If you are planning a quick getaway within Arkansas, the 98.6-mile trek from Clarksville to Hot Springs is an efficient option that typically takes about 1 hour and 57 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating through the southeastern part of the state, you will rely primarily on I-40 and AR-7 South. It is a straightforward drive that balances highway speed with local road access, making it a reliable choice for travelers who value a simple, direct path between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.3 miles from Clarksville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South State Highway 7
44.8 mi
50m
I 40
19.1 mi
19m
AR 7 South
14.4 mi
16m
Park Avenue
6.2 mi
9m
South Arkansas Avenue
4.9 mi
5m
West Main Street
3.5 mi
5m
US 64
1.6 mi
2m
South Rogers Street
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
South State Highway 7
— 44.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, AR and Hot Springs, AR.
1
Start on AR 103
90 ft·9 sec·North College Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 64; AR 103
0.4 mi·40 sec·West Main Street
3
Turn right onto AR 103
1.5 mi·2 min·South Rogers Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 40 East
5
Merge onto I 40
19 mi·19 min·I 40
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 78Toward US 64
7
Turn left onto US 64
1.6 mi·2 min·US 64
8
Continue on US 64; Hwy 326
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
9
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·South Arkansas Avenue
10
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7
0.2 mi·29 sec·North State Highway 7
11
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·AR 7 South
12
Continue on AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
13
Turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·17 sec·AR 7
14
Turn left onto AR 7
45 mi·50 min·South State Highway 7
15
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
98 ft·1 sec·Park Avenue
16
Continue on AR 7
6.1 mi·9 min·Park Avenue
17
Continue on AR 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Central Avenue
18
Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B
429 ft·20 sec·West Grand Avenue
19
Continue on US 70B; US 270B
348 ft·12 sec·West Grand Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
US 70B; US 270B
Trip Plan
Since this journey is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though starting your day early helps you maximize your time once you arrive in Hot Springs. Because there are no designated stops required for the 98.6-mile distance, you can easily complete the drive in one consistent push. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Clarksville to ensure your $15 estimate holds steady throughout the trip. Given that the route relies heavily on AR 7 South, be prepared for changing road conditions as you move off the interstate. Staying alert during that 44.8-mile stretch on the state highway will ensure you maintain a steady and safe pace until you reach your final stop.
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 49.3 miles from Clarksville, AR, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.8 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 22 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.3 miles or 58m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hot Springs, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarksville, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clarksville, AR
This is one driving day of about 98.6 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Clarksville, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South State Highway 7 for about 44.8 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 26.3 — 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|US 64; AR 103 / West Main Street
Turn left onto US 64; AR 103 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 East
Navigation decision point
Toward I 40 East
5
21.3 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78
Toward US 64
4
21.5 mi into trip|~23m in|US 64
Turn left onto US 64
Navigation decision point
4
26.3 mi into trip|~31m in|AR 7 / South Arkansas Avenue
Turn right onto AR 7 / South Arkansas Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.89 one way
$29.78 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.35
$32.69
premium
$4.56
$17.70
$35.40
diesel
$5.61
$21.77
$43.54
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: 34.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.6
0
$10.35
$4.73
Efficient EV
24.7
0
$8.63
$3.94
EV Truck/SUV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (65% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Clarksville, AR
Late night
in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hot Springs, AR
Late night
in Hot Springs on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 5 to 10 mph10% 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
11 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 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?
Expect a drive that leans heavily into highway travel, with 82% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. Your trip features a mix of interstate transit and the winding nature of South State Highway 7. You will encounter a significant 44.8-mile stretch on South State Highway 7, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the route. As you transition between I-40 and the state highway system, the driving experience shifts from the steady pace of the interstate to the more localized flow of the Arkansas highway network. It is a functional, highway-focused drive that keeps you moving toward your destination with minimal technical complexity.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.8 mi on South State Highway 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South State Highway 7 and I 40. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 64; AR 103 / West 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 1h 57m 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 64; AR 103 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
519 ft369 ft
Total Climb
150 ft
Total Descent
96 ft
Highest Point
519 ft
~4.1 mi in
Elevation Range
150 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 98.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 44.8 miles on South State Highway 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (US 64; AR 103 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hot Springs, AR before heading back.
