Marianna, AR to Springdale, AR is 289.4 miles and takes about 5h 17m via I 40 and I 49, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the southeastern part of the state to the northwestern region. You'll be on a predominantly highway route, making it a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short duration, this is a manageable one-day trip. Plan for a fuel cost of approximately $43.
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
144.7 miles from Marianna, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
208.2 mi
3h 30m
I 49
46.4 mi
47m
State Highway 78
14.9 mi
26m
US 79
8.9 mi
13m
South Thompson Street
3.3 mi
5m
East Chestnut Street
2.9 mi
4m
Fulbright Expressway
2.2 mi
2m
North College Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 208.2 mi, about 3h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marianna, AR and Springdale, AR.
1
Start on North Poplar Street
295 ft·13 sec·North Poplar Street
2
Turn left onto East Chestnut Street
2.9 mi·4 min·East Chestnut Street
3
Continue on US 79
8.9 mi·13 min·US 79
4
Turn right onto AR 78
4.9 mi·8 min·State Highway 78
5
Continue on AR 78
10 mi·17 min·State Highway 78
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
208 mi·3 hr 30 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
9
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
2.2 mi·2 min·Fulbright Expressway
Exit 67BToward US 71B: Fayetteville Business DistrictUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on US 71B
1.3 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
12
Continue on US 71B
3.3 mi·5 min·South Thompson Street
13
Turn right onto West Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·West Johnson Avenue
14
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
119 ft·5 sec·North Commercial Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Commercial Street
Trip Plan
For this single-day drive of under six hours, you can depart anytime that suits your schedule. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 208.2 miles on I 40, you'll have plenty of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $43 for the entire trip. It's wise to fill up before embarking on the longest segment on I 40 to ensure a smooth continuation of your drive.
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 144.7 miles from Marianna, AR, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 208.2 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 64 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.7 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springdale, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marianna, 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 Marianna, AR
This is one driving day of about 289.4 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Marianna, 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 40 for about 208.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.8 and 289.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
26.8 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
27.1 mi into trip|~45m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
235.3 mi into trip|~4h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
8
282 mi into trip|~5h 4m in|US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
4
289.4 mi into trip|~5h 17m in|North Commercial Street
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.05 one way
$90.10 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.67
$99.33
premium
$4.71
$53.68
$107.35
diesel
$6.18
$70.40
$140.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.8
1
$30.39
$13.89
Efficient EV
72.4
0
$25.32
$11.58
EV Truck/SUV
115.8
1
$40.52
$18.52
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Marianna, AR
Afternoon
in Marianna on Saturday
Local time
12:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
N 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Springdale, AR
Afternoon
in Springdale on Saturday
Local time
12:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Partly Cloudy
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
85°F
Delaware, AR
145 mi in
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
8 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
5h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 97% highway share. You'll experience a long stretch of 208.2 miles on I 40 before transitioning to other major roads like I 49 and State Highway 78. Expect mostly rural cruising with frequent exits as you cover the majority of the distance on interstates.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 208.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 26.8 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 17m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 235.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The longest stretch is about 208.2 miles on I 40. 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.
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 26.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 235.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Springdale, AR before the return drive.
