Hot Springs, AR to Cave Springs, AR is 202.7 miles and takes about 3h 48m via I 40 and I 49, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to its neighbor. With most of the drive on major highways, it's a straightforward path. Plan for a single day of travel, as the distance and duration are manageable without an overnight stop.
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
101.4 miles from Hot Springs, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
64.8 mi
1h 4m
I 49
51.3 mi
52m
AR 7
45.1 mi
51m
4th Street
14.4 mi
16m
Park Avenue
6.2 mi
9m
Union Street
4.9 mi
5m
West Main Street
4.6 mi
7m
North Maestri Road
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 64.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hot Springs, AR and Cave Springs, AR.
1
Start on US 70B; US 270B
82 ft·5 sec·West Grand Avenue
2
Turn right onto AR 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Central Avenue
3
Continue on AR 7
6.2 mi·9 min·Park Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
297 ft·3 sec·AR 7
5
Continue on AR 7
45 mi·50 min·AR 7
6
At end of road, turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·20 sec·AR 7
7
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·23 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
8
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·4th Street
9
Continue on AR 7
0.2 mi·15 sec·North State Highway 7
10
Continue on AR 22
374 ft·9 sec·AR 22
11
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·Union Street
12
Turn left onto US 64
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
13
Continue on US 64
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Street
14
Turn right onto Mission Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mission Road
15
Continue on Lakewood Drive
367 ft·9 sec·Lakewood Drive
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 78Toward I-40
17
Merge onto I 40
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
19
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
4.9 mi·5 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 72Toward US 412Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
193 ft·12 sec
Toward US 412Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn left onto US 412
1.5 mi·2 min·West Sunset Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Continue on US 412
0.4 mi·38 sec·East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn right onto AR 112
2.3 mi·4 min·North Maestri Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on AR 112
1.6 mi·3 min·South Elm Street
27
Continue on AR 112
0.9 mi·1 min·North Main Street Elm Springs
28
Continue on AR 112
1.8 mi·3 min·South Main Street (Cave Springs)
29
Turn right onto Midway Avenue
53 ft·7 sec·Midway Avenue
30
Turn left
43 ft·3 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour, 48-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Hot Springs to avoid any potential traffic. The route is efficient, so you'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer stretches like the 64.8 miles on I 40. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to adjust your timing based on your preferences.
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 101.4 miles from Hot Springs, AR, or about 1h 58m 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 45 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.4 miles or 1h 58m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cave Springs, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, AR
This is one driving day of about 202.7 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Hot Springs, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 77.1 and 194.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 78
Toward I-40
6
189 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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.
7
193.9 mi into trip|~3h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 412
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72
Toward US 412
8
194.2 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 412
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward US 412
6
194.2 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|US 412 / West Sunset Avenue
Turn left onto US 412 / West Sunset Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.55 one way
$63.11 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.79
$69.57
premium
$4.71
$37.60
$75.19
diesel
$6.18
$49.31
$98.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.28
$9.73
Efficient EV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
EV Truck/SUV
81.1
1
$28.38
$12.97
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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Hot Springs, AR
Morning
in Hot Springs on Saturday
Local time
8:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Sunny
N 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Cave Springs, AR
Morning
in Cave Springs on Saturday
Local time
8:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Sunny
N 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued October 16 at 6:41AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
85°F
Delaware, AR
101 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
12 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 48m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway, with 80% of the route on major interstates. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 64.8 miles on I 40 before transitioning to other main roads like I 49 and AR 7. Expect a steady pace for the majority of your travel, with most of the driving on high-speed, limited-access highways.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 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 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 77.1 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 202.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 77.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 189 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 193.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Hot Springs is a city in the Central region of Arkansas and home to Hot Springs National Park, a United States national park. It is also the childhood home of former President Bill Clinton.
Top landmarks
•Bathhouse Row — park in Hot Springs, Garland County, United States of America
•Central Avenue Historic District — historic district in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
•Whittington Park Historic District — historic district in Arkansas, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 202.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 48m 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 14 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 Cave Springs, 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 77.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 189 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 193.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Cave Springs, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
