Flippin, AR to Kentucky, AR is 158.2 miles and takes about 3h 40m via US 65, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, making it a straightforward trip. With a relatively short duration and clear route, this journey is well-suited for a single-day excursion. Consider this trip if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground within the state.
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
79.1 miles from Flippin, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 65
86.3 mi
1h 52m
State Highway 14
23.5 mi
41m
I 430
12.3 mi
14m
US 70
12.1 mi
13m
AR 27
10.6 mi
18m
Old Hot Springs Highway
5.7 mi
10m
US 62
4.9 mi
5m
South 1st Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 86.3 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flippin, AR and Kentucky, AR.
1
Start on Girard Street
32 ft·5 sec·Girard Street
2
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
442 ft·21 sec·North 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·East Main Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 178
1.4 mi·2 min·South 1st Street
5
Turn right onto US 62; US 412
4.9 mi·5 min·US 62; US 412
6
Turn left onto AR 14
24 mi·41 min·State Highway 14
7
Turn straight onto AR 27
11 mi·18 min·AR 27
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 65
64 mi·1 hr 29 min·US 65
9
Take the exit onto US 65
22 mi·22 min·US 65
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·41 sec
Toward I 430: TexarkanaUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 430
12 mi·14 min·I 430
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70
12 mi·13 min·US 70
Exit 129BToward I 30 West: TexarkanaUse the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
14
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.4 mi·37 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
15
Turn slight right onto AR 5
0.2 mi·19 sec·Old Hot Springs Highway
16
Continue on AR 5
5.5 mi·9 min·Old Hot Springs Highway
17
Arrive at destination
AR 5
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 40m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Aim to depart Flippin in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and potential brief stops along US 65. The fuel cost is estimated at $24, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave, as the longest stretch on US 65 is a significant portion of the drive. While there's only one suggested stop, you might want to identify a refueling point or a quick break spot before you hit the 86.3-mile stretch on US 65 to ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.
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 79.1 miles from Flippin, AR, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.3 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 35 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.1 miles or 2h 2m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kentucky, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Flippin, 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 Flippin, AR
This is one driving day of about 158.2 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Flippin, 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 US 65 for about 86.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 139.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North 3rd Street
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
40.7 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|US 65
At end of road, turn left onto US 65
Navigation decision point
6
127.1 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 430: Texarkana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 430: Texarkana
8
139.9 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 toward I 30 West: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 129B
Toward I 30 West: Texarkana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.89 one way
$47.78 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.23
$52.46
premium
$4.56
$28.40
$56.79
diesel
$5.61
$34.93
$69.86
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: 55.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.5
0
$16.61
$7.59
Efficient EV
39.6
0
$13.84
$6.33
EV Truck/SUV
63.3
0
$22.15
$10.12
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (65% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Flippin, AR
Late night
in Flippin on Tuesday
Local time
5:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kentucky, AR
Late night
in Kentucky on Tuesday
Local time
5:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Clinton, AR
79 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
4 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
3h 40m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hot Springs National Park
National Park
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 158.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on US 65, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of 86.3 miles. The drive transitions from US 65 to State Highway 14 and then connects to I 430, offering a mix of high-speed travel and arterial road conditions. While primarily highway, the inclusion of State Highway 14 might introduce slightly different road characteristics before rejoining the interstate system.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.3 mi on US 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and State Highway 14. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 3rd Street.
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 158.2 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles (US 65): Navigation decision point.
Kentucky is a Southern state of the United States; its state capital is Frankfort. Attractions include horse racing and beautiful lakes. It is home to famous food (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hot Brown, and Burgoo), drink (bourbon whiskey) and music (bluegrass) traditions.
Top landmarks
•United States Bullion Depository — building used for gold storage
•Creation Museum — museum
•Black Mountain — mountain in Kentucky, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 158.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.3 miles on US 65. 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.
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: near the start (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles (US 65): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Kentucky, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
