This 221.2-mile journey from Gurdon to Springdale, Arkansas, will take approximately 4 hours and 12 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing US 270 West and local roads like Martin Luther King Road and Malvern Avenue, this route offers a hands-on driving experience rather than high-speed highway travel. With a projected fuel cost of around $34, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. The drive remains within the Southeast region of Arkansas. This route is well-suited for a one-day adventure, allowing ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
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
125.8 miles from Gurdon, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
64.8 mi
1h 4m
I 49
46.4 mi
47m
AR 7
45.1 mi
51m
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 Springdale, 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
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
27
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.
28
Continue on US 71B
1.3 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
29
Continue on US 71B
3.3 mi·5 min·South Thompson Street
30
Turn right onto West Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·West Johnson Avenue
31
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
119 ft·5 sec·North Commercial Street
32
Arrive at destination
North Commercial Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 12-minute estimated drive time, starting your trip in Gurdon in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. Since this is a single-day trip with a relatively low fuel cost of $34, you can be flexible with stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes have longer distances between services compared to interstates. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means planning for slightly longer travel times than the GPS estimate might suggest, so allow for that buffer as you make your way towards Springdale.
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 125.8 miles from Gurdon, AR, or about 2h 23m 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 55 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.8 miles or 2h 23m 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 47m
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 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 251.6 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 244.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
5.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
41.2 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward US 270 West: Hot Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 270 West: Hot Springs
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
8
244.2 mi into trip|~4h 26m 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
$38.00 one way
$76.00 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$41.71
$83.42
premium
$4.56
$45.16
$90.32
diesel
$5.61
$55.55
$111.10
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: 88 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.42
$12.08
Efficient EV
62.9
0
$22.01
$10.06
EV Truck/SUV
100.6
1
$35.22
$16.10
Gas CO2
88 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Gurdon, AR
Late night
in Gurdon on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Springdale, AR
Late night
in Springdale on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
26 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 39m 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
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 60.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating a network of state and county roads for the entire 221.2 miles. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the profile suggests a continuous engagement with the road, requiring your attention through frequent turns and varying speed limits. This style of driving offers a more intimate connection with the Arkansas landscape as you pass through towns and rural areas.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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 I 49. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.
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 251.6 miles you will encounter 18 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 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 62.5 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 251.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m 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 Springdale, 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 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 62.5 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Springdale, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
