Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
180 mi
290 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Delaware, AR
Christopher Santiago
Waldo, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Delaware to Waldo, Arkansas, covers 180 miles through the state’s southeastern region. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 3 hours and 36 minutes, making this an easy trip to complete in a single day. Your journey primarily follows Highway 7, including the AR 7 South and South Scenic 7 Drive segments. Expect to spend roughly $24 on fuel for the trek. Because the route is relatively straightforward, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics, allowing you the flexibility to complete the trip at your own pace.
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
90 miles from Delaware, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 30 | 51.3 mi | 51m |
| South State Highway 7 | 44.8 mi | 50m |
| US 278 | 17.9 mi | 26m |
| US 371 | 17 mi | 25m |
| AR 7 South | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| Malvern Road | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| AR 22 | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Hot Springs Bypass | 6.1 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware, AR and Waldo, AR.
Start on Fire Dept Loop
Turn left onto AR 22
Continue on AR 7
Continue on AR 7
Continue on AR 7; AR 10
Turn right onto AR 7
Turn left onto AR 7
Enter roundabout onto Hot Springs Bypass
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
Merge onto US 70
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto US 270
Continue on US 270
Take the exit
Merge onto I 30
Take the exit
Turn left onto AR 19
Turn right onto US 67; US 371
Turn right onto US 371
At end of road, turn left onto US 278; US 371
Turn left onto US 371
Arrive at destination
Since this is a one-day trip with a 3-hour and 36-minute duration, you have plenty of freedom to choose your departure time. You will only need to plan for one major stop along the way to break up the drive. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, it is wise to keep your focus sharp and avoid rushing through the segments of AR 7 South. Budgeting around $24 for fuel is a safe estimate, but always check your tank before heading out to account for potential variations in local pricing. Since there are no long highway stretches to rely on, prioritize a steady, consistent pace to ensure a comfortable arrival in Waldo.
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.
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 40 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90 miles or 1h 46m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waldo, AR than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Delaware, 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 Delaware, AR
This is one driving day of about 180 miles and 3h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 90 miles from Delaware, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 69.3 and 142.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto Hot Springs Bypass
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward AR 19: Prescott
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto AR 19 / Delight Highway
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$27.18 one way
$54.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $29.84 | $59.68 |
| premium | $4.56 | $32.31 | $64.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.74 | $79.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54 | 0 | $18.90 | $8.64 |
| Efficient EV | 45 | 0 | $15.75 | $7.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72 | 0 | $25.20 | $11.52 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Delaware on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Waldo on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
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 navigate local roads for the entire 180-mile duration. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches on Highway 7, so you should anticipate frequent adjustments to your speed and steering. This profile makes for a more technical experience that keeps you engaged with the road layout as you transition through the landscape. If you prefer active driving over cruise-control travel, this specific stretch offers a hands-on experience.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and South State Highway 7. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 69.3 miles in near Hot Springs Bypass.
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 180 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: at 69.3 miles (Hot Springs Bypass): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 77.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 90.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,004 ft
Total Descent
1,005 ft
Highest Point
901 ft
~52.5 mi in
Elevation Range
690 ft
Delaware has beautiful beaches and parks. The more popular beaches are in: Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach. Most parks in Delaware's very extensive and well maintained park system are free or low-cost. The First State National Historical Park a group of historical sites that cover the early colonial history of Delaware and the role Delaware played in the establishment of the United States, leading up to it being the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. It is one of the smallest states in the United States. It has beautiful beaches, and activities vary from business-friendly Wilmington to the rural southern parts of the state.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 180 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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