Des Arc to Conway is 63.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 33 minutes via US 64, AR 38, and State Highway 13, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Arkansas's Southeast region, offering a straightforward drive. It’s a practical option if you're looking for an easy connection between these two points without a lot of fuss. Plan for a day trip; the duration makes it easy to complete with plenty of time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
31.6 miles from Des Arc, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 64
33.5 mi
43m
AR 38
14.1 mi
20m
State Highway 13
5.8 mi
10m
Cypress Lake Road
4.3 mi
7m
West Center Street
2.4 mi
4m
State Highway 31
1.6 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
North 5th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 64
— 33.5 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Arc, AR and Conway, AR.
1
Start on North 3rd
36 ft·3 sec·North 3rd
2
Turn right onto AR 323
0.1 mi·21 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto North 5th Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·North 5th Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 38
3.8 mi·5 min·AR 38
5
Turn right onto AR 38
10 mi·15 min·AR 38
6
Turn right onto AR 13
5.8 mi·10 min·State Highway 13
7
Continue on AR 13
4.3 mi·7 min·Cypress Lake Road
8
At end of road, turn right onto AR 31
1.6 mi·2 min·State Highway 31
9
Continue on AR 31
0.2 mi·17 sec·South Main Street
10
Continue on AR 31
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
11
Turn left onto I 57 Business
2.4 mi·4 min·West Center Street
12
Continue on US 64
33 mi·43 min·US 64
13
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Oak Street
14
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·19 sec·Locust Avenue
15
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft·4 sec·Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour 33 minute duration, you can leave Des Arc anytime and still arrive in Conway well before dark. There are no recommended stops, so flexibility is key; feel free to pull over if you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the estimated cost is only $9 for the entire 63.2-mile trip. A good tip is to fill up before you leave Des Arc to ensure you have a full tank for the drive and any local travel upon arrival in Conway.
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 31.6 miles from Des Arc, AR, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.5 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 14 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.6 miles or 51m 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 20m
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 Des Arc, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Arc, AR
This is one driving day of about 63.2 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Des Arc, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 64 for about 33.5 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 24.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AR 323 / Main Street
Turn right onto AR 323 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North 5th Street
Turn right onto North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|AR 38
At end of road, turn left onto AR 38
Navigation decision point
4
14.5 mi into trip|~22m in|AR 13 / State Highway 13
Turn right onto AR 13 / State Highway 13
Navigation decision point
4
24.6 mi into trip|~39m in|AR 31 / State Highway 31
At end of road, turn right onto AR 31 / State Highway 31
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.77 one way
$17.55 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$9.82
$19.63
premium
$4.29
$10.67
$21.34
diesel
$4.80
$11.93
$23.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19
0
$6.64
$3.03
Efficient EV
15.8
0
$5.53
$2.53
EV Truck/SUV
25.3
0
$8.85
$4.04
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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 Jul 21, 2026
Origin
Des Arc, AR
Morning
in Des Arc on Tuesday
Local time
10:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 10:52PM CDT until July 21 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 20 at 10:52PM CDT until July 21 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK
Destination
Conway, AR
Morning
in Conway on Tuesday
Local time
10:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 20 at 10:52PM CDT until July 21 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 20 at 10:52PM CDT until July 21 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK
101°F
Ward, AR
32 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
1h 33m 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?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 87% of the 63.2 miles on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 33.5 miles on US 64 before transitioning to AR 38 and State Highway 13. Expect mostly rural cruising with minimal urban merging. The shift from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you approach your destination.
87% 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: 33.5 mi on US 64.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 64 and AR 38. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 323 / Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 33m 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 (AR 323 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AR 38): 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.
The longest stretch is about 33.5 miles on US 64. 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 (AR 323 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AR 38): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Conway, AR before heading back.
