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Trip from Russellville, 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 26m

Distance

72.3 mi

116 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

seat of Pope County, Arkansas, USA

Russellville, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Hot Springs, AR, AR

Hot Springs, AR

Jimmy Liao

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Russellville to Hot Springs, this 72.3-mile trip is a straightforward journey that takes roughly 1 hour and 26 minutes. It serves as an excellent day trip, allowing you to easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Arkansas cities. Because both locations are situated in the Southeast region of the state, the climate and terrain remain consistent throughout your journey. This route is efficient for travelers who want to minimize time behind the wheel while moving between these two distinct hubs. It is a practical choice if you value a direct connection over a multi-day expedition.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South State Highway 7 44.8 mi 50m
AR 7 South 14.4 mi 16m
Park Avenue 6.2 mi 9m
North Arkansas Avenue 4.9 mi 5m
Central Avenue 1.1 mi 1m
South Scenic 7 Drive 0.3 mi <1m
North State Highway 7 0.2 mi <1m
AR 7 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: South State Highway 7 — 44.8 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Russellville, AR and Hot Springs, AR.

1

Start on AR 7

4.9 mi · 5 min · North Arkansas Avenue
2

At end of road, turn left onto AR 7

0.2 mi · 29 sec · North State Highway 7
3

Continue on AR 7

14 mi · 16 min · AR 7 South
4

Continue on AR 7; AR 10

0.3 mi · 24 sec · South Scenic 7 Drive
5

Turn right onto AR 7

0.2 mi · 17 sec · AR 7
6

Turn left onto AR 7

45 mi · 50 min · South State Highway 7
7

Enter roundabout onto AR 7

98 ft · 1 sec · Park Avenue
8

Continue on AR 7

6.1 mi · 9 min · Park Avenue
9

Continue on AR 7

1.1 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue
10

Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B

429 ft · 20 sec · West Grand Avenue
11

Continue on US 70B; US 270B

348 ft · 12 sec · West Grand Avenue
12

Arrive at destination

US 70B; US 270B

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Hot Springs Village, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hot Springs Village, AR

36 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

Ola, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ola, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Russellville, 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 5

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 72.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
4.9 mi into trip | ~5m in | AR 7 / North State Highway 7

At end of road, turn left onto AR 7 / North State Highway 7

Navigation decision point

3
19.9 mi into trip | ~23m in | AR 7

Turn right onto AR 7

Navigation decision point

3
20.1 mi into trip | ~23m in | AR 7 / South State Highway 7

Turn left onto AR 7 / South State Highway 7

Navigation decision point

4
64.9 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | AR 7 / Park Avenue

Enter roundabout onto AR 7 / Park Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

3
72.3 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | US 70B; US 270B / West Grand Avenue

Continue onto US 70B; US 270B / West Grand Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.92 one way

$21.84 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $11.99 $23.97
premium $4.56 $12.98 $25.95
diesel $5.61 $15.96 $31.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.7 0 $7.59 $3.47
Efficient EV 18.1 0 $6.33 $2.89
EV Truck/SUV 28.9 0 $10.12 $4.63

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Russellville, AR

Late night in Russellville on Sunday

Local time

3:07 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hot Springs, AR

Late night in Hot Springs on Sunday

Local time

3:07 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 26m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 83% of this trip is spent on major roads. Your primary path involves South State Highway 7 and AR 7 South, which offer a consistent driving rhythm. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 44.8 miles on South State Highway 7, allowing for steady progress before the road transitions into Park Avenue as you approach your destination. The route is designed for efficiency rather than technical complexity, making it a predictable drive for those comfortable with highway travel. You will find that the road maintains a reliable character from start to finish, keeping you on a clear, well-marked trajectory.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.8 mi on South State Highway 7.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South State Highway 7 and AR 7 South. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near AR 7 / North State Highway 7.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Russellville, AR to Hot Springs, AR is easy. At 1h 26m with 83% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles (AR 7 / North State Highway 7): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (AR 7): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles (AR 7 / South State Highway 7): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 72.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 44.8 miles on South State Highway 7. 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 4.9 miles (AR 7 / North State Highway 7): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (AR 7): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles (AR 7 / South State Highway 7): Navigation decision point.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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