This 144.8-mile drive from Lake City, AR to Conway, AR is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 51 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the journey on interstates and major roads. You'll primarily travel on I 57 and US 64, with 1st Street playing a role as you enter Conway. With a projected fuel cost of around $22, this is an economical option for a quick regional hop within Arkansas's Southeast region. Plan for just one main stop along the way for this efficient journey.
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
72.4 miles from Lake City, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
74.5 mi
1h 16m
US 64
34 mi
44m
1st Street
15.2 mi
22m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
Oak Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Cottonwood Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Carter Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 74.5 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, AR and Conway, AR.
1
Start on Carter Street
372 ft·21 sec·Carter Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Street
36 ft·3 sec·4th Street
3
Turn right onto Carter Street
333 ft·19 sec·Carter Street
4
Turn left onto Main Street
236 ft·12 sec·Main Street
5
Turn right onto Cottonwood Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Cottonwood Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 78; AR 18
15 mi·22 min·1st Street
7
Turn left onto AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
8
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
10
Merge onto I 57
75 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57
11
Take the exit onto US 64
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 64
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
34 mi·43 min·US 64
Toward US 64 West: Conway
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
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under 3 hours, this route from Lake City to Conway is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. Aim to depart in the morning to give yourself ample time to reach your destination and explore Conway without feeling rushed. The longest stretch without a significant town is 74.5 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps utilizing the single recommended stop. With a fuel cost estimated at $22, keeping your tank topped up should be straightforward and budget-friendly.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.4 miles from Lake City, AR, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.5 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 32 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.4 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
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 Lake City, 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 Lake City, AR
This is one driving day of about 144.8 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Lake City, 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 57 for about 74.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 110.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Cottonwood Street
Turn right onto Cottonwood Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 78; AR 18 / 1st Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 78; AR 18 / 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
35.5 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
110.4 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|US 64
Take the exit onto US 64 toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe,...
5
110.8 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 toward US 64 West: Conway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 64 West: Conway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.87 one way
$43.74 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$24.01
$48.01
premium
$4.56
$25.99
$51.98
diesel
$5.61
$31.97
$63.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.20
$6.95
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
EV Truck/SUV
57.9
0
$20.27
$9.27
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 20, 2026
Origin
Lake City, AR
Late night
in Lake City on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Conway, AR
Late night
in Conway on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3 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
2h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 144.8-mile trip, with 84% of your time spent on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 74.5 miles on I 57, offering a consistent pace. You'll transition from I 57 to US 64, indicating a shift in the road's character as you move from interstate speeds to potentially busier, but still efficient, highway travel. The final approach into Conway will involve 1st Street, bringing you into a more local road environment to complete the drive.
84% 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: 74.5 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 64. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Cottonwood Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Cottonwood Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 78; AR 18 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
The longest stretch is about 74.5 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Cottonwood Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 78; AR 18 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Conway, AR before heading back.
