Springdale, AR to Prescott, AR is 264.5 miles and takes about 4h 50m via I 40 and I 30, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With 86% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly direct path for most of the 264.5 miles. This is a solid choice if you're looking for a single-day drive without too much complication.
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
132.2 miles from Springdale, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
64.9 mi
1h 4m
I 30
51.3 mi
51m
Fulbright Expressway
48.3 mi
49m
South State Highway 7
44.8 mi
50m
AR 7 South
14.4 mi
16m
Malvern Road
12.2 mi
13m
Hot Springs Bypass
6.1 mi
6m
South Arkansas Avenue
4.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springdale, AR and Prescott, 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
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40; US 71
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 78Toward US 64
9
Turn left onto US 64
1.6 mi·2 min·US 64
10
Continue on US 64; Hwy 326
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
11
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·South Arkansas Avenue
12
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7
0.2 mi·29 sec·North State Highway 7
13
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·AR 7 South
14
Continue on AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
15
Turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·17 sec·AR 7
16
Turn left onto AR 7
45 mi·50 min·South State Highway 7
17
Enter roundabout onto Hot Springs Bypass
222 ft·2 sec·Hot Springs Bypass
18
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
6.0 mi·6 min·Hot Springs Bypass
19
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi·2 min·Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
21
Keep slight left at fork
81 ft·8 sec
22
Turn left onto US 270
0.6 mi·46 sec·Malvern Avenue
23
Continue on US 270
12 mi·13 min·Malvern Road
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
25
Merge onto I 30
51 mi·51 min·I 30
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward AR 19: Prescott
27
Turn left onto AR 19
2.4 mi·4 min·Delight Highway
28
Arrive at destination
US 371
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 50m estimated drive time, leaving Springdale in the morning should allow you to reach Prescott with plenty of daylight to spare. The route has only one indicated stop, so you can plan around that or decide to push through if you prefer. With a fuel cost estimated around $42, it's wise to fill up before you leave Springdale or at the indicated stop to avoid any surprises. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads in the final leg of your trip, as this is where speeds will decrease and navigation might become more localized.
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 132.2 miles from Springdale, AR, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.9 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 58 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.2 miles or 2h 24m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prescott, 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 264.5 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 64.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 197.3 — 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
119.1 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78
Toward US 64
4
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 64
Turn left onto US 64
Navigation decision point
5
197.3 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.65 one way
$81.31 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$44.97
$89.93
premium
$4.65
$48.39
$96.78
diesel
$5.35
$55.71
$111.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.4
0
$27.77
$12.70
Efficient EV
66.1
0
$23.14
$10.58
EV Truck/SUV
105.8
1
$37.03
$16.93
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Springdale, AR
Afternoon
in Springdale on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Prescott, AR
Afternoon
in Prescott on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 50m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hot Springs National Park
National Park
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 191.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to be on highways for most of this trip, with 86% of the 264.5 miles on high-speed roads like I 40 and I 30. The longest continuous stretch without needing to exit is 64.9 miles on I 40. You'll encounter a good number of exits on the interstate sections, so keep an eye out for your interchanges. The drive will transition to surface roads for the final 14% of the distance, likely as you approach Prescott.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 30. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near US 71B / Fulbright Expressway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 264.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 119.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,374 ft231 ft
Total Climb
961 ft
Total Descent
1,959 ft
Highest Point
1,374 ft
~18.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,144 ft
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 Prescott, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 264.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.9 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Prescott, 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 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 119.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Prescott, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
