If you are planning a trip from Texarkana to Forrest City, expect a 233.3-mile journey that takes approximately 4 hours and 3 minutes to complete. Because this route relies entirely on local roads like County Avenue, East 24th Street, and Jefferson Avenue rather than interstates, it is best approached as a focused, one-day drive. You should budget about $32 for fuel to cover the distance across this stretch of Southeast Arkansas. While the drive is manageable in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the route means you will need to stay alert behind the wheel. Choosing this path offers a clear alternative to standard highway travel, provided you are prepared for a slower, more engaged pace. It is a straightforward trip that connects two points in the same state without the monotony of long-distance freeway driving.
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
116.6 miles from Texarkana, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,309 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,675
Quietest
2 AM
~282 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 21 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 Texarkana, AR and Forrest City, AR.
1
Start on East 20th Street
180 ft·9 sec·East 20th Street
2
Turn right onto County Avenue
0.3 mi·38 sec·County Avenue
3
Turn right onto East 24th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 24th Street
4
Turn left onto Jefferson Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·Jefferson Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
6
Merge onto I 30
2.9 mi·3 min·North Loop
7
Continue on I 30
134 mi·2 hr 16 min·Purple Heart Trail
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 440
10 mi·11 min·East Belt Freeway
Toward I 440 East: Little Rock Airport, Little Rock River Port, Memphis
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Memphis
11
Merge onto I 40
81 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 40
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward AR 1B South: Forrest City
13
Turn straight onto AR 1B
1.7 mi·2 min·Washington Street
14
Turn right onto US 70
0.3 mi·26 sec·West Broadway Avenue
15
Turn right onto North Division
31 ft·1 sec·North Division
16
Arrive at destination
North Division
Trip Plan
For a successful 4-hour and 3-minute drive, try to depart early in the morning to navigate the turn-heavy local roads during daylight hours. Since the route includes only one planned stop, ensure your vehicle is fueled up and ready to go before you leave, keeping that $32 fuel budget in mind. Because you are navigating local streets like Jefferson Avenue and East 24th Street rather than major highways, build in extra time for traffic or unexpected turns. My best advice for this specific journey is to keep a reliable GPS navigation tool running, as the lack of highway segments means you will be making frequent turns that are easy to miss. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this trip, so don't hesitate to take a breather at your designated stop to stay refreshed.
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 116.6 miles from Texarkana, AR, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.5 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 51 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.6 miles or 2h 1m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forrest City, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Texarkana, 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 Texarkana, AR
This is one driving day of about 233.3 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Texarkana, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 133.5 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 0 and 149.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|County Avenue
Turn right onto County Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|East 24th Street
Turn right onto East 24th Street
Navigation decision point
6
139.2 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|I 440 / East Belt Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 440 / East Belt Freeway toward I 440 East: Little Rock Airport, Little Rock River Port, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 440 East: Little Rock Airport, Little...
6
149.2 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
5
149.4 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.39 one way
$64.77 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$36.23
$72.47
premium
$4.29
$39.39
$78.79
diesel
$4.80
$44.05
$88.10
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: 81.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70
0
$24.50
$11.20
Efficient EV
58.3
0
$20.41
$9.33
EV Truck/SUV
93.3
1
$32.66
$14.93
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Texarkana, AR
Late night
in Texarkana on Sunday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Forrest City, AR
Late night
in Forrest City on Sunday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:12AM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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 3m 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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 96.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a drive that demands your full attention, as this route is defined by its turn-heavy, local road character rather than high-speed cruising. With a highway share of 0%, you won’t find any long, mindless stretches of interstate here. In fact, the longest uninterrupted stretch on County Avenue is 0 miles, meaning you will be navigating frequent turns and transitions throughout the entire 233.3-mile trip. This constant engagement creates a very different experience compared to a typical highway commute, requiring you to stay sharp as you navigate the local infrastructure. Expect a hands-on driving experience where the road surface and direction change frequently as you make your way toward Forrest City.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 133.5 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near County Avenue.
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 233.3 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: near the start (County Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 139.2 miles (I 440 / East Belt Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
388 ft187 ft
Total Climb
212 ft
Total Descent
319 ft
Highest Point
388 ft
~48.6 mi in
Elevation Range
200 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Texarkana, AR and Forrest City, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock River Port, Memphis and Fort Smith.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 233.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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.
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: near the start (County Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East 24th Street): Navigation decision point; at 139.2 miles (I 440 / East Belt Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Forrest City, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
