1h
East Collin Raye Drive
8 mi
11m
I 40
4.3 mi
4m
Southwest 14th Street
2.3 mi
3m
East Centerton Boulevard
1.9 mi
2m
Southeast 14th Street
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 133.8 mi, about 2h 38m
Traffic on I-540
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,340 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~91 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 12 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centerton, AR and Texarkana, AR.
1
Start on West Spring Street
91 ft·5 sec·West Spring Street
2
Turn right onto AR 102B
492 ft·17 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto AR 102
1.9 mi·2 min·East Centerton Boulevard
4
Continue on AR 102
2.3 mi·3 min·Southwest 14th Street
5
Continue on AR 102
1.6 mi·2 min·Southeast 14th Street
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp onto US 62; AR 12
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 62; AR 12
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12
66 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
9
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi·4 min·I 40; US 71
10
Take the exit onto US 71
12 mi·14 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
11
Take the exit onto US 71
0.3 mi·44 sec·US 71
Toward US 71 South: Texarkana
12
Turn left onto US 71
121 mi·2 hr 23 min·US 71
13
Turn left onto US 59; US 70; US 71; US 371
8.0 mi·11 min·East Collin Raye Drive
14
Continue on US 59; US 71; US 371
44 mi·1 hr·US 59; US 71; US 371
15
Turn left onto East 24th Street
0.3 mi·32 sec·East 24th Street
16
Turn right onto County Avenue
0.3 mi·42 sec·County Avenue
17
Turn left onto East 20th Street
180 ft·7 sec·East 20th Street
18
Arrive at destination
East 20th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 15m estimated drive time, leaving Centerton in the morning should allow you to reach Texarkana well before evening. The route is efficient enough that you likely won't need more than one planned stop for gas or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as you cover the longest stretch of 133.8 miles on US 71, as services can be more spaced out in certain sections. Plan your departure time to take advantage of the single-day travel window and avoid needing an overnight stay.
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 131.7 miles from Centerton, AR, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.8 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 58 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.7 miles or 2h 28m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Texarkana, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Centerton, 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 Centerton, AR
This is one driving day of about 263.4 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Centerton, 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 71 for about 133.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10 to $20
Texarkana, Texas
Hours: 5:30–11 PM
+19037923222
American Artisans Eatery & Gallery
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour
Final third
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10 to $20
Mena, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+14793941112
Mr. D’s
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Texarkana, Arkansas
Hours: Closed
+18707723819
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 263.3 — 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 102B / North Main Street
Turn right onto AR 102B / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
5
76.5 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
5
263.1 mi into trip|~5h 14m in|County Avenue
Turn right onto County Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
263.3 mi into trip|~5h 15m in|East 20th Street
Turn left onto East 20th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.56 one way
$73.13 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$40.91
$81.82
premium
$4.29
$44.48
$88.95
diesel
$4.80
$49.73
$99.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79
0
$27.66
$12.64
Efficient EV
65.9
0
$23.05
$10.54
EV Truck/SUV
105.4
1
$36.88
$16.86
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Centerton, AR
Late night
in Centerton on Sunday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Texarkana, AR
Late night
in Texarkana on Sunday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 15m 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 94% of the 263.4 miles on interstates and major US highways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on US 71, covering 133.8 miles. The transition from highway to surface roads will happen gradually as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent cruising experience with minimal interruptions for the vast majority of the trip.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133.8 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 49. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 102B / North Main 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 5h 15m drive. You will face about 11 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 (AR 102B / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 71.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.5 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,339 ft321 ft
Total Climb
726 ft
Total Descent
1,618 ft
Highest Point
1,339 ft
~37.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,018 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 Centerton, AR to Texarkana, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
The longest stretch is about 133.8 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 102B / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 71.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.5 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Texarkana, AR before the return drive.
