Spanning 151.9 miles, this drive from West Memphis to Benton is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 21 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel, making this an affordable transit between these two Southeast Arkansas locations. You will primarily navigate using a combination of East Broadway Boulevard, I-40, and I-440 West. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the duration is manageable for most drivers, allowing you to easily complete the full distance without excessive fatigue.
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
75.6 miles from West Memphis, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
111.5 mi
1h 51m
I 30
20.4 mi
22m
East Belt Freeway
9.8 mi
11m
East Broadway Boulevard
6.1 mi
9m
AR 35
1.1 mi
1m
I-30 Frontage Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Old Hot Springs Highway
0.2 mi
<1m
AR 147
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 111.5 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Memphis, AR and Benton, AR.
1
Start on this road
21 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 70
6.1 mi·9 min·East Broadway Boulevard
3
Turn right onto AR 147
0.1 mi·17 sec·AR 147
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
111 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 40
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 440 West: Texarkana
8
Merge onto I 440
9.8 mi·11 min·East Belt Freeway
9
Continue on I 30; US 67
20 mi·22 min·I 30; US 67
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
11
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.4 mi·37 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
12
Turn slight right onto AR 5
0.2 mi·28 sec·Old Hot Springs Highway
13
Turn left onto AR 35
1.1 mi·1 min·AR 35
14
Turn right onto East Sevier Street
383 ft·14 sec·East Sevier Street
15
Turn right onto North Main Street
14 ft·0 sec·North Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 2.5-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. Because the route is designed as a direct transit with zero scheduled stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to keep your $21 budget on track. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the drive means you should pace yourself and stay alert for navigation changes. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your GPS settings before departing East Broadway Boulevard, as the lack of long highway stretches means you will be making several turns to stay on course.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.6 miles from West Memphis, AR, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.5 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 33 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.6 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Memphis, 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 West Memphis, AR
This is one driving day of about 151.2 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from West Memphis, 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 I 40 for about 111.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 151.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard
Turn left onto US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard
Navigation decision point
7
118.2 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
5
118.4 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 440 West: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 440 West: Texarkana
5
149.3 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
5
151.2 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.83 one way
$45.67 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.07
$50.13
premium
$4.56
$27.14
$54.28
diesel
$5.61
$33.38
$66.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.4
0
$15.88
$7.26
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.23
$6.05
EV Truck/SUV
60.5
0
$21.17
$9.68
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
West Memphis, AR
Late night
in West Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Benton, AR
Late night
in Benton on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Carlisle, AR
76 mi in
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
2h 41m 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.
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 151.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate cruise, this route requires you to navigate transitions between local roads and major thoroughfares. You will spend time on East Broadway Boulevard, where the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles, confirming that you will be making frequent adjustments to your speed and direction. With a highway share of 0%, this journey feels more like an active, localized commute than a high-speed highway sprint. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that keeps you engaged as you move through the region.
95% 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: 111.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 30. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 41m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 118.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 West Memphis, AR to Benton, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
The longest stretch is about 111.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 (US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 118.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Benton, AR before heading back.
