Texarkana, AR to Prairie Grove, AR is 235.4 miles and takes about 4h 50m via US 71 and I 49, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting the Southeast region to itself. Expect a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. The route is designed for efficiency, getting you to your destination without extensive detours.
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
117.7 miles from Texarkana, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
86.5 mi
1h 42m
North Lakeside Drive
51.2 mi
59m
I 49
32.6 mi
32m
Main Street
24.3 mi
32m
North State Line Avenue
20.2 mi
27m
US 59
8 mi
11m
Hogeye Road
5.9 mi
10m
AR 156
4.2 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 86.5 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Texarkana, AR and Prairie Grove, AR.
1
Start on East 20th Street
180 ft·9 sec·East 20th Street
2
Turn right onto County Avenue
0.3 mi·42 sec·County Avenue
3
Turn left onto East 24th Street
0.3 mi·33 sec·East 24th Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 71
20 mi·27 min·North State Line Avenue
5
Continue on US 59; US 71
24 mi·32 min·Main Street
6
Continue on US 59; US 70; US 71; US 371
8.0 mi·11 min·US 59; US 70; US 71; US 371
7
Turn right onto US 59; US 71
51 mi·59 min·North Lakeside Drive
8
Continue on US 71; US 270
70 mi·1 hr 23 min·US 71; US 270
9
Take the exit onto US 71
12 mi·14 min·US 71
Toward 540 North
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
4.6 mi·4 min·US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, MemphisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 49 North: FayettevilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 49
33 mi·32 min·I 49
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·33 sec
Exit 53Toward State Highway 170: West ForkUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto AR 170
0.3 mi·32 sec·Phillips Street
15
Turn right onto AR 156
4.2 mi·7 min·AR 156
16
Continue on AR 265
0.1 mi·11 sec·South State Highway 265
17
Turn right onto Hogeye Road
5.9 mi·10 min·Hogeye Road
18
Continue on South Mock Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Mock Street
19
Turn left onto West Mock Drive
117 ft·5 sec·West Mock Drive
20
Arrive at destination
West Mock Drive
Trip Plan
For this 235.4-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from Texarkana to maximize daylight. With a total estimated drive time of just under 5 hours, it’s easily a same-day trip, but a mid-route stop around the halfway point could be beneficial if you prefer to break it up. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 86.5-mile stretch on US 71, where services might be more spaced out. The $34 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 117.7 miles from Texarkana, AR, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.5 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 52 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.7 miles or 2h 29m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prairie Grove, 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 235.4 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 US 71 for about 86.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway reset
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10 to $20
Mena, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+14793941112
Phase II - Bar & Grill Restaurant
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10 to $20
Texarkana, Texas
Hours: 5:30–11 PM
+19037923222
Mr. D’s
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~12 min detour
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Texarkana, Arkansas
Hours: Closed
+18707723819
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 224 — 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
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|East 24th Street
Turn left onto East 24th Street
Navigation decision point
8
186.1 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|US 71
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
6
190.7 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
7
224 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Take the exit toward State Highway 170: West Fork
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward State Highway 170: West Fork
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.03 one way
$72.07 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$39.91
$79.81
premium
$4.65
$43.09
$86.17
diesel
$6.28
$58.16
$116.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.6
0
$24.72
$11.30
Efficient EV
58.9
0
$20.60
$9.42
EV Truck/SUV
94.2
1
$32.96
$15.07
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Texarkana, AR
Morning
in Texarkana on Thursday
Local time
6:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Prairie Grove, AR
Morning
in Prairie Grove on Thursday
Local time
6:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 mph2% 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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 235.4-mile drive features 56% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads like I 49 before transitioning to US 71. The longest continuous stretch on US 71 is 86.5 miles, offering a chance for steady cruising. You'll notice the change from limited-access highway to more varied surface road conditions as you progress. Plan for around 4 hours and 50 minutes of driving time.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.5 mi on US 71.
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 235.4 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 186.1 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,582 ft329 ft
Total Climb
1,894 ft
Total Descent
1,089 ft
Highest Point
1,582 ft
~218.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,254 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 Texarkana, AR to Prairie Grove, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 235.4 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 (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.5 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 186.1 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Prairie Grove, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
