Sherwood, AR to Cave Springs, AR is 204.5 miles and takes about 3h 39m via I 40 and I 49, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region toward the Northwest. The majority of this drive is on major interstates, making for a straightforward transit. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, offering a practical way to cover ground without significant detours.
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
102.3 miles from Sherwood, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
139.1 mi
2h 19m
I 49
51.3 mi
52m
North Maestri Road
2.3 mi
4m
John F Kennedy Boulevard
1.9 mi
3m
South Main Street (Cave Springs)
1.8 mi
3m
South Elm Street
1.6 mi
3m
West Sunset Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
North Main Street Elm Springs
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 139.1 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sherwood, AR and Cave Springs, AR.
1
Start on South Fairway Avenue
181 ft·9 sec·South Fairway Avenue
2
Turn right onto Wildwood Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·Wildwood Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto Sherwood Avenue
0.3 mi·48 sec·Sherwood Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto Country Club Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Country Club Road
5
Turn right onto North Hills Boulevard
480 ft·21 sec·North Hills Boulevard
6
Turn left onto AR 107
1.9 mi·3 min·John F Kennedy Boulevard
7
Turn right onto McCain Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·McCain Boulevard
8
Continue on West 47th Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·West 47th Street
9
Turn left onto AR 176
0.7 mi·1 min·Camp Robinson Road
10
Turn right onto AR 176
509 ft·12 sec·West 37th Street
11
Continue on AR 176
0.2 mi·32 sec·Doyle Venable Drive
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 40; US 65
139 mi·2 hr 19 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
15
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
4.9 mi·5 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 72Toward US 412Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
193 ft·12 sec
Toward US 412Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn left onto US 412
1.5 mi·2 min·West Sunset Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on US 412
0.4 mi·38 sec·East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto AR 112
2.3 mi·4 min·North Maestri Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on AR 112
1.6 mi·3 min·South Elm Street
23
Continue on AR 112
0.9 mi·1 min·North Main Street Elm Springs
24
Continue on AR 112
1.8 mi·3 min·South Main Street (Cave Springs)
25
Turn right onto Midway Avenue
53 ft·7 sec·Midway Avenue
26
Turn left
43 ft·3 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this single-day trip, consider an early morning departure from Sherwood to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic. The longest stretch without a major exit is 139.1 miles on I 40, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment. With only one recommended stop and a 3h 39m estimated duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Plan for your fuel needs, as the estimated cost is $33, and take advantage of the ample rest areas along the interstates. The transition from interstate to surface roads on North Maestri Road will signal you're nearing your destination.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 102.3 miles from Sherwood, AR, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.1 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 45 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.3 miles or 1h 48m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cave Springs, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sherwood, 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 Sherwood, AR
This is one driving day of about 204.5 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Sherwood, 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 I 40 for about 139.1 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 196 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Country Club Road
At end of road, turn left onto Country Club Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
190.7 mi into trip|~3h 18m 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.
7
195.7 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 412
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72
Toward US 412
8
196 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 412
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward US 412
6
196 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|US 412 / West Sunset Avenue
Turn left onto US 412 / West Sunset Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.39 one way
$56.78 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$31.76
$63.52
premium
$4.29
$34.53
$69.06
diesel
$4.80
$38.61
$77.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.4
0
$21.47
$9.82
Efficient EV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
EV Truck/SUV
81.8
1
$28.63
$13.09
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Sherwood, AR
Late night
in Sherwood on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:40PM CDT until July 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Cave Springs, AR
Late night
in Cave Springs on Sunday
Local time
4:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 0 to 5 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:40PM CDT until July 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
73°F
Delaware, AR
102 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 39m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 93% of the 204.5 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 139.1 miles on I 40 before transitioning to I 49. The final segment will involve North Maestri Road, marking the end of the high-speed cruising. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and frequent exits on the interstate portions, typical of major highway travel.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Country Club Road.
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 204.5 miles you will encounter 18 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: at 0.5 miles (Country Club Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 190.7 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 39m. Total distance: 204.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Cave Springs, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Country Club Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 190.7 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Cave Springs, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
