Hope, AR to Bentonville, AR is 294.4 miles and takes about 5h 19m via I-30, I-40, and I-49, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region toward the northwestern part of the state. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward connection between these two points. Consider this a practical drive for getting from A to B efficiently, with minimal complexity.
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
147.2 miles from Hope, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 30
66.9 mi
1h 6m
I 49
65.6 mi
1h 8m
I 40
64.8 mi
1h 4m
AR 7
45.1 mi
51m
4th Street
14.4 mi
16m
Martin Luther King Road
12.3 mi
14m
Hot Springs Bypass
5.9 mi
6m
Union Street
4.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 30
— 66.9 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hope, AR and Bentonville, AR.
1
Start on US 67; US 278B; AR 29B
0.1 mi·21 sec·East 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto AR 29B
1.6 mi·2 min·South Hazel Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
4
Merge onto I 30
67 mi·1 hr 6 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 left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
19 mi·20 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
28
Take the exit onto US 62; AR 12
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 62; AR 12
Toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
29
Turn left onto AR 12; US 62
1.1 mi·2 min·Southeast 14th Street
30
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Southeast J Street
Use the left lane.
31
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·East Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto North Main Street
185 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
33
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour drive time, leaving in the morning will allow you to complete this trip in a single day. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without an exit is nearly 67 miles on I-30. The estimated fuel cost is around $42, so plan accordingly. This route is straightforward, making an early start your best bet for a relaxed arrival.
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 147.2 miles from Hope, AR, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.9 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 65 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.2 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bentonville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hope, 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 Hope, AR
This is one driving day of about 294.4 miles and 5h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Hope, 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 30 for about 66.9 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 90.3 and 292.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
90.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|AR 7
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
160.2 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 78
Toward I-40
6
272 mi into trip|~4h 51m in|I 49; US 62; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
291.3 mi into trip|~5h 12m in|US 62; AR 12
Take the exit onto US 62; AR 12 toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Sou...
6
292.7 mi into trip|~5h 15m in|Southeast J Street
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.06 one way
$90.13 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$49.91
$99.82
premium
$4.65
$53.88
$107.77
diesel
$6.28
$72.74
$145.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.3
1
$30.91
$14.13
Efficient EV
73.6
0
$25.76
$11.78
EV Truck/SUV
117.8
1
$41.22
$18.84
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 21, 2026
Origin
Hope, AR
Night
in Hope on Thursday
Local time
9:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bentonville, AR
Night
in Bentonville on Thursday
Local time
9:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
SE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
78°F
Delaware, AR
147 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
2 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
5h 19m 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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 91.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 83% of the 294.4 miles on major interstates. You'll encounter a 66.9-mile stretch on I-30 without any exits. Expect a consistent cruising experience for the majority of the trip. The transition to surface roads will be minimal as you approach your destination.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.9 mi on I 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and I 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 90.3 miles in near AR 7.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 294.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 90.3 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 160.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 272 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Hope is a town in the Timberlands region of Arkansas. It is best known for its annual watermelon festival and for being the birthplace of former US President Bill Clinton.
Top landmarks
•President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site — birthplace of former US president Bill Clinton
•Hope — train station in Hope, Arkansas
•Hempstead County Courthouse — county courthouse in Hope, United States of America
Bentonville is a city of 51,000 people (2018) in the Northwest region of Arkansas. Widely known as the home to the corporate headquarters of retail giant Walmart, the city was noted by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the "Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012".
Top landmarks
•Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art — art museum in Bentonville, Arkansas
•Bentonville Confederate Monument — monument in Bentonville, United States of America
•Benton County Courthouse — courthouse in Bentonville, Benton County, Arkansas
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 294.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.9 miles on I 30. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Bentonville, 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 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 90.3 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 160.2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 272 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bentonville, AR before the return drive.
