Fayetteville to Manila is 321.4 miles and takes about 5h 55m via I 49, I 40, and US 64, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, starting in the Ozarks region and heading southeast toward the Delta. Expect a drive that's mostly highway, so it's efficient for getting from point A to point B. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward option if you need to cover ground across the state.
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
160.7 miles from Fayetteville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
113.8 mi
1h 53m
US 64
74.6 mi
1h 17m
I 49
40.4 mi
40m
East Highland Drive
34.3 mi
46m
Vilonia Bypass
25.9 mi
32m
US 78
12.1 mi
13m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
9m
State Highway 64
5.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 113.8 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, AR and Manila, 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
114 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 40; US 71
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 64
13
Keep slight left at fork
212 ft·8 sec
14
Turn left onto US 64
1.8 mi·3 min·East Oak Street
15
Continue on US 64
5.4 mi·6 min·State Highway 64
16
Continue on US 64
26 mi·32 min·Vilonia Bypass
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 64
75 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 64
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward AR 226: Jonesboro
19
Keep slight right at fork
346 ft·8 sec
20
Merge onto US 78; AR 226
12 mi·13 min·US 78; AR 226
21
Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78
7.4 mi·9 min·Southwest Drive
22
Turn right onto AR 18
34 mi·46 min·East Highland Drive
23
Turn left onto West Olympia Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·West Olympia Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
West Olympia Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour 55 minute drive time, leaving Fayetteville in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Manila with plenty of daylight. You'll want to plan for at least one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on US 64, as services can be more spread out than on the interstates. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your timing, but it's a good idea to be aware of potential traffic near larger towns along I 40.
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 160.7 miles from Fayetteville, AR, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.8 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 71 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.7 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manila, 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 321.4 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 113.8 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 16
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
$49.20 one way
$98.39 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$54.49
$108.97
premium
$4.65
$58.83
$117.65
diesel
$6.28
$79.41
$158.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.4
1
$33.75
$15.43
Efficient EV
80.4
0
$28.12
$12.86
EV Truck/SUV
128.6
1
$45.00
$20.57
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Fayetteville, AR
Late night
in Fayetteville on Thursday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 21 at 12:35PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Manila, AR
Late night
in Manila on Thursday
Local time
5:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 21 at 12:35PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 55m 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?
With 77% of this route on highways, you'll experience a good amount of efficient driving. The longest continuous stretch without needing to exit is 113.8 miles on I 40. You'll transition from interstate to US highway, meaning you'll see more local traffic and intersections as you get closer to Manila.
77% 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: 113.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 64. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 321.4 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
1,625 ft222 ft
Total Climb
486 ft
Total Descent
1,651 ft
Highest Point
1,625 ft
~23 mi in
Elevation Range
1,403 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 Manila, 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.
Top landmarks
•Campus of the University of Arkansas — College campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas, US
•Chi Omega Greek Theatre — outdoor theater on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas
•Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery — military cemetery in Arkansas
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 55m. Total distance: 321.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Manila, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Manila, AR before the return drive.
