If you are looking to travel from Conway to Tennessee, Arkansas, expect a journey covering 120.7 miles. This trip typically takes about 1 hour and 58 minutes to complete, making it a straightforward drive that is easily accomplished in a single day. You will primarily navigate via Locust Avenue, Oak Street, and Central Landing Boulevard rather than utilizing major interstates. Budgeting around $16 for fuel should cover your needs for this excursion. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Southeast region of Arkansas, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.2 miles from Conway, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 530
43.9 mi
45m
I 40
25.9 mi
26m
Highway 530
22.9 mi
26m
US 425
15.7 mi
20m
US 65
4.6 mi
6m
West Gaines Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Highway 11
2 mi
2m
Oak Street
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 530
— 43.9 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Conway, AR and Tennessee, 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
1.1 mi·2 min·Oak Street
4
Turn right onto Central Landing Boulevard
0.2 mi·34 sec·Central Landing Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
6
Merge onto I 40; US 65
26 mi·26 min·I 40; US 65
7
Take the exit onto US 65
4.6 mi·6 min·US 65
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
44 mi·45 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·52 sec
Exit 44Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
10
Continue on AR 530
23 mi·26 min·Highway 530
11
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11
2.0 mi·2 min·Highway 11
12
Turn right onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
13
Take the exit
226 ft·6 sec
14
Turn slight right onto US 278
2.6 mi·4 min·West Gaines Avenue
15
Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Tennessee Spur Road
16
Arrive at destination
Tennessee Spur Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour trip with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the 1 hour and 58 minute duration is manageable, remember that the lack of highway segments means your travel time is highly dependent on local traffic conditions. Keep your $16 fuel budget in mind before you head out, as you will want to ensure you have enough gas to navigate the constant turns without needing to hunt for stations along the way. Because there are no designated stops on this route, consider taking a break before you depart Conway to ensure you are ready for a continuous two-hour stint on local roads. Stay alert for the frequent transitions between Locust Avenue, Oak Street, and Central Landing Boulevard to keep your navigation seamless.
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 60.2 miles from Conway, AR, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.9 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 26 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.2 miles or 1h 5m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tennessee, 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 120.4 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Conway, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 530 for about 43.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 120.1 — 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
6
32.2 mi into trip|~36m in|I 530; US 65; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 44
Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
5
99.8 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|AR 11 / Highway 11
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11 / Highway 11
Navigation decision point
4
120.1 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|Tennessee Spur Road
Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.18 one way
$36.37 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.96
$39.92
premium
$4.56
$21.61
$43.22
diesel
$5.61
$26.58
$53.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.86
$7.71
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Night
in Conway on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tennessee, AR
Night
in Tennessee on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Walnut Ridge, AR
60 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 17m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will be navigating local roads for the entire 120.7-mile duration. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on Locust Avenue is effectively zero miles, you should expect a constant rhythm of turns and adjustments. This is not a route for cruise control; it is a technical, hands-on experience that requires you to stay engaged with the road layout. The character of the drive remains consistent, prioritizing local connectivity over high-speed travel.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.9 mi on I 530.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 530 and I 40. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Locust Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Locust Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 32.2 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Conway, AR to Tennessee, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
Monticello
76.1 mi in|~1h 22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 120.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 43.9 miles on I 530. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 32.2 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tennessee, AR before heading back.
