Traveling from Magnolia to Bentonville covers 345.5 miles and takes approximately 5 hours and 21 minutes of driving time. Because this route stays entirely within Arkansas, you will remain in the Southeast region for the duration of your journey. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, though the turn-heavy nature of the local roads makes it feel more substantial than a standard highway cruise. Budgeting about $53 for fuel should cover your needs for the trek. Since the route relies on roads like East Main Street, West Main Street, and North Vine Street rather than high-speed interstates, expect a more localized driving experience from start to finish.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
161.1 miles from Magnolia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
65.6 mi
1h 8m
I 40
64.8 mi
1h 4m
I 30
51.8 mi
51m
AR 7
45.1 mi
51m
US 371
17.9 mi
26m
Rosston Highway
15.8 mi
23m
4th Street
14.4 mi
16m
Martin Luther King Road
12.3 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Magnolia, AR and Bentonville, AR.
1
Start on US 79B; AR 19
10 ft·7 sec·Jackson Street
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
326 ft·7 sec·East Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto West Main Street
415 ft·10 sec·West Main Street
4
Continue on West Main Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·West Main Street
5
Turn right onto US 371
7.2 mi·10 min·North Vine Street
6
Turn right onto US 371
18 mi·26 min·US 371
7
Turn right onto US 371
16 mi·23 min·Rosston Highway
8
Continue on US 371
1.2 mi·1 min·Rosston Road
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 67; US 371
0.4 mi·45 sec·West 1st Street South
10
Turn left onto US 371
2.1 mi·3 min·West Main Street
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
12
Merge onto I 30
52 mi·51 min·I 30
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 270 West: Hot Springs
14
Merge onto US 270
12 mi·14 min·Martin Luther King Road
15
Continue on US 270
0.5 mi·33 sec·Malvern Avenue
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
17
Merge onto US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway
18
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
5.9 mi·6 min·Hot Springs Bypass
19
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
185 ft·2 sec·AR 7
20
Continue on AR 7
45 mi·50 min·AR 7
21
At end of road, turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·20 sec·AR 7
22
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·23 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
23
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·4th Street
24
Continue on AR 7
0.2 mi·15 sec·North State Highway 7
25
Continue on AR 22
374 ft·9 sec·AR 22
26
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·Union Street
27
Turn left onto US 64
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
28
Continue on US 64
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Street
29
Turn right onto Mission Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mission Road
30
Continue on Lakewood Drive
367 ft·9 sec·Lakewood Drive
31
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 78Toward I-40
32
Merge onto I 40
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40
33
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
34
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
19 mi·20 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
36
Take the exit onto US 62; AR 12
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 62; AR 12
Toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
37
Turn left onto AR 12; US 62
1.1 mi·2 min·Southeast 14th Street
38
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Southeast J Street
Use the left lane.
39
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·East Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
40
Turn right onto North Main Street
185 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
41
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since you have a 5-hour and 21-minute drive ahead of you, plan to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours for your navigation. You are limited to just one recommended stop, so choose your break point strategically to stretch your legs and refuel. Keeping a close eye on your fuel gauge is wise, as local roads can sometimes lead to unpredictable consumption compared to steady highway driving. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this route; since you aren't tied to a major interstate, feel free to adjust your pace as needed. Always double-check your navigation before hitting North Vine Street to ensure you stay on track through the more complex turn-heavy sections.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161.1 miles from Magnolia, AR, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.6 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 71 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.1 miles or 3h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bentonville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Magnolia, 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 Magnolia, AR
This is one driving day of about 322.3 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Magnolia, 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 49 for about 65.6 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 320.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Main Street
Enter roundabout onto West Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
118.2 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|AR 7
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
188 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 78
Toward I-40
6
299.9 mi into trip|~5h 40m 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.
6
320.5 mi into trip|~6h 4m in|Southeast J Street
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.67 one way
$97.35 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$53.43
$106.87
premium
$4.56
$57.85
$115.70
diesel
$5.61
$71.16
$142.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.7
1
$33.84
$15.47
Efficient EV
80.6
0
$28.20
$12.89
EV Truck/SUV
128.9
1
$45.12
$20.63
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Magnolia, AR
Evening
in Magnolia on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bentonville, AR
Evening
in Bentonville on Saturday
Local time
8:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 111.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. With a 0% highway share, you will navigate through town corridors and local connectors rather than monotonous, high-speed lanes. The path winds through the Southeast Arkansas landscape, requiring frequent adjustments and careful navigation through various turns. Because you aren't spending time on major interstates, the pace remains steady but deliberate. You won't find long, uninterrupted stretches here, so prepare for a drive that changes character as you progress through each local segment.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.6 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 322.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 118.2 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 188 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Bentonville is a city of 51,000 people (2018) in the Northwest region of Arkansas. Widely known as the home to the corporate headquarters of retail giant Walmart, the city was noted by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the "Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012".
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 8m. Total distance: 322.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.6 miles on I 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Bentonville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 118.2 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 188 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bentonville, AR before the return drive.
