Traveling from Manila to Benton covers 186.3 miles across Arkansas, typically taking about 3 hours and 32 minutes of drive time. Because this journey fits comfortably into a single day, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $28 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. You will navigate primarily through the Southeast region, transitioning between local routes and major interstate corridors. It is a straightforward, practical drive that serves as an efficient connection between these two points in the state.
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
93.2 miles from Manila, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 45m
Highway 18
34.3 mi
46m
I 30
20.8 mi
23m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
US 167
4.9 mi
6m
AR 35
1.1 mi
1m
I 40
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manila, AR and Benton, AR.
1
Start on West Olympia Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·West Olympia Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 78; AR 18
34 mi·46 min·Highway 18
3
Turn left onto AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
4
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
6
Merge onto I 57
103 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 57
7
Merge onto I 40; US 167
0.9 mi·1 min·I 40; US 167
8
Take the exit onto US 167
4.9 mi·6 min·US 167
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67
21 mi·23 min·I 30; US 67
Exit 138Toward TexarkanaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
11
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.4 mi·37 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
12
Turn slight right onto AR 5
0.2 mi·28 sec·Old Hot Springs Highway
13
Turn left onto AR 35
1.1 mi·1 min·AR 35
14
Turn right onto East Sevier Street
383 ft·14 sec·East Sevier Street
15
Turn right onto North Main Street
14 ft·0 sec·North Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable one-day excursion, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 186.3-mile journey and keep your focus sharp behind the wheel. Given that your fuel costs will hover around $28, filling up before you merge onto the longer stretches of I-57 is a smart way to avoid unnecessary detours. Keep a close watch on your navigation as you transition between Highway 18 and the interstate system to ensure you maintain your momentum throughout the trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 93.2 miles from Manila, AR, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 41 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.2 miles or 1h 51m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manila, 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 Manila, AR
This is one driving day of about 186.3 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Manila, 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 102.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 184.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 78; AR 18 / Highway 18
At end of road, turn right onto US 78; AR 18 / Highway 18
Navigation decision point
5
54.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
158.8 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US...
8
163.7 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|I 30; US 67
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67 toward Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 138
Toward Texarkana
5
184.5 mi into trip|~3h 29m in
Take the exit toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.14 one way
$56.27 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.89
$61.77
premium
$4.56
$33.44
$66.88
diesel
$5.61
$41.13
$82.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.9
0
$19.56
$8.94
Efficient EV
46.6
0
$16.30
$7.45
EV Truck/SUV
74.5
0
$26.08
$11.92
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Manila, AR
Night
in Manila on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Benton, AR
Night
in Benton on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 32m 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.
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 186.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 95% of your travel occurs on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time utilizing Highway 18, I-57, and I-30 to make steady progress toward your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 102.7-mile segment on I-57, which requires sustained attention on the open road. While the route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure, the transition from local highways to the interstate system defines the shifting pace of the drive.
95% 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: 102.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Highway 18. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near US 78; AR 18 / Highway 18.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 186.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.6 miles (US 78; AR 18 / Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 158.8 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Manila, AR to Benton, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Texarkana
163.7 mi in|~3h 6m|via I 30; US 67
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 186.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on I 57. 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.
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 0.6 miles (US 78; AR 18 / Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 158.8 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Benton, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
