Connecting Fayetteville to Conway, this 158.9-mile journey across Arkansas is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Because the route is highly efficient, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $24 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating primarily via I-49 and I-40, you will move through the Southeast region of the state. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that balances speed and convenience for travelers heading between these two cities.
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
79.5 miles from Fayetteville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
112.1 mi
1h 52m
I 49
40.4 mi
40m
South Razorback Road
1.4 mi
2m
Harkrider Street
1.3 mi
1m
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
Oak Street
0.4 mi
<1m
South Cato Springs Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 112.1 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, AR and Conway, 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
112 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 40; US 71
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 65 North, US 65B South
13
Keep slight right at fork
498 ft·12 sec
14
Turn slight right onto US 65B
0.2 mi·21 sec·Skyline Drive
15
Continue on US 64; US 65B
0.5 mi·41 sec·Harkrider Street
16
Enter roundabout onto Harkrider Street
181 ft·2 sec·Harkrider Street
17
Continue on Harkrider Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Harkrider Street
18
Enter roundabout onto Harkrider Street
162 ft·2 sec·Harkrider Street
19
Continue on Harkrider Street
0.5 mi·49 sec·Harkrider Street
20
Turn right onto Oak Street
492 ft·9 sec·Oak Street
21
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Oak Street
22
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·19 sec·Locust Avenue
23
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft·4 sec·Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. You only need to account for one stop along the way, making it easy to manage your fuel and comfort levels without disrupting your flow. Keep in mind that the long 112.1-mile segment on I-40 is where you will spend most of your time, so plan your break strategically to avoid mid-stretch fatigue. Prioritize fueling up before hitting the long interstate portion to ensure you have a stress-free transit across the state.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.5 miles from Fayetteville, AR, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.1 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 35 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.5 miles or 1h 23m 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 14m
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 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 158.9 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 112.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 44 — 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.
5
3.6 mi into trip|~7m in|I 49
Merge onto I 49
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.00 one way
$48.00 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.34
$52.69
premium
$4.56
$28.52
$57.04
diesel
$5.61
$35.08
$70.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.7
0
$16.68
$7.63
Efficient EV
39.7
0
$13.90
$6.36
EV Truck/SUV
63.6
0
$22.25
$10.17
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 12, 2026
Origin
Fayetteville, AR
Late night
in Fayetteville on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 to 20 mph84% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Conway, AR
Late night
in Conway on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 mph29% chanceLive 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
9 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
2h 45m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 96% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates, including a significant 112.1-mile stretch on I-40 that defines the bulk of the journey. While you start on local infrastructure like South Razorback Road, the character of the drive quickly shifts to a consistent, high-speed pace once you merge onto the interstate system. This is a utilitarian drive designed for efficiency rather than technical or winding backroad navigation.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. 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 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 15 significant decision points across 158.9 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,649 ft369 ft
Total Climb
593 ft
Total Descent
1,584 ft
Highest Point
1,649 ft
~22.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,280 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 Fayetteville, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Fayetteville is a city of 87,000 people (2018) in the Ozarks and the Ozarks Region of Arkansas.
It is home for the main campus of the University of Arkansas, and has many characteristics of a college town, including many bars, restaurants and specialty stores. It serves as a regional hub for live music and performances, with several venues. Fayetteville is also part of the booming Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers-Bentonville metropolitan area in Northwest Arkansas, and has experienced dramatic growth since the 1990s.
Fayetteville's core area of interest centers around the historic downtown square and Dickson Street, which runs between Highway 71B (also known as College Avenue) and the University of Arkansas campus, and is the "main drag" for restaurants and bars.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 158.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Conway, 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Conway, AR before heading back.
