Origin
Malvern, AR
Morning in Malvern on Sunday
Local time
10:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Malvern, AR to Benton, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Malvern, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Benton, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between Malvern and Benton, this 21.6-mile trip is an efficient way to travel through Arkansas. The drive typically takes about 26 minutes, making it a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily utilize US 270, Martin Luther King Boulevard, and I-30 to complete the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of just $3, it is an economical route for commuters or casual travelers. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of Arkansas, you won't experience significant shifts in geography or climate. It is a practical, no-nonsense path designed for those who value speed and directness over a leisurely pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 270 | 16 mi | 16m |
| Martin Luther King Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| I 30 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| West South Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| I-30 Frontage Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Oliver Lancaster Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Martin Luther King Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 270
— 16 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Malvern, AR and Benton, AR.
1
Start on this road
206 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
79 ft
·
11 sec
3
Turn left onto US 270B
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on US 270B
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King Boulevard
5
Continue on US 270B
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Oliver Lancaster Boulevard
6
Continue on US 270B
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Martin Luther King Road
7
Take the ramp onto US 270
16 mi
·
16 min
·
US 270
8
Continue on I 30; US 67; US 70
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 30; US 67; US 70
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Sevier Street, South Street
10
Continue on I-30 Frontage Road
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
I-30 Frontage Road
11
Turn slight right onto West South Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West South Street
12
Turn left onto North Main Street
394 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 270B / South Main Street
Turn left onto US 270B / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 270
Take the ramp onto US 270
Navigation decision point
5
19.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward Sevier Street, South Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Sevier Street, South Street
4
21.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.26 one way
$6.52 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $3.58 | $7.16 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.88 | $7.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Benton, AR
Morning in Benton on Sunday
Local time
10:54 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
2 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
26m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 82% of your time spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 16 miles along US 270. Transitioning from the highway segments onto Martin Luther King Boulevard and I-30 provides a blend of road types, though the experience remains consistently efficient. Expect a smooth, functional drive rather than a winding backroads adventure. Because the route is short and lacks planned stops, you can anticipate a streamlined experience behind the wheel that prioritizes getting you to your destination quickly.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16 mi on US 270.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 270 and Martin Luther King Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 270B / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (US 270): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Benton, AR
Full guide →Benton is in the Central region of Arkansas.
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 26m. Total distance: 21.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16 miles on US 270. 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 270B / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (US 270): 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 Benton, 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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