Connecting Springdale to Conway, this 168.6-mile trek across Arkansas is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 57 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short and manageable, it works perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $26 for fuel to complete the transit. Navigating primarily via I-40, Fulbright Expressway, and North Thompson Street, you will stay within the Southeast region for the duration of the trip. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, this route offers a reliable and efficient way to cross the state.
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
84.3 miles from Springdale, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
112.1 mi
1h 52m
Fulbright Expressway
48.3 mi
49m
North Thompson Street
3.3 mi
6m
North College Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Harkrider Street
1.3 mi
1m
East Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Oak Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Skyline Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 112.1 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springdale, AR and Conway, AR.
1
Start on North Commercial Street
119 ft·7 sec·North Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Johnson Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 71B
3.3 mi·6 min·North Thompson Street
4
Continue on US 71B
1.5 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
48 mi·49 min·Fulbright Expressway
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
7
Merge onto I 40; US 71
112 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 40; US 71
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 65 North, US 65B South
9
Keep slight right at fork
498 ft·12 sec
10
Turn slight right onto US 65B
0.2 mi·21 sec·Skyline Drive
11
Continue on US 64; US 65B
0.5 mi·41 sec·Harkrider Street
12
Enter roundabout onto Harkrider Street
181 ft·2 sec·Harkrider Street
13
Continue on Harkrider Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Harkrider Street
14
Enter roundabout onto Harkrider Street
162 ft·2 sec·Harkrider Street
15
Continue on Harkrider Street
0.5 mi·49 sec·Harkrider Street
16
Turn right onto Oak Street
492 ft·9 sec·Oak Street
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Oak Street
18
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·19 sec·Locust Avenue
19
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft·4 sec·Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for one strategic stop along the way will help keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before entering the longest 112.1-mile stretch on I-40 to ensure you aren't caught off guard between major service areas. Because you are spending nearly the entire journey on major highways, monitor traffic reports for I-40 specifically, as congestion can occasionally impact your arrival time. Making a single stop is all you really need to break up the drive comfortably. Aim to leave during off-peak hours if you want to avoid the heaviest traffic patterns typically associated with the interstate segments of this route.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.3 miles from Springdale, AR, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.1 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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.3 miles or 1h 31m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Conway, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Springdale, 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 Springdale, AR
This is one driving day of about 168.6 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Springdale, 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 112.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 167.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.4 mi into trip|~10m in|US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
53.7 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
5
166.4 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward US 65 North, US 65B South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 65 North, US 65B South
5
166.6 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
167.6 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|Harkrider Street
Enter roundabout onto Harkrider Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.46 one way
$50.93 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.95
$55.90
premium
$4.56
$30.26
$60.52
diesel
$5.61
$37.22
$74.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.6
0
$17.70
$8.09
Efficient EV
42.2
0
$14.75
$6.74
EV Truck/SUV
67.4
0
$23.60
$10.79
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Springdale, AR
Late night
in Springdale on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Conway, AR
Late night
in Conway on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Ozark, AR
84 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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 57m 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 95% of your travel time will be spent on major roads. The personality of this drive is defined by a significant, 112.1-mile stretch on I-40, which serves as the backbone of your journey. While you will navigate local transitions on Fulbright Expressway and North Thompson Street, the vast majority of your time behind the wheel involves steady, high-speed interstate driving. You will find that the road maintains a consistent pace, allowing for predictable travel times once you clear the initial local exits. It is a functional, no-nonsense path that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Fulbright Expressway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near US 71B / Fulbright Expressway.
Driving Effort5/10
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 168.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 5.4 miles (US 71B / Fulbright Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Springdale, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 168.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112.1 miles on I 40. 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 5.4 miles (US 71B / Fulbright Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.4 miles: 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 Conway, AR before heading back.
