Origin
Kentucky, AR
Late night in Kentucky on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kentucky, AR to Conway, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
53.6 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kentucky, AR
Owen.outdoors
Conway, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 53.6 miles across Arkansas, this trip between Kentucky and Conway is a straightforward journey typically taking about 1 hour and 4 minutes. You will navigate via I-30, I-430 North, and I-40 West to reach your destination. Because the distance is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays. Budgeting approximately $7 for fuel should cover your needs for this one-way transit. Both the origin and destination are located within the Southeast region, keeping the cultural and geographical feel consistent throughout your time on the road.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 20.1 mi | 20m |
| US 70 | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| I 30 | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| Old Hot Springs Highway | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| East Oak Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| AR 35 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Oak Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I-30 Frontage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 20.1 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kentucky, AR and Conway, AR.
1
Start on AR 5
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Old Hot Springs Highway
2
Continue on AR 35
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
AR 35
3
Turn sharp left
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
4
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
I-30 Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
516 ft
·
12 sec
6
Merge onto I 30; US 67; US 70
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 30; US 67; US 70
7
Take the exit onto US 70
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 70
Exit 129
Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 13B
Toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
9
Merge onto I 40; US 65
20 mi
·
20 min
·
I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 64
11
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft
·
8 sec
12
Turn left onto US 64
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Oak Street
13
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Oak Street
14
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft
·
19 sec
·
Locust Avenue
15
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.8 miles from Kentucky, 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
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 52.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
18.1 mi into trip
|
~24m 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
31.2 mi into trip
|
~39m 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
31.9 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
52.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.09 one way
$16.19 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.89 | $17.77 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.62 | $19.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.83 | $23.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.50 | $3.43 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Conway, AR
Late night in Conway on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 4m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route lacks any extended highway stretches. In fact, the longest uninterrupted stretch on I-30 is 0 miles, meaning you will be navigating transitions frequently. With 0% of the route categorized as highway-share, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience compared to a high-speed freeway trek. The character of the road demands your attention as you shift between these specific interstate segments, offering a dynamic pace that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 5.9 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 18.1 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.2 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.
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 Kentucky, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Oklahoma City
31.2 mi in
|
~39m
About the Cities
Starting in Kentucky, AR
Full guide →“Bluegrass State” · Founded 1792
Kentucky is a Southern state of the United States; its state capital is Frankfort. Attractions include horse racing and beautiful lakes. It is home to famous food (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hot Brown, and Burgoo), drink (bourbon whiskey) and music (bluegrass) traditions.
Top landmarks
- • United States Bullion Depository — building used for gold storage
- • Creation Museum — museum
- • Black Mountain — mountain in Kentucky, United States
Arriving in Conway, AR
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 53.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). 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 5.9 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 18.1 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.2 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.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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