Gravel Ridge to Springdale is 204 miles and takes about 3h 37m via I 40, I 49, and I 57, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major interstates, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. With less than four hours of driving time, you can easily complete this route in a single day.
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
102 miles from Gravel Ridge, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
142 mi
2h 23m
I 49
46.4 mi
47m
I 57
4 mi
4m
South Thompson Street
3.3 mi
5m
Fulbright Expressway
2.2 mi
2m
Brockington Road
1.9 mi
4m
North College Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
State Highway 107
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 142 mi, about 2h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gravel Ridge, AR and Springdale, AR.
1
Start on Cordelia Drive
37 ft·4 sec·Cordelia Drive
2
Turn right onto Jacksonville Cutoff Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·Jacksonville Cutoff Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto AR 107
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 107
4
Turn left onto Brockington Road
1.9 mi·4 min·Brockington Road
5
Continue on AR 176Y
0.4 mi·43 sec·Brookswood Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto Warden Road
0.2 mi·19 sec·Warden Road
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
8
Merge onto I 57; US 167
4.0 mi·4 min·I 57; US 167
9
Merge onto I 40; US 167
142 mi·2 hr 23 min·I 40; US 167
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
11
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
2.2 mi·2 min·Fulbright Expressway
Exit 67BToward US 71B: Fayetteville Business DistrictUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on US 71B
1.3 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
14
Continue on US 71B
3.3 mi·5 min·South Thompson Street
15
Turn right onto West Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·West Johnson Avenue
16
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
119 ft·5 sec·North Commercial Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Commercial Street
Trip Plan
Given the short driving time of 3h 37m, you can comfortably leave Gravel Ridge anytime in the morning and arrive in Springdale by midday. With only 204 miles, you won't need extensive breaks, but there's one recommended stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 142-mile stretch on I 40, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $30, so plan accordingly.
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 102 miles from Gravel Ridge, AR, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142 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 45 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springdale, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gravel Ridge, 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 Gravel Ridge, AR
This is one driving day of about 204 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Gravel Ridge, 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 142 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 196.6 — 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|Jacksonville Cutoff Road
Turn right onto Jacksonville Cutoff Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|AR 107 / State Highway 107
At end of road, turn left onto AR 107 / State Highway 107
Navigation decision point
4
3.6 mi into trip|~7m in|Warden Road
At end of road, turn right onto Warden Road
Navigation decision point
5
7.9 mi into trip|~12m in|I 40; US 167
Merge onto I 40; US 167
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
196.6 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.89 one way
$59.77 round trip
$3.72/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.13
$33.18
$66.36
premium
$4.49
$36.03
$72.06
diesel
$5.60
$44.97
$89.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.2
0
$21.42
$9.79
Efficient EV
51
0
$17.85
$8.16
EV Truck/SUV
81.6
1
$28.56
$13.06
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Sep 4, 2026
Origin
Gravel Ridge, AR
Night
in Gravel Ridge on Saturday
Local time
11:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springdale, AR
Night
in Springdale on Saturday
Local time
11:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Delaware, AR
102 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 37m 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?
You'll be on the highway for about 96% of this 204-mile route. The longest continuous stretch on interstates is 142 miles, primarily on I 40. Expect a relatively seamless drive with minimal time on surface roads. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter frequent exit and entrance ramps as you navigate between I 40 and I 49.
96% 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: 142 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Jacksonville Cutoff Road.
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 204 miles you will encounter 11 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 (Jacksonville Cutoff Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AR 107 / State Highway 107): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (Warden Road): Navigation decision point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 204 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142 miles on I 40. 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 (Jacksonville Cutoff Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AR 107 / State Highway 107): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (Warden Road): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 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 Springdale, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
