Connecting Mayflower to Fayetteville, this 168.6-mile journey across Arkansas typically takes about 2 hours and 55 minutes of drive time. Because it is a straightforward highway-focused route, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $26 on fuel for the one-way transit. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates, making this a highly efficient way to navigate between these two Southeast locations. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that lets you reach your destination with minimal fuss.
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
84.3 miles from Mayflower, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
122.7 mi
2h 2m
I 49
40.3 mi
40m
South Razorback Road
1.4 mi
2m
North Main Street
1 mi
2m
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
Mayflower Bypass
0.3 mi
<1m
South Cato Springs Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 122.7 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mayflower, AR and Fayetteville, AR.
1
Start on Miller Street
94 ft·6 sec·Miller Street
2
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto Carroll Road
0.1 mi·29 sec·Carroll Road
4
Turn right onto AR 89
0.3 mi·33 sec·Mayflower Bypass
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
6
Merge onto I 40; US 65
123 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 40; US 65
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
8
Continue on I 49
40 mi·40 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward AR 112, AR 265
10
Turn slight right onto AR 265
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Cato Springs Road
11
Continue on South Razorback Road
1.4 mi·2 min·South Razorback Road
12
Turn right onto AR 180
0.9 mi·2 min·West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto South School Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·South School Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn slight right onto South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi·52 sec·South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
15
Continue on South College Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·South College Avenue
16
Turn right onto East Center Street
147 ft·8 sec·East Center Street
17
Turn right
79 ft·5 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around traffic patterns. You only need to build in one primary stop to stay refreshed, which helps break up the monotony of the long interstate sections. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial 122.7-mile stretch on I-40 to ensure you aren't forced to exit in an inconvenient spot. Because the route relies so heavily on I-40 and I-49, checking for construction or congestion on these specific interstates before you leave is the best way to ensure an on-time arrival. Utilize the simplicity of the route to focus on a comfortable pace rather than worrying about complex navigation.
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 84.3 miles from Mayflower, AR, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.7 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 37 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.3 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mayflower, 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 Mayflower, AR
This is one driving day of about 168.6 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Mayflower, 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 122.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 168.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
165 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward AR 112, AR 265
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 112, AR 265
5
167 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|AR 180 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Turn right onto AR 180 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
167.9 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|South School Avenue
Turn left onto South School Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
168.6 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|East Center Street
Turn right onto East Center Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.46 one way
$50.93 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.95
$55.90
premium
$4.56
$30.26
$60.52
diesel
$5.61
$37.22
$74.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.6
0
$17.70
$8.09
Efficient EV
42.2
0
$14.75
$6.74
EV Truck/SUV
67.4
0
$23.60
$10.79
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Mayflower, AR
Afternoon
in Mayflower on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fayetteville, AR
Afternoon
in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
23 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
2h 55m 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?
With 97% of the trip spent on highways, this drive is defined by high-speed efficiency rather than winding backroads. You will spend the bulk of your time on a 122.7-mile stretch of I-40, which serves as the primary artery for the majority of the route. Once you transition onto I-49 and eventually South Razorback Road, the character of the drive shifts from long-distance interstate travel to your final approach. The road is built for consistent pacing, keeping you moving steadily toward Northwest Arkansas. Expect a functional, predictable experience behind the wheel that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive near North Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 55m drive. You will face about 10 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 (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 165 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167 miles (AR 180 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 168.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 122.7 miles on I 40. 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: near the start (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 165 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167 miles (AR 180 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fayetteville, AR before heading back.
