Fayetteville, AR to Arkadelphia, AR is 225.7 miles and takes about 4h 9m via I 40 and South State Highway 7, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a drive that's primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a straightforward journey. With a recommended one-day drive, you can easily complete this route without needing an overnight stop, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.9 miles from Fayetteville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
64.9 mi
1h 4m
South State Highway 7
44.8 mi
50m
I 49
40.4 mi
40m
I 30
19.9 mi
19m
AR 7 South
14.4 mi
16m
Malvern Road
12.2 mi
13m
Hot Springs Bypass
6.1 mi
6m
South Arkansas Avenue
4.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, AR and Arkadelphia, AR.
1
Start on this road
320 ft·28 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South College Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·South College Avenue
3
Continue on South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi·53 sec·South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
4
Turn slight left onto South School Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·South School Avenue
5
Turn right onto AR 180
0.9 mi·2 min·West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto AR 16
1.4 mi·2 min·South Razorback Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on AR 265
0.4 mi·40 sec·South Cato Springs Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·19 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 49
40 mi·40 min·I 49
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
11
Merge onto I 40; US 71
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40; US 71
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 78Toward US 64
13
Turn left onto US 64
1.6 mi·2 min·US 64
14
Continue on US 64; Hwy 326
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
15
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·South Arkansas Avenue
16
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7
0.2 mi·29 sec·North State Highway 7
17
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·AR 7 South
18
Continue on AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
19
Turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·17 sec·AR 7
20
Turn left onto AR 7
45 mi·50 min·South State Highway 7
21
Enter roundabout onto Hot Springs Bypass
222 ft·2 sec·Hot Springs Bypass
22
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
6.0 mi·6 min·Hot Springs Bypass
23
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi·2 min·Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
25
Keep slight left at fork
81 ft·8 sec
26
Turn left onto US 270
0.6 mi·46 sec·Malvern Avenue
27
Continue on US 270
12 mi·13 min·Malvern Road
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
29
Merge onto I 30
20 mi·19 min·I 30
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward AR 7: Caddo Valley, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs
31
Keep slight left at fork
135 ft·7 sec
Toward AR 7: Caddo Valley, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs
32
Turn left onto AR 7
0.9 mi·1 min·Valley Street
33
Continue on US 67; AR 7
3.8 mi·5 min·North 10th Street
34
Turn left onto US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51
0.2 mi·17 sec·Caddo Street
35
Arrive at destination
US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51
Trip Plan
Consider starting your drive in Fayetteville early in the morning to maximize daylight hours and avoid potential midday traffic. With a total drive time of just over 4 hours, you won't need to break this trip into multiple days, offering flexibility. Plan for one main stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to refuel and stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from I-40 to South State Highway 7, as services might be less frequent on the latter.
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 112.9 miles from Fayetteville, AR, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.9 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 50 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.9 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arkadelphia, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, AR
This is one driving day of about 225.7 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Fayetteville, 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 64.9 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 220.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South College Avenue
Turn left onto South College Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|AR 180 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Turn right onto AR 180 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in|AR 16 / South Razorback Road
Turn left onto AR 16 / South Razorback Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
44 mi into trip|~48m 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
7
220.9 mi into trip|~4h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AR 7: Caddo Valley, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 7: Caddo Valley, Arkadelphia, Hot Spr...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.09 one way
$68.17 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$37.42
$74.84
premium
$4.56
$40.51
$81.02
diesel
$5.61
$49.83
$99.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.7
0
$23.70
$10.83
Efficient EV
56.4
0
$19.75
$9.03
EV Truck/SUV
90.3
1
$31.60
$14.44
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Fayetteville, AR
Night
in Fayetteville on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arkadelphia, AR
Night
in Arkadelphia on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 heavily highway-focused, with 83% of your travel on major roads like I-40 and I-49. You'll experience long stretches of consistent driving, including a continuous segment of 64.9 miles on I-40. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of South State Highway 7 offers a change of pace, moving you away from the busiest interstates. The overall feel is efficient, designed for making good time across the state.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and South State Highway 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South College Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 225.7 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 0.1 miles (South College Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (AR 180 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (AR 16 / South Razorback Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Fayetteville, AR to Arkadelphia, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Little Rock
44 mi in|~48m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 225.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.9 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.
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 Arkadelphia, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South College Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (AR 180 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (AR 16 / South Razorback Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Arkadelphia, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
