If you are planning a trip from Fayetteville to Russellville, expect a 115.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you want a more leisurely pace. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this path involves traveling through the Southeast region of Arkansas, moving from one local hub to another. Because this is a direct, turn-heavy local drive, it offers a straightforward experience for travelers looking to move between these two cities efficiently. Keep in mind that there are no formal stops required, making this an ideal trek for those who prefer to reach their destination without unnecessary delays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.3 miles from Fayetteville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
64.9 mi
1h 4m
I 49
40.4 mi
40m
West Main Street
3.1 mi
4m
US 64
1.6 mi
2m
South Razorback Road
1.4 mi
2m
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
South Cato Springs Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, AR and Russellville, 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 left onto AR 7
106 ft·2 sec·North Arkansas Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
AR 7
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure during daylight hours to better navigate the local turns that define this 115.3-mile route. Since the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to leave whenever it suits your schedule, though avoiding peak local traffic hours is always a smart move. Because the entire trip is estimated at 1 hour and 45 minutes, you can easily complete it in one go without needing scheduled rest stops. Make sure your tank is ready for the $18 fuel cost before you head out, as local roads may offer fewer refueling options than major interstates. A key tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation tools handy for the turns on South College, South Nelson Hackett, and South School, as these local roads require precise maneuvering.
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 57.3 miles from Fayetteville, AR, or about 1h 1m 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.3 miles or 1h 1m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Russellville, 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 114.5 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Fayetteville, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 114.5 — 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
6
114.5 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|AR 7 / North Arkansas Avenue
Turn left onto AR 7 / North Arkansas Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.29 one way
$34.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.98
$37.97
premium
$4.56
$20.55
$41.10
diesel
$5.61
$25.28
$50.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.4
0
$12.02
$5.50
Efficient EV
28.6
0
$10.02
$4.58
EV Truck/SUV
45.8
0
$16.03
$7.33
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fayetteville, AR
Night
in Fayetteville on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Russellville, AR
Night
in Russellville on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Mulberry, AR
57 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
3 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 2m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a hands-on driving experience as this route is characterized by its turn-heavy local nature rather than a monotonous interstate grind. You will be navigating via South College Avenue, South Nelson Hackett Boulevard, and South School Avenue for the entirety of the trip. With a 0% highway share, you should anticipate a consistent rhythm of local road travel rather than high-speed cruising. Since there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, you will need to stay alert and engaged with the road's frequent changes. It is a practical, functional drive that requires your full attention as you transition between the local road segments.
93% 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: 64.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South College Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 114.5 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 Russellville, 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 2h 2m. Total distance: 114.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 Russellville, AR before heading back.
