Origin
Mena, AR
Late night in Mena on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mena, AR to Kentucky, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
104.7 mi
169 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 24m
★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 55m
10 AM
2h 42m
12 PM
2h 40m
3 PM
2h 43m
5 PM
2h 54m
8 PM
2h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mena, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Kentucky, AR
Owen.outdoors
Trip Overview
Spanning 114.9 miles across Arkansas, this trip connects Mena to Kentucky in approximately 2 hours and 12 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $18 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this route involves local roads like Church Avenue, Mena Street, and Pickering rather than major interstates. It is an ideal option if you prefer a focused, direct transit through the Southeast region of 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
52.4 miles from Mena, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 270 | 41.4 mi | 47m |
| Highway 88 | 23.3 mi | 40m |
| Park Avenue | 13.6 mi | 22m |
| Old Hot Springs Highway | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| AR 88 | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| Albert Pike Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Pickering | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Hot Springs Highway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 270
— 41.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mena, AR and Kentucky, AR.
1
Start on DeQueen Street
80 ft
·
8 sec
·
DeQueen Street
2
Turn left onto Church Avenue
375 ft
·
18 sec
·
Church Avenue
3
Turn right onto AR 88
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Mena Street
4
Turn left onto US 59; US 71; AR 8
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pickering
5
Turn right onto AR 88
6.1 mi
·
10 min
·
AR 88
6
Keep slight left at fork onto AR 88
23 mi
·
40 min
·
Highway 88
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 270
41 mi
·
47 min
·
US 270
8
Continue on US 270B
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Albert Pike Road
9
Turn right onto US 70B; US 270B
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Hobson Avenue
10
Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
3rd Street
11
Turn right onto US 70B; US 270B
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
West Grand Avenue
12
Turn left onto AR 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
13
Continue on AR 7
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Park Avenue
14
Enter roundabout onto Park Avenue
160 ft
·
2 sec
·
Park Avenue
15
Continue on Park Avenue
7.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Park Avenue
16
Continue on AR 5
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Old Hot Springs Highway
17
Continue on AR 5
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hot Springs Highway
18
Continue on AR 5
6.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Old Hot Springs Highway
19
Arrive at destination
AR 5
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2-hour and 12-minute trip with no formal stops, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, try to plan your departure during daylight hours to ensure better visibility on the local roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Mena, as you will want to have your $18 fuel budget ready to go to avoid unnecessary detours. Because the route relies entirely on local streets like Pickering and Mena Street, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersections. This route's simplicity is its greatest advantage, so enjoy the efficiency of a drive that gets you to your destination in a single, manageable stretch.
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 52.4 miles from Mena, AR, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.4 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 23 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 17m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kentucky, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mena, 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 Mena, AR
This is one driving day of about 104.7 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Mena, 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 US 270 for about 41.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.4 miles from Mena, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.8 — 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
|
Church Avenue
Turn left onto Church Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 88 / Mena Street
Turn right onto AR 88 / Mena Street
Navigation decision point
4
8.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
AR 88 / Highway 88
Keep slight left at fork onto AR 88 / Highway 88
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
31.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
US 270
At end of road, turn right onto US 270
Navigation decision point
4
75.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
US 70B; US 270B / 3rd Street
Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B / 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.81 one way
$31.62 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $17.36 | $34.72 |
| premium | $4.56 | $18.79 | $37.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.12 | $46.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.99 | $5.03 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.66 | $6.70 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Kentucky, AR
Late night in Kentucky on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Glenwood, AR
52 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
3 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
2h 34m 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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 79.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this 100% non-highway route keeps you moving through local infrastructure, providing a more engaged driving experience. Since there are no major highways to maintain high speeds, the pace remains steady and deliberate. You will find that the lack of planned stops means the drive is best viewed as a continuous journey from start to finish. Be prepared to navigate the winding nature of these local roads as you transition between your departure and arrival points.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.4 mi on US 270.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 270 and Highway 88. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Church Avenue.
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 2h 34m 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 (Church Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AR 88 / Mena Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (AR 88 / Highway 88): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Arriving in Kentucky, AR
Full guide →“Bluegrass State” · Founded 1792
Kentucky is a Southern state of the United States; its state capital is Frankfort. Attractions include horse racing and beautiful lakes. It is home to famous food (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hot Brown, and Burgoo), drink (bourbon whiskey) and music (bluegrass) traditions.
Top landmarks
- • United States Bullion Depository — building used for gold storage
- • Creation Museum — museum
- • Black Mountain — mountain in Kentucky, United States
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 2h 34m. Total distance: 104.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.4 miles on US 270. 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 (Church Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AR 88 / Mena Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (AR 88 / Highway 88): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Kentucky, 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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