If you are planning a trip from Forrest City to Conway, you can expect a straightforward journey spanning 117.8 miles. The drive typically takes about 2 hours and 4 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Since the route is entirely within Arkansas, you will remain in the Southeast region for the duration of your travel. Budgeting roughly $18 for fuel should cover your needs for this direct transit. Because the trip is relatively short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays, allowing you plenty of flexibility to complete the drive in a single stretch.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.9 miles from Forrest City, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
113.7 mi
1h 56m
North Washington Street
2 mi
2m
East Oak Street
1 mi
1m
Oak Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Broadway Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Locust Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Division
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 113.7 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forrest City, AR and Conway, AR.
1
Start on North Division
31 ft·6 sec·North Division
2
Turn left onto US 70
0.3 mi·31 sec·West Broadway Avenue
3
Turn left onto AR 1B
2.0 mi·2 min·North Washington Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
114 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 64
7
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft·8 sec
8
Turn left onto US 64
1.0 mi·1 min·East Oak Street
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Oak Street
10
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·19 sec·Locust Avenue
11
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft·4 sec·Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since your total drive time is just over two hours, you have the advantage of being able to depart at your convenience without complex scheduling. With no mandatory stops required by the length of the route, you can easily manage the trip in one sitting. Keep in mind that since nearly the entire distance is covered by a single long stretch on I-40, it is wise to check your fuel levels before merging onto the interstate to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the highway-heavy nature of this 117.8-mile drive, stay alert for changing traffic patterns as you exit the highway and navigate the final local roads into Conway.
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 58.9 miles from Forrest City, AR, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.7 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 26 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.9 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 40m
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 Forrest City, 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 Forrest City, AR
This is one driving day of about 117.8 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Forrest City, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 113.7 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 116.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 70 / West Broadway Avenue
Turn left onto US 70 / West Broadway Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|AR 1B / North Washington Street
Turn left onto AR 1B / North Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
116.1 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 64
5
116.4 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.79 one way
$35.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.53
$39.06
premium
$4.56
$21.14
$42.29
diesel
$5.61
$26.01
$52.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.37
$5.65
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.31
$4.71
EV Truck/SUV
47.1
0
$16.49
$7.54
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 18, 2026
Origin
Forrest City, AR
Late night
in Forrest City on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NNE 10 mph91% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Conway, AR
Late night
in Conway on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live 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
7 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 4m 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?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 97% of your travel occurring on major roads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-40, which accounts for a 113.7-mile uninterrupted stretch. Expect a consistent, efficient experience as you transition from the interstate onto North Washington Street and East Oak Street to reach your destination. Because this path prioritizes speed and directness, it functions more as a functional transit corridor than a winding scenic byway. You should prepare for the steady, predictable flow of interstate traffic that defines this Arkansas transit line.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and North Washington Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 70 / West Broadway Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 70 / West Broadway Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (AR 1B / North Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 117.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 113.7 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: near the start (US 70 / West Broadway Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (AR 1B / North Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
