Spanning 75.9 miles, the drive from Hot Springs Village to Conway is a straightforward journey through Arkansas that typically takes about 1 hour and 44 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route keeps you entirely within the Southeast region of Arkansas, moving from the gated community atmosphere of the Village toward the more urban environment of Conway. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, the simplicity of this trip allows for a stress-free transition between these two central Arkansas hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.9 miles from Hot Springs Village, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
20.1 mi
20m
Old Hot Springs Highway
16.4 mi
28m
US 70
13.1 mi
15m
I 30
11.7 mi
12m
DeSoto Boulevard
8.8 mi
15m
Hot Springs Highway
1.2 mi
2m
East Oak Street
1 mi
1m
Fresno Road
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 20.1 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hot Springs Village, AR and Conway, AR.
1
Start on Fresno Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Fresno Road
2
Turn right onto Desoto Boulevard
0.4 mi·42 sec·Desoto Boulevard
3
Continue on DeSoto Boulevard
8.8 mi·15 min·DeSoto Boulevard
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 5
4.6 mi·8 min·Old Hot Springs Highway
5
Continue on AR 5
1.2 mi·2 min·Hot Springs Highway
6
Continue on AR 5
12 mi·20 min·Old Hot Springs Highway
7
Continue on AR 35
0.4 mi·48 sec·AR 35
8
Turn sharp left
0.1 mi·26 sec
9
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.3 mi·29 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
10
Take the ramp
516 ft·12 sec
11
Merge onto I 30; US 67; US 70
12 mi·12 min·I 30; US 67; US 70
12
Take the exit onto US 70
13 mi·15 min·US 70
Exit 129Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort SmithUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 13BToward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
14
Merge onto I 40; US 65
20 mi·20 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 64
16
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft·8 sec
17
Turn left onto US 64
1.0 mi·1 min·East Oak Street
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Oak Street
19
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·19 sec·Locust Avenue
20
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft·4 sec·Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal preferences rather than strict fatigue management. There are no mandatory stops required to reach your destination, so you can easily complete the trip in one go. If you prefer to avoid heavy traffic, try to time your transit to bypass peak commuting hours on the interstate segments. Keep in mind that while the 20.1-mile stretch on I-40 is the longest, it is still brief enough that you won't need complex pit-stop planning. A smart tip for this specific route is to ensure you have your route mapped clearly before leaving Hot Springs Village, as the transition between local highways and the main interstate requires attention to signage.
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 37.9 miles from Hot Springs Village, AR, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.1 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 17 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.9 miles or 1h 1m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Conway, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hot Springs Village, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hot Springs Village, AR
This is one driving day of about 75.9 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Hot Springs Village, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 20.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.2 and 74.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
28.2 mi into trip|~50m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
40.3 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 129
Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
7
53.4 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13B
Toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
5
54.1 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|I 40; US 65
Merge onto I 40; US 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
74.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.46 one way
$22.93 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.58
$25.17
premium
$4.56
$13.62
$27.25
diesel
$5.61
$16.76
$33.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.97
$3.64
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.64
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.63
$4.86
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 12, 2026
Origin
Hot Springs Village, AR
Late night
in Hot Springs Village on Tuesday
Local time
5:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Conway, AR
Late night
in Conway on Tuesday
Local time
5:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
0 mph7% chanceLive 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
4 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
1h 44m 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 trip features a mixed-road profile, alternating between local surface streets and larger thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of Old Hot Springs Highway and US 70 before transitioning onto the interstate system. With highway driving accounting for 60% of the total distance, you should anticipate a shift from slower, local traffic to higher-speed travel. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-40, which covers 20.1 miles of the journey. As you move through these varying road types, expect the driving experience to fluctuate from the winding character of local routes to the more predictable, consistent pace of the interstate.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 28.2 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 40.3 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hot Springs Village, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Conway is a college town in the Central region of Arkansas, northwest of Little Rock. Do not be deceived into thinking Conway is just another suburb of Little Rock. The "City of Colleges" has crafted its own unique identity, with beautiful college campuses, peaceful nature trails, access to two gorgeous lakes, one impressive river, and plenty of restaurants and shops to boot.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 75.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Conway, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 28.2 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 40.3 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Conway, AR before heading back.
