Tennessee, AR to Ozark, AR is 210.8 miles and takes about 3h 47m via US 65, Wiley A Branton Sr Highway, and Highway 530, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. With over 87% of the drive on highways, you'll find this route straightforward for a single-day excursion. It's a practical option if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two locations within 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
105.4 miles from Tennessee, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 65
115.9 mi
1h 57m
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
I 30
4.2 mi
5m
US 278
2.7 mi
4m
AR 219
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 115.9 mi, about 1h 57m
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 Ozark, 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
116 mi·1 hr 56 min·US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward AR 219: Ozark
13
Keep slight left at fork
142 ft·5 sec
14
Turn left onto AR 219
2.1 mi·3 min·AR 219
15
Turn right onto US 64
135 ft·2 sec·West Commercial Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 64
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 47-minute estimated drive time, leaving Tennessee, AR in the morning should allow you to reach Ozark, AR with plenty of daylight to spare. The route is short enough that you can be flexible with your departure time. Plan for one primary stop to refuel or stretch your legs; the longest stretch without a major road change is over 115 miles, so consider this when planning your break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the end of the longest highway segment, to ensure a smooth arrival.
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 105.4 miles from Tennessee, AR, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.9 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 46 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.4 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ozark, 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 210.8 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 115.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 92.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 278
Turn right onto US 278
Navigation decision point
4
18.7 mi into trip|~25m in|AR 11 / Highway 11
Turn left onto AR 11 / Highway 11
Navigation decision point
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.27 one way
$64.53 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$35.74
$71.47
premium
$4.65
$38.58
$77.17
diesel
$6.28
$52.09
$104.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.2
0
$22.13
$10.12
Efficient EV
52.7
0
$18.45
$8.43
EV Truck/SUV
84.3
1
$29.51
$13.49
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Tennessee, AR
Morning
in Tennessee on Thursday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ozark, AR
Morning
in Ozark on Thursday
Local time
7:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 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 47m 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?
For most of this trip, you'll be on highways, covering 87% of the 210.8 miles on major roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 115.9 miles, which occurs on US 65. Expect a good amount of highway cruising before transitioning to surface roads for the remainder of your travel. This setup means you'll likely encounter fewer intersections and more consistent speeds for a significant portion of the drive.
87% 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: 115.9 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 0.3 miles in near US 278.
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 210.8 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 0.3 miles (US 278): Navigation decision point; at 18.7 miles (AR 11 / Highway 11): Navigation decision point; at 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
576 ft214 ft
Total Climb
482 ft
Total Descent
317 ft
Highest Point
576 ft
~195.7 mi in
Elevation Range
362 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 Ozark, 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.
Ozark is a city of 3,700 people (2019) in the River Valley region of Arkansas. Ozark is adjacent to much of Arkansas wine country, and has a bridge to cross the Arkansas River for travelers heading to points south. The city is on Arkansas Highway 23, nicknamed the Pig Trail Scenic Byway, known for its steep drops, sharp curves and scenic mountain views.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 47m. Total distance: 210.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.9 miles on US 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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 0.3 miles (US 278): Navigation decision point; at 18.7 miles (AR 11 / Highway 11): Navigation decision point; at 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Ozark, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
