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Trip from Hot Springs, AR to Highland, AR

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

61.4 mi

99 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Hot Springs, AR, AR

Hot Springs, AR

Jimmy Liao

Downtown Highland, AR, AR

Highland, AR

Rámon van Raaij

Trip Overview

This 61.4-mile journey from Hot Springs, AR to Highland, AR is a straightforward drive, taking about 1 hour and 37 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route is predominantly highway, making up 84% of the drive, with a fuel cost estimated around $9. You'll navigate primarily via US 70 and AR 27, with a brief section on Airport Road. Given its short duration and highway focus, this trip is ideal for a quick transition between locations within the Southeast region of Arkansas, offering a practical and efficient way to cover the distance.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

30.7 miles from Hot Springs, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 70 31.3 mi 46m
AR 27 18.8 mi 33m
Airport Road 7.7 mi 11m
State Highway 26 1.5 mi 2m
West Grand Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
Albert Pike Road 0.9 mi 1m
Summer Street 0.3 mi <1m
Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 70 — 31.3 mi, about 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hot Springs, AR and Highland, AR.

1

Start on US 70B; US 270B

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Grand Avenue
2

Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Summer Street
3

Turn straight onto US 70B; US 270B

0.9 mi · 1 min · Albert Pike Road
4

Turn left onto US 70B

7.7 mi · 11 min · Airport Road
5

Continue on US 70

31 mi · 46 min · US 70
6

Continue on AR 27

19 mi · 33 min · AR 27
7

Turn right onto AR 26

1.5 mi · 2 min · State Highway 26
8

Turn left onto Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road

29 ft · 1 sec · Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road
9

Arrive at destination

Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road

Trip Plan

Given this trip is just 61.4 miles and takes only 1 hour and 37 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Starting in the morning should get you to Highland with plenty of daylight left. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, budgeting is simple. Since the longest stretch without a turn is 31.3 miles on US 70, plan your breaks before or after this segment if needed. There are no specific stops indicated, so you can easily make this a direct drive or add a quick detour if you see something that catches your eye.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.7 miles from Hot Springs, AR, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.3 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 14 miles or 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 30.7 miles or 46m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Highland, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hot Springs, AR

This is one driving day of about 61.4 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Hot Springs, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 70 for about 31.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Glenwood, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glenwood, AR

31 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Rockwell, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Glenwood, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.7 miles from Hot Springs, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

3 of 3

3 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 61.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
2.1 mi into trip | ~3m in | US 70B / Airport Road

Turn left onto US 70B / Airport Road

Navigation decision point

3
59.9 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | AR 26 / State Highway 26

Turn right onto AR 26 / State Highway 26

Navigation decision point

4
61.4 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in | Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road

Turn left onto Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.27 one way

$18.55 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $10.18 $20.36
premium $4.56 $11.02 $22.04
diesel $5.61 $13.56 $27.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.4 0 $6.45 $2.95
Efficient EV 15.4 0 $5.37 $2.46
EV Truck/SUV 24.6 0 $8.60 $3.93

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (67% 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 Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Hot Springs, AR

Late night in Hot Springs on Sunday

Local time

5:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 10 mph 52% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 17 at 11:54PM CDT until April 18 at 2:00AM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK

Destination

Highland, AR

Late night in Highland on Sunday

Local time

5:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 10 mph 54% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 17 at 11:54PM CDT until April 18 at 2:00AM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK

72°F

Glenwood, AR

31 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 37m 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

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...

1 mi from route ~4 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 61.4-mile route, with 84% of the drive on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.3 miles along US 70, allowing for steady progress. As you transition to AR 27 and then Airport Road, the character may shift slightly, but the overall feel remains efficient. This drive is designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss, characterized by consistent speeds and a clear path.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.3 mi on US 70.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and AR 27. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near US 70B / Airport Road.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Hot Springs, AR to Highland, AR is easy. At 1h 37m with 84% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (US 70B / Airport Road): Navigation decision point; at 59.9 miles (AR 26 / State Highway 26): Navigation decision point; at 61.4 miles (Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

712 ft 350 ft

Total Climb

192 ft

Total Descent

362 ft

Highest Point

712 ft

~39.5 mi in

Elevation Range

362 ft

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 61.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 31.3 miles on US 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (US 70B / Airport Road): Navigation decision point; at 59.9 miles (AR 26 / State Highway 26): Navigation decision point; at 61.4 miles (Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road): Navigation decision point.

Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Highland, AR before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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