Clarendon, AR to Conway, AR is 96.3 miles and takes about 1h 59m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the Southeast region of Arkansas, primarily on interstate highways. Given its short duration and straightforward path, this route is ideal for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on I 40, making it a convenient option for travelers looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points within the state. The estimated fuel cost is quite low, making it an economical choice.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.1 miles from Clarendon, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
65.9 mi
1h 8m
AR 33
13 mi
22m
East Walnut
6.2 mi
9m
US 79
5.6 mi
8m
US 63
2.9 mi
4m
East Oak Street
1 mi
1m
US 79B
0.3 mi
<1m
Oak Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 65.9 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarendon, AR and Conway, AR.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
91 ft·7 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·Madison Street
3
Turn right onto US 79B
0.3 mi·42 sec·South 5th Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 79B
0.3 mi·48 sec·US 79B
5
Turn right onto US 79
5.6 mi·8 min·US 79
6
Turn right onto AR 33
9.9 mi·17 min·AR 33
7
Keep slight left at fork onto AR 33
3.2 mi·5 min·AR 33
8
Turn left onto US 70
6.2 mi·9 min·East Walnut
9
Turn right onto US 63
2.9 mi·4 min·US 63
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
66 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 64
13
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft·8 sec
14
Turn left onto US 64
1.0 mi·1 min·East Oak Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Oak Street
16
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·19 sec·Locust Avenue
17
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft·4 sec·Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this route offers a lot of flexibility, so you can depart at your convenience. The estimated fuel cost of $15 suggests you won't need to worry too much about frequent refueling, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Clarendon. Since the longest stretch on I 40 is substantial, plan for a brief stop around the halfway point if you prefer to break up the driving. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 40 to local roads like AR 33 as you approach Conway to ensure you stay on track.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.1 miles from Clarendon, AR, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.9 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 21 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.1 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Conway, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarendon, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clarendon, AR
This is one driving day of about 96.3 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Clarendon, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 65.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 94.9 — 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|Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 79B / South 5th Street
Turn right onto US 79B / South 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 79B
At end of road, turn left onto US 79B
Navigation decision point
5
28.8 mi into trip|~47m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
94.9 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.54 one way
$29.09 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.97
$31.93
premium
$4.56
$17.28
$34.57
diesel
$5.61
$21.26
$42.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.9
0
$10.11
$4.62
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.43
$3.85
EV Truck/SUV
38.5
0
$13.48
$6.16
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Clarendon, AR
Morning
in Clarendon on Tuesday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Conway, AR
Morning
in Conway on Tuesday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live 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
1 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
1h 59m 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 a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey utilizing major highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 65.9 miles on I 40, which means prolonged periods of consistent speed and minimal turns. The profile suggests a predominantly fast-paced drive, allowing for steady progress. While the majority is interstate, you'll also navigate portions of AR 33 and East Walnut, offering a slight change of pace before reaching your destination. Expect a straightforward driving experience with limited complexities.
91% 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: 65.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and AR 33. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Madison Street.
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 96.3 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 79B / South 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 79B): Navigation decision point.
Conway is a college town in the Central region of Arkansas, northwest of Little Rock. Do not be deceived into thinking Conway is just another suburb of Little Rock. The "City of Colleges" has crafted its own unique identity, with beautiful college campuses, peaceful nature trails, access to two gorgeous lakes, one impressive river, and plenty of restaurants and shops to boot.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 96.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.9 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Conway, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 79B / South 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 79B): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Conway, AR before heading back.
