Gurdon to Fayetteville is 241.8 miles and takes about 4h 27m via I 40 and I 49, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you entirely within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region towards the northwest. It's primarily a highway route, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. Plan for a relatively quick transit with minimal fuss, focusing on efficient travel between your starting and ending points.
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
120.9 miles from Gurdon, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
64.8 mi
1h 4m
AR 7
45.1 mi
51m
I 49
40.3 mi
40m
I 30
35.3 mi
35m
4th Street
14.4 mi
16m
Martin Luther King Road
12.3 mi
14m
Hot Springs Bypass
5.9 mi
6m
AR 53
4.9 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 64.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gurdon, AR and Fayetteville, AR.
1
Start on US 67; AR 53
0.9 mi·1 min·North Elm Street
2
Continue on AR 53
4.9 mi·8 min·AR 53
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
4
Merge onto I 30
35 mi·35 min·I 30
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 270 West: Hot Springs
6
Merge onto US 270
12 mi·14 min·Martin Luther King Road
7
Continue on US 270
0.5 mi·33 sec·Malvern Avenue
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
9
Merge onto US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway
10
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
5.9 mi·6 min·Hot Springs Bypass
11
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
185 ft·2 sec·AR 7
12
Continue on AR 7
45 mi·50 min·AR 7
13
At end of road, turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·20 sec·AR 7
14
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·23 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
15
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·4th Street
16
Continue on AR 7
0.2 mi·15 sec·North State Highway 7
17
Continue on AR 22
374 ft·9 sec·AR 22
18
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·Union Street
19
Turn left onto US 64
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
20
Continue on US 64
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Street
21
Turn right onto Mission Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mission Road
22
Continue on Lakewood Drive
367 ft·9 sec·Lakewood Drive
23
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 78Toward I-40
24
Merge onto I 40
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
26
Continue on I 49
40 mi·40 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
27
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward AR 112, AR 265
28
Turn slight right onto AR 265
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Cato Springs Road
29
Continue on South Razorback Road
1.4 mi·2 min·South Razorback Road
30
Turn right onto AR 180
0.9 mi·2 min·West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Turn left onto South School Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·South School Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Turn slight right onto South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi·52 sec·South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
33
Continue on South College Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·South College Avenue
34
Turn right onto East Center Street
147 ft·8 sec·East Center Street
35
Turn right
79 ft·5 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 27m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you cover that 64.8-mile stretch on I 40, as services might be less frequent. The $36 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, and since it's a single-day trip, you can focus on getting to Fayetteville without needing overnight accommodations. Consider downloading offline maps, as cell service can be spotty in some rural Arkansas areas.
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 120.9 miles from Gurdon, AR, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.8 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 53 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.9 miles or 2h 17m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gurdon, 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 Gurdon, AR
This is one driving day of about 241.8 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Gurdon, 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 64.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10 to $20
Mulberry, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–7 pm
+14792972005
Iron Springs Recreation Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Overlook Rest Area - Westbound
0 mi from route
Ozark Rest Area – Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Big Piney Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Ozark Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Big Piney Rest Area – Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Tobo's 66 Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 62.5 and 241.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
62.5 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|AR 7
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
132.4 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 78
Toward I-40
5
238.2 mi into trip|~4h 19m in
Take the exit toward AR 112, AR 265
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 112, AR 265
5
240.2 mi into trip|~4h 23m 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 straight / right lanes.
6
241.1 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|South School Avenue
Turn left onto South School Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.57 one way
$67.13 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$37.56
$75.11
premium
$4.29
$40.83
$81.66
diesel
$4.80
$45.66
$91.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.5
0
$25.39
$11.61
Efficient EV
60.5
0
$21.16
$9.67
EV Truck/SUV
96.7
1
$33.85
$15.48
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Gurdon, AR
Morning
in Gurdon on Sunday
Local time
11:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
WSW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Fayetteville, AR
Morning
in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
11:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
95°F
Delaware, AR
121 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 27m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 58.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend about 80% of your time on major highways. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 64.8 miles on I 40 without needing to exit. The transition to surface roads will likely occur as you get closer to your destination or in more rural sections between the main interstates. The route offers a consistent cruising experience for most of the way, with the majority of the driving on high-speed, limited-access roads.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and AR 7. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 62.5 miles in near AR 7.
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 241.8 miles you will encounter 20 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 62.5 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 132.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 238.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 27m. Total distance: 241.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Fayetteville, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 62.5 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 132.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 238.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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 Fayetteville, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
