Connecting Russellville to Bentonville is a straightforward 139.2-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 29 minutes. Since this trip is well within the range of a comfortable day excursion, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-40 and I-49, keeping your travel time efficient and predictable. Budgeting approximately $21 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trip. Both cities are located within the Southeast region of Arkansas, making this a localized trek across the state. It is a highly practical route for travelers who value a direct, no-fuss connection between these two hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
69.6 miles from Russellville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
65.6 mi
1h 8m
I 40
64.8 mi
1h 4m
West Main Street
4.6 mi
7m
Southeast 14th Street
1.1 mi
2m
Southeast J Street
1 mi
2m
East Central Avenue
0.7 mi
2m
US 62
0.3 mi
<1m
Mission Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russellville, AR and Bentonville, AR.
1
Start on AR 7
106 ft·6 sec·North Arkansas Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 64
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
3
Continue on US 64
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Street
4
Turn right onto Mission Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mission Road
5
Continue on Lakewood Drive
367 ft·9 sec·Lakewood Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 78Toward I-40
7
Merge onto I 40
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40
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 left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
19 mi·20 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 62; AR 12
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 62; AR 12
Toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
12
Turn left onto AR 12; US 62
1.1 mi·2 min·Southeast 14th Street
13
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Southeast J Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·East Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Main Street
185 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 29 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the trip is relatively short, you likely won't require lengthy stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before hitting the main highway stretches is always smart. If you are planning to travel during peak hours, be mindful that interstate traffic can fluctuate, though the direct nature of the route helps minimize navigation stress. Aim to keep your departure flexible so you can avoid any potential congestion on the major interchanges. Since you have a $21 fuel estimate, filling up in Russellville before you get on the highway will ensure you have a smooth, uninterrupted run all the way to Bentonville.
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 69.6 miles from Russellville, AR, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.6 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 31 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.6 miles or 1h 12m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bentonville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Russellville, 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 Russellville, AR
This is one driving day of about 139.2 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Russellville, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 49 for about 65.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 138.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.9 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 78
Toward I-40
6
116.8 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|I 49; US 62; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
136.1 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|US 62; AR 12
Take the exit onto US 62; AR 12 toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Sou...
6
137.4 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|Southeast J Street
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
138.5 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|East Central Avenue
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.02 one way
$42.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$23.08
$46.16
premium
$4.56
$24.98
$49.97
diesel
$5.61
$30.73
$61.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.8
0
$14.62
$6.68
Efficient EV
34.8
0
$12.18
$5.57
EV Truck/SUV
55.7
0
$19.49
$8.91
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Russellville, AR
Late night
in Russellville on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bentonville, AR
Late night
in Bentonville on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Alma, AR
70 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
2h 29m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 94% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on the interstate, including a significant 65.6-mile uninterrupted stretch on I-49. The drive transitions from local city streets like West Main Street into the streamlined pace of the Arkansas highway system. Because the vast majority of your travel is on major interstates, you can anticipate a consistent, steady rhythm behind the wheel. The road is designed for efficiency rather than technical curves, allowing for a focused and fast-paced transit between your starting point and your destination.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.6 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and I 40. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 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 2h 29m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 116.8 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136.1 miles (US 62; AR 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Bentonville is a city of 51,000 people (2018) in the Northwest region of Arkansas. Widely known as the home to the corporate headquarters of retail giant Walmart, the city was noted by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the "Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012".
The longest stretch is about 65.6 miles on I 49. 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: at 4.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 116.8 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136.1 miles (US 62; AR 12): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bentonville, AR before heading back.
