Springdale, AR to Marion, AR is 322.3 miles and takes about 5h 34m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Arkansas, moving from the Ozarks region to the Delta. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip that's ideal for a single-day drive. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on the interstate, making it a practical option when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
161.1 miles from Springdale, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
264 mi
4h 27m
Fulbright Expressway
48.3 mi
49m
North Thompson Street
3.3 mi
6m
Blues Highway
2.3 mi
2m
North College Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
East Military Road
0.6 mi
1m
East Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
I-55 Service Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 264 mi, about 4h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springdale, AR and Marion, 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
142 mi·2 hr 23 min·I 40; US 71
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
122 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 40
Toward MemphisUse the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
10
Continue on I 55; US 78
2.3 mi·2 min·Blues Highway
11
Take the exit
337 ft·8 sec
Toward US 64 West: Marion, Sunset, Wynne
12
Continue on I-55 Service Road
0.2 mi·20 sec·I-55 Service Road
13
Turn right onto US 64
0.6 mi·1 min·East Military Road
14
Arrive at destination
East Military Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour-plus duration, consider departing Springdale in the morning to allow ample time for the drive and potential brief stops. With only one recommended stop and 97% highway driving, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel level, especially during the longest stretch on I 40, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. The fuel cost estimate of $47 is a good baseline for budgeting your trip.
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 161.1 miles from Springdale, AR, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 264 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 71 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.1 miles or 2h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marion, 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 322.3 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 264 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 321.4 — 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
7
196.3 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Memphis
5
318.3 mi into trip|~5h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
5
321.4 mi into trip|~5h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 64 West: Marion, Sunset, Wynne
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 West: Marion, Sunset, Wynne
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.22 one way
$94.43 round trip
$3.72/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.13
$52.42
$104.84
premium
$4.49
$56.92
$113.85
diesel
$5.60
$71.05
$142.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.7
1
$33.84
$15.47
Efficient EV
80.6
0
$28.20
$12.89
EV Truck/SUV
128.9
1
$45.12
$20.63
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Aug 23, 2026
Origin
Springdale, AR
Late night
in Springdale on Wednesday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 23 at 3:12AM CDT until August 23 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 23 at 12:41AM CDT until August 23 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Marion, AR
Late night
in Marion on Wednesday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 23 at 3:12AM CDT until August 23 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 23 at 12:41AM CDT until August 23 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
99°F
Delaware, AR
161 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
1 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
5h 34m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 drive is 97% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for almost the entire 322.3 miles. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 264 miles on I 40. You’ll notice the transition from more developed interstate corridors to stretches with fewer exits as you progress. The final miles will likely involve exiting the interstate onto surface streets like North Thompson Street to reach your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 264 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 8 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 322.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 196.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,634 ft189 ft
Total Climb
419 ft
Total Descent
1,521 ft
Highest Point
1,634 ft
~23 mi in
Elevation Range
1,445 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Springdale, AR and Marion, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock and Memphis.
Marion is in the Arkansas Delta, and is like a middle-class Memphis suburb on the Arkansas side, if there was one. You'll find a supply of higher quality hotels and restaurants here, but, more interestingly, a museum about a tragic event that occurred at the end of the Civil War.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 34m. Total distance: 322.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 264 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 196.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Marion, AR before the return drive.
