This 174.3-mile drive from Conway to Lowell, Arkansas, is a straightforward, primarily highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 3 hours. With 98% of the route on highways, it’s a quick trip, making it ideal as a single-day adventure. You'll be looking at an estimated fuel cost of $26 for this leg. The drive is almost entirely on major interstates, offering a consistent pace. Since it's a relatively short distance within the Southeast region of Arkansas, you won't need an overnight stop. This route is designed for efficiency, getting you to your destination without much fuss.
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
87.2 miles from Conway, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
112.4 mi
1h 52m
I 49
57.7 mi
59m
Harkrider Street
1.3 mi
1m
West Monroe Avenue
1 mi
1m
Skyline Drive
0.4 mi
<1m
Oak Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Jackson Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Locust Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 112.4 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Conway, AR and Lowell, AR.
1
Start on Main Street
104 ft·6 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·14 sec·Locust Avenue
3
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·Oak Street
4
Turn left onto US 64; US 65B
0.5 mi·45 sec·Harkrider Street
5
Enter roundabout onto US 64; US 65B
149 ft·2 sec·Harkrider Street
6
Continue on US 64; US 65B
0.2 mi·20 sec·Harkrider Street
7
Enter roundabout onto US 64; US 65B
148 ft·2 sec·Harkrider Street
8
Continue on US 64; US 65B
0.5 mi·44 sec·Harkrider Street
9
Continue on US 65B
0.4 mi·34 sec·Skyline Drive
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
112 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 40
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
13
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
11 mi·12 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
185 ft·6 sec
17
Turn right onto AR 264
1.0 mi·1 min·West Monroe Avenue
18
Turn left onto Jackson Street
500 ft·21 sec·Jackson Street
19
Arrive at destination
Jackson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can depart in the morning and arrive at your destination with plenty of daylight left. Consider leaving shortly after sunrise to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially on the interstate segments. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 112.4 miles, you can easily plan your breaks around this. A specific tip for this route: keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 112.4-mile mark on I-40; it's the longest stretch, and planning your next fuel stop just after this point will ensure you're always covered.
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 87.2 miles from Conway, AR, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.4 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 38 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.2 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lowell, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Conway, 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 Conway, AR
This is one driving day of about 174.3 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Conway, 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 112.4 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 173.3 — 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|Locust Avenue
Turn right onto Locust Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in|US 64; US 65B / Harkrider Street
Enter roundabout onto US 64; US 65B / Harkrider Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|US 64; US 65B / Harkrider Street
Enter roundabout onto US 64; US 65B / Harkrider Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
161.6 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|I 49; US 62; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
173.3 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.32 one way
$52.65 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.90
$57.79
premium
$4.56
$31.28
$62.57
diesel
$5.61
$38.48
$76.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.3
0
$18.30
$8.37
Efficient EV
43.6
0
$15.25
$6.97
EV Truck/SUV
69.7
0
$24.40
$11.16
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 15, 2026
Origin
Conway, AR
Late night
in Conway on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lowell, AR
Late night
in Lowell on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Ozark, AR
87 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
4 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 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of your journey, with 98% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-40 and I-49. The longest uninterrupted stretch clocks in at 112.4 miles on I-40, meaning you can settle in and maintain a steady speed for a significant portion of the trip. This kind of profile suggests a smooth, consistent driving experience, perfect for covering ground efficiently. While the focus is on high-speed travel, you'll start on Harkrider Street before merging onto the interstate system.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Locust Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 174.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Locust Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 64; US 65B / Harkrider Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (US 64; US 65B / Harkrider Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,592 ft306 ft
Total Climb
1,626 ft
Total Descent
594 ft
Highest Point
1,592 ft
~137 mi in
Elevation Range
1,286 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 174.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112.4 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: near the start (Locust Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 64; US 65B / Harkrider Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (US 64; US 65B / Harkrider Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Lowell, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
