Van Buren, AR to Tennessee, AR is 241.1 miles and takes about 4h 17m via US 71 and I 530, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving you from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Given its mostly highway profile and single-day recommendation, it’s a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, making it an efficient way to cover the distance.
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
120.6 miles from Van Buren, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
145.8 mi
2h 27m
I 530
43.9 mi
45m
Highway 530
22.9 mi
26m
US 425
15.7 mi
20m
US 65
4.6 mi
6m
West Gaines Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Highway 11
2 mi
2m
Alma Highway
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 145.8 mi, about 2h 27m
Traffic on I-530
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~881 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,083
Quietest
2 AM
~65 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 15 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 Van Buren, AR and Tennessee, AR.
1
Start on AR 59
0.6 mi·1 min·East Main Street
2
Continue on US 64; US 71B
0.9 mi·1 min·Alma Highway
3
Continue on US 64; US 71B
0.3 mi·25 sec·Alma Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock
5
Merge onto I 540; US 71
0.4 mi·26 sec·I 540; US 71
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
146 mi·2 hr 27 min·US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, MemphisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 65
4.6 mi·6 min·US 65
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
44 mi·45 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·52 sec
Exit 44Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
10
Continue on AR 530
23 mi·26 min·Highway 530
11
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11
2.0 mi·2 min·Highway 11
12
Turn right onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
13
Take the exit
226 ft·6 sec
14
Turn slight right onto US 278
2.6 mi·4 min·West Gaines Avenue
15
Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Tennessee Spur Road
16
Arrive at destination
Tennessee Spur Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 17m drive, consider leaving in the morning to give yourself ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $35, it's a manageable trip for a single day. Since it's a relatively short drive, you have flexibility if you want to linger at your starting point or arrive a bit earlier. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 145.8-mile stretch on US 71, as services might be less frequent in that section.
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 120.6 miles from Van Buren, AR, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.8 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 53 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.6 miles or 2h 3m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tennessee, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Van Buren, 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 Van Buren, AR
This is one driving day of about 241.1 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Van Buren, 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 145.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 220.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock
8
2.5 mi into trip|~3m 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
152.9 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|I 530; US 65; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
196.8 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 44
Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
5
220.5 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|AR 11 / Highway 11
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11 / Highway 11
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.47 one way
$66.94 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$37.45
$74.89
premium
$4.29
$40.71
$81.42
diesel
$4.80
$45.52
$91.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.4 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
72.3
0
$25.32
$11.57
Efficient EV
60.3
0
$21.10
$9.64
EV Truck/SUV
96.4
1
$33.75
$15.43
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Van Buren, AR
Late night
in Van Buren on Sunday
Local time
2:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Tennessee, AR
Late night
in Tennessee on Sunday
Local time
2:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Sunny
W 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 17m 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?
You'll be on highways for about 98% of this route, which means long stretches of consistent driving. The longest continuous segment without a major road change is 145.8 miles on US 71. Expect a smooth ride with minimal transitions to surface roads until very near the end. The high highway percentage suggests frequent exits and merges as you navigate the main arteries.
98% 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: 145.8 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 530. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 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 241.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.9 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
631 ft229 ft
Total Climb
420 ft
Total Descent
597 ft
Highest Point
631 ft
~34.4 mi in
Elevation Range
403 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 Van Buren, AR to Tennessee, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello 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 4h 17m. Total distance: 241.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.8 miles on US 71. 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 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.9 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Tennessee, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
