Fayetteville to Stuttgart is 248.3 miles and takes about 4h 28m via I 49 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its predominantly highway nature and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a practical choice for a quick trip.
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
124.2 miles from Fayetteville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
180.3 mi
3h 3m
I 49
40.4 mi
40m
US 63
21.2 mi
31m
South Razorback Road
1.4 mi
2m
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
East South Front
0.8 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 180.3 mi, about 3h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, AR and Stuttgart, 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
142 mi·2 hr 23 min·I 40; US 71
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
38 mi·39 min·I 40
Toward MemphisUse the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward AR 11, US 63: Hazen, Des Arc
14
Turn right onto US 63
2.6 mi·3 min·US 63
15
Turn left onto US 63; US 70
0.8 mi·1 min·East South Front
16
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·24 sec
17
Turn straight onto US 63
19 mi·27 min·US 63
18
Turn left onto US 79
0.3 mi·32 sec·West Michigan Street
19
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
This 4h 28m drive is easily completed in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Fayetteville in the morning will allow you to arrive in Stuttgart with plenty of daylight. With only 248.3 miles, you can afford to take your time and make a brief stop for a break if needed, though the longest stretch between major services is 180.3 miles on I 40. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach Stuttgart, as the highway share is very high.
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 124.2 miles from Fayetteville, AR, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.3 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 55 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.2 miles or 2h 9m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stuttgart, 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 248.3 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 180.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 186.6 — 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
186.6 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.01 one way
$76.01 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$42.09
$84.19
premium
$4.65
$45.45
$90.89
diesel
$6.28
$61.35
$122.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.5
0
$26.07
$11.92
Efficient EV
62.1
0
$21.73
$9.93
EV Truck/SUV
99.3
1
$34.76
$15.89
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Fayetteville, AR
Morning
in Fayetteville on Thursday
Local time
6:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Stuttgart, AR
Morning
in Stuttgart on Thursday
Local time
6:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
ESE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
73°F
Delaware, AR
124 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
4h 28m 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?
Expect to be on highways for 97% of this 248.3-mile route. The bulk of your driving, a continuous stretch of 180.3 miles, will be on I 40. You'll experience consistent highway cruising for the majority of the trip, with the transition to surface roads likely occurring in the final miles near Stuttgart.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. You will hit about 13 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 Effort6/10
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 248.3 miles you will encounter 13 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,648 ft210 ft
Total Climb
433 ft
Total Descent
1,630 ft
Highest Point
1,648 ft
~17.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,438 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fayetteville, AR and Stuttgart, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock, Memphis and Des Arc.
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 4h 28m. Total distance: 248.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 180.3 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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 Stuttgart, 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 22 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Stuttgart, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
