Farmington to Benton is 207 miles and takes about 3h 34m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a pretty straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B. You won't encounter much in the way of major changes in scenery or terrain, so plan for a consistent driving experience.
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
103.5 miles from Farmington, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
134.4 mi
2h 14m
Fulbright Expressway
41.9 mi
42m
I 430
12.3 mi
14m
US 70
12.1 mi
13m
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
1.7 mi
2m
West Main Street
1.4 mi
2m
AR 35
1.1 mi
1m
I-30 Frontage Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 134.4 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington, AR and Benton, AR.
1
Start on US 62
1.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on US 62
1.7 mi·2 min·West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto South Shiloh Drive
328 ft·16 sec·South Shiloh Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·13 sec
5
Merge onto I 49; US 71
42 mi·42 min·Fulbright Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
7
Merge onto I 40; US 71
134 mi·2 hr 14 min·I 40; US 71
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·41 sec
Toward I 430: TexarkanaUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 430
12 mi·14 min·I 430
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70
12 mi·13 min·US 70
Exit 129BToward I 30 West: TexarkanaUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
12
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.4 mi·37 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
13
Turn slight right onto AR 5
0.2 mi·28 sec·Old Hot Springs Highway
14
Turn left onto AR 35
1.1 mi·1 min·AR 35
15
Turn right onto East Sevier Street
383 ft·14 sec·East Sevier Street
16
Turn right onto North Main Street
14 ft·0 sec·North Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Leaving Farmington in the morning, perhaps around 9 AM, should get you into Benton by early afternoon, leaving plenty of time for activities. The longest stretch without a major exit is 134.4 miles on I 40, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks to suit your needs.
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 103.5 miles from Farmington, AR, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.4 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 46 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.5 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Farmington, 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 Farmington, AR
This is one driving day of about 207 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Farmington, 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 134.4 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 3 and 193.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3 mi into trip|~4m in|South Shiloh Drive
Turn right onto South Shiloh Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
3.3 mi into trip|~5m in|I 49; US 71 / Fulbright Expressway
Merge onto I 49; US 71 / Fulbright Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
45.2 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
6
180.2 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 430: Texarkana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 430: Texarkana
8
193.1 mi into trip|~3h 17m in|US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 toward I 30 West: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 129B
Toward I 30 West: Texarkana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.74 one way
$57.47 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$32.15
$64.30
premium
$4.29
$34.95
$69.91
diesel
$4.80
$39.09
$78.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.1
0
$21.74
$9.94
Efficient EV
51.8
0
$18.11
$8.28
EV Truck/SUV
82.8
1
$28.98
$13.25
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Farmington, AR
Late night
in Farmington on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 0 to 5 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:40PM CDT until July 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Benton, AR
Late night
in Benton on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:40PM CDT until July 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
95°F
London, AR
104 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
3h 34m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hot Springs National Park
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 207
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is almost entirely highway driving, with 98% of the 207 miles on major roads like I 40, Fulbright Expressway, and I 430. You'll experience one long stretch of 134.4 miles on I 40, which means you can settle in for a good cruise. Expect a high concentration of exits and on-ramps for a significant portion of the drive as you navigate these primary arteries.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 134.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Fulbright Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near South Shiloh Drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 207 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (South Shiloh Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 49; US 71 / Fulbright Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,606 ft270 ft
Total Climb
831 ft
Total Descent
1,610 ft
Highest Point
1,606 ft
~14.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,336 ft
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 Farmington, AR to Benton, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 207 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m 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 134.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Benton, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (South Shiloh Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 49; US 71 / Fulbright Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Benton, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
