Origin
Morrilton, AR
Late night in Morrilton on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Morrilton, AR to Hot Springs, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
66.6 mi
107 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 42m
★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Morrilton, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Hot Springs, AR
Jimmy Liao
Trip Overview
Connecting Morrilton to Hot Springs, this 66.6-mile drive is a straightforward journey through Arkansas that typically takes about 1 hour and 49 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you choose to extend your time in the destination. You can expect a modest fuel budget of roughly $10 for the one-way trip. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of the state, the transition between them feels consistent rather than jarring. It is an ideal choice for travelers looking for a manageable regional route that balances efficiency with a bit of local flavor.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.3 miles from Morrilton, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 9 | 29.9 mi | 50m |
| Park Avenue | 13.6 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 10 | 9.6 mi | 14m |
| Old Hot Springs Highway | 5.9 mi | 10m |
| Main Street | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| East Broadway Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Hot Springs Highway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 9
— 29.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morrilton, AR and Hot Springs, AR.
1
Start on South Moose Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Moose Street
2
Turn right onto US 64
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Use the left lane.
4
Turn straight onto AR 9
9.3 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 9
5
Continue on AR 9
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Main Street
6
Continue on AR 9; AR 10
9.6 mi
·
14 min
·
State Highway 10
7
Turn right onto AR 9
51 ft
·
1 sec
·
State Highway 9
8
Continue on AR 9
21 mi
·
36 min
·
State Highway 9
9
At end of road, turn right onto AR 5
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hot Springs Highway
10
Continue on AR 5
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Old Hot Springs Highway
11
Continue on AR 5
7.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Park Avenue
12
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
236 ft
·
3 sec
·
Park Avenue
13
Continue on AR 7
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Park Avenue
14
Continue on AR 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
15
Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B
429 ft
·
20 sec
·
West Grand Avenue
16
Continue on US 70B; US 270B
348 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Grand Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
US 70B; US 270B
Trip Plan
Given the total duration of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the route is direct with no required stops, you can easily plan your day around your specific destination goals in Hot Springs. Aim to fill your tank before heading out to keep your costs near that $10 estimate, as you won't encounter major service breaks along the way. Because your longest stretch of 29.9 miles occurs early on State Highway 9, make sure you are comfortable with your vehicle's performance before leaving Morrilton. Take advantage of the short travel time by departing early in the morning to maximize your full day at your destination.
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 33.3 miles from Morrilton, AR, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.9 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 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.3 miles or 52m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hot Springs, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Morrilton, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Morrilton, AR
This is one driving day of about 66.6 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Morrilton, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 9 for about 29.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.3 miles from Morrilton, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 59.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 64 / East Broadway Street
Turn right onto US 64 / East Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
24.6 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
AR 9 / State Highway 9
Turn right onto AR 9 / State Highway 9
Navigation decision point
4
45.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
AR 5 / Hot Springs Highway
At end of road, turn right onto AR 5 / Hot Springs Highway
Navigation decision point
4
59.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
AR 7 / Park Avenue
Enter roundabout onto AR 7 / Park Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.06 one way
$20.12 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.04 | $22.08 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.95 | $23.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.70 | $29.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20 | 0 | $6.99 | $3.20 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.83 | $2.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.32 | $4.26 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Hot Springs, AR
Late night in Hot Springs on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Kentucky, AR
33 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
2 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
1h 49m 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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 64.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps you engaged without being overly taxing. You will spend about 59% of your time on highways, providing a nice balance between steady cruising and navigating more localized roads. State Highway 9 serves as the backbone of your journey, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 29.9 miles that allows you to settle into a rhythm. As you transition onto State Highway 10 and Park Avenue, the road character shifts, requiring you to stay attentive to changing conditions. You won't face a monotonous interstate grind here; instead, the route provides a practical variety of road types that reflect the landscape between these two Arkansas hubs.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.9 mi on State Highway 9.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 64 / East Broadway Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Morrilton, AR to Hot Springs, AR is easy. At 1h 49m with 59% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 64 / East Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (AR 9 / State Highway 9): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
778 ft
288 ft
Total Climb
1,106 ft
Total Descent
903 ft
Highest Point
778 ft
~19 mi in
Elevation Range
491 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 66.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.9 miles on State Highway 9. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 64 / East Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (AR 9 / State Highway 9): Navigation decision point.
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 Hot Springs, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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