Traveling from Monticello to Benton covers 108.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 47 minutes. Since this journey is located entirely within Southeast Arkansas, you won't experience a major regional transition, but the shift from one town to the other is straightforward. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, making it ideal for those who prefer to avoid overnight stays. Budgeting roughly $15 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the drive. Because there are no mandatory stops built into this itinerary, you have the flexibility to plan your own breaks as you move between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.1 miles from Monticello, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 530
23.4 mi
27m
Sheridan Road
19.8 mi
23m
AR 35
19.4 mi
31m
US 425
15.7 mi
20m
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
9.7 mi
11m
Highway 11
1.7 mi
1m
Sheridan Bypass
1.3 mi
1m
Edison Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 530
— 23.4 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, AR and Benton, AR.
1
Start on US 278; Hwy 83
23 ft·6 sec·West Gaines Avenue
2
Turn left onto AR 83
213 ft·9 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 278; Hwy 83
0.3 mi·31 sec·West McCloy Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 278
146 ft·2 sec·North Hyatt Street
5
Turn slight right onto US 278
0.4 mi·31 sec·West Gaines Avenue
6
Take the ramp
219 ft·5 sec
7
Merge onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
8
Turn left onto AR 11
1.7 mi·1 min·Highway 11
9
Turn right onto AR 530
23 mi·27 min·Highway 530
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·38 sec
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
11
Merge onto I 530; US 63; US 65; US 79
9.7 mi·11 min·Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
300 ft·11 sec
14
Turn left onto US 270
20 mi·23 min·Sheridan Road
15
Turn right onto US 167
1.3 mi·1 min·Sheridan Bypass
16
Turn left onto AR 35
19 mi·31 min·AR 35
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto AR 35
1.1 mi·1 min·Edison Avenue
18
At end of road, turn right onto AR 35
0.3 mi·27 sec·South East Street
19
Turn left onto East Ashley Street
497 ft·9 sec·East Ashley Street
20
Continue on South Main Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 47 minute duration, you have plenty of scheduling flexibility for your departure time. Since this route lacks a dedicated highway stretch, keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between North Main Street and North Hyatt Street. Plan to fuel up before you leave Monticello to keep your $15 budget on track and avoid searching for stations during the more technical turns of the drive. Because there are no scheduled stops, decide early on if you need to pull over for a break to stretch your legs. This route is best treated as a direct, no-fuss transit, so keeping your vehicle prepared for local road conditions is the best way to ensure a smooth arrival in Benton.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.1 miles from Monticello, AR, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.4 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.1 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
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 Monticello, 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 Monticello, AR
This is one driving day of about 94.3 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Monticello, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 530 for about 23.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 73.3 — 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|AR 83 / North Main Street
Turn left onto AR 83 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue
Turn left onto US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 278 / North Hyatt Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 278 / North Hyatt Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
41.6 mi into trip|~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 530 North, US 65 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
6
73.3 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|AR 35
Turn left onto AR 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.24 one way
$28.48 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.63
$31.27
premium
$4.56
$16.93
$33.85
diesel
$5.61
$20.82
$41.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.90
$4.53
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.25
$3.77
EV Truck/SUV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.04
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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
Monticello, AR
Night
in Monticello on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
75°F
Walnut Ridge, AR
47 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
1 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 2m 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 94.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate via North Main Street, West McCloy Avenue, and North Hyatt Street to complete the connection. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on North Main Street, your focus will be consistently engaged with local road transitions. This is a hands-on driving experience where the road surface and path change frequently. Prepare for a steady, localized pace that keeps you off major high-speed thoroughfares throughout the entire 108.9-mile journey.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.4 mi on Highway 530.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 530 and Sheridan Road. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 83 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 94.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (AR 83 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 278 / North Hyatt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 94.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.4 miles on Highway 530. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Benton, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 83 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 278 / North Hyatt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
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.
