Tennessee, AR to Coal Hill, AR is 200.5 miles and takes about 3h 40m via US 65, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive mostly on major highways, making it a practical option for a single-day excursion. You'll find it's a relatively short commitment, allowing for flexibility in your departure time or potential for an early arrival.
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
100.2 miles from Tennessee, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 65
98.5 mi
1h 40m
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
26.9 mi
28m
Highway 530
23.4 mi
27m
I 530
16.8 mi
16m
US 425
15.8 mi
20m
West Main Street
9.3 mi
13m
I 30
4.2 mi
5m
US 278
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 40m
Traffic on I-530
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~852 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,084
Quietest
2 AM
~63 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 23 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tennessee, AR and Coal Hill, AR.
1
Start on Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Tennessee Spur Road
2
Turn right onto US 278
2.7 mi·4 min·US 278
3
Turn left onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
4
Turn left onto AR 11
1.7 mi·1 min·Highway 11
5
Turn right onto AR 530
23 mi·27 min·Highway 530
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·38 sec
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
Merge onto I 530; US 63; US 65; US 79
27 mi·28 min·Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
8
Continue on I 530; US 65
17 mi·16 min·I 530; US 65
9
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
4.2 mi·5 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 65
Exit 143AToward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
98 mi·1 hr 39 min·US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward US 64, SR 109
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 64
9.3 mi·13 min·West Main Street
14
Turn left onto 3rd Street
248 ft·13 sec·3rd Street
15
Turn right onto Oak Street
80 ft·3 sec·Oak Street
16
Arrive at destination
Oak Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under four hours, leaving anytime in the morning should get you to Coal Hill with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll want to plan for at least one stop, perhaps midway or closer to the 98.5-mile mark on US 65. Given the relatively low fuel cost of $29, you shouldn't have any budget concerns, but it's always wise to top off before heading out. Pay attention to the transition from US 65 to Highway 530 as this is where the driving environment will change from highway speeds to more local conditions.
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 100.2 miles from Tennessee, AR, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 44 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.2 miles or 1h 53m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coal Hill, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tennessee, 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 Tennessee, AR
This is one driving day of about 200.5 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Tennessee, 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 US 65 for about 98.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.9 and 200.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
43.9 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 530 North, US 65 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
92.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65 toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143A
Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Co...
6
92.7 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
190.9 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 64, SR 109
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64, SR 109
5
200.5 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|Oak Street
Turn right onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.69 one way
$61.38 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$33.99
$67.98
premium
$4.65
$36.70
$73.40
diesel
$6.28
$49.54
$99.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.2
0
$21.05
$9.62
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
EV Truck/SUV
80.2
1
$28.07
$12.83
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Tennessee, AR
Morning
in Tennessee on Thursday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Coal Hill, AR
Morning
in Coal Hill on Thursday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
27 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
3h 40m 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 81% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained, faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on US 65 covers 98.5 miles, offering a good opportunity for steady cruising. After that, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining portion of the trip, encountering more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you approach Coal Hill.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on US 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 43.9 miles in.
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 200.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.4 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.7 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
508 ft208 ft
Total Climb
456 ft
Total Descent
224 ft
Highest Point
508 ft
~186.2 mi in
Elevation Range
300 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 Tennessee, AR to Coal Hill, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
Tennessee is a US state in the South known for its rich history, music, and the Appalachian Mountains along its eastern border. Many visitors come to see Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 200.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on US 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
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 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.4 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.7 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Coal Hill, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
