Texarkana to Van Buren is 185 miles and takes about 3 hours 51 minutes via US 71, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the southeastern part of the state. Expect a mixed driving experience, offering a straightforward journey for those looking for a relatively short, one-day drive. The total distance is manageable, making it a good option for a quick regional trip without requiring an overnight stay.
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
92.5 miles from Texarkana, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
79.3 mi
1h 34m
North Lakeside Drive
51.2 mi
59m
Main Street
24.3 mi
32m
North State Line Avenue
20.2 mi
27m
US 59
8 mi
11m
South 4th Street
0.6 mi
1m
South 11th Street
0.4 mi
1m
East 24th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 79.3 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Texarkana, AR and Van Buren, 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
9.4 mi·11 min·US 71
Toward 540 North
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward AR 59: Van Buren
11
Turn right onto Twin Circle Drive
0.2 mi·34 sec·Twin Circle Drive
12
Turn right onto AR 59
0.6 mi·1 min·South 4th Street
13
Turn right onto Wood Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Wood Street
14
Continue on South 11th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South 11th Street
15
Turn left onto AR 59
11 ft·0 sec·East Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
AR 59
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 51 minute duration, leaving Texarkana in the morning will give you ample time to reach Van Buren before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $25, this is a very manageable one-day trip. Pace yourself, as the longest stretch without a major road change is over 79 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into the longer segments on US 71, to ensure you have plenty for the entire 185-mile journey.
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 92.5 miles from Texarkana, AR, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.5 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Van Buren, 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 185 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 79.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
$1 to $10
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+14797631047
Elm Park Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Littlefield Express
0.3 mi from route
Texas Travel Information Center at Texarkana
0.7 mi from route
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
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 174.1 — 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
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 71 / North State Line Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 71 / North State Line Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
53 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|US 59; US 71 / North Lakeside Drive
Turn right onto US 59; US 71 / North Lakeside Drive
Navigation decision point
4
174.1 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward 540 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward 540 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.94 one way
$55.88 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.67
$61.34
premium
$4.56
$33.21
$66.41
diesel
$5.61
$40.85
$81.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.5
0
$19.42
$8.88
Efficient EV
46.3
0
$16.19
$7.40
EV Truck/SUV
74
0
$25.90
$11.84
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Texarkana, AR
Late night
in Texarkana on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Van Buren, AR
Late night
in Van Buren on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
2 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
3h 51m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 offers a mixed drive, with 47% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of US 71, which is your primary artery for a significant portion of the drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 79.3 miles on US 71. While much of the route follows established roads, expect some transitions as you move through different towns and road types, including North Lakeside Drive and Main Street. It's not a constant interstate pace, but rather a blend that keeps things interesting.
47% 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: 79.3 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near County Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Texarkana, AR to Van Buren, AR is easy. At 3h 51m with 47% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 0.6 miles (US 71 / North State Line Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 79.3 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 0.6 miles (US 71 / North State Line Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Van Buren, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
