Yellville, AR to Kentucky, AR is 151.9 miles and takes about 3h 31m via US 65 and State Highway 14, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Arkansas, making it a straightforward drive. With 96% of the route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, making it an efficient option for getting between these two points. Expect a mostly highway profile, ideal for covering ground quickly. This is a good choice if you need to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
76 miles from Yellville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 65
86.3 mi
1h 52m
State Highway 14
23.5 mi
41m
I 430
12.3 mi
14m
US 70
12.1 mi
13m
AR 27
10.6 mi
18m
Old Hot Springs Highway
5.7 mi
10m
I-30 Frontage Road
0.4 mi
<1m
US 62
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 86.3 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yellville, AR and Kentucky, AR.
1
Start on US 62; US 412
0.3 mi·21 sec·US 62; US 412
2
Turn right onto AR 14
24 mi·41 min·State Highway 14
3
Turn straight onto AR 27
11 mi·18 min·AR 27
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 65
64 mi·1 hr 29 min·US 65
5
Take the exit onto US 65
22 mi·22 min·US 65
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·41 sec
Toward I 430: TexarkanaUse the slight right lane.
7
Continue on I 430
12 mi·14 min·I 430
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70
12 mi·13 min·US 70
Exit 129BToward I 30 West: TexarkanaUse the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
10
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.4 mi·37 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
11
Turn slight right onto AR 5
0.2 mi·19 sec·Old Hot Springs Highway
12
Continue on AR 5
5.5 mi·9 min·Old Hot Springs Highway
13
Arrive at destination
AR 5
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3.5-hour drive, consider leaving in the morning to allow for flexibility. Since this trip is easily completed within a single day, you can plan for a leisurely start or an early arrival. With a fuel cost estimated around $23, it's wise to ensure you have a full tank before departing Yellville. Pay attention to signage as you transition from US 65 onto State Highway 14 and eventually I 430, as this is where the road profile changes. There's only one recommended stop, so plan your break strategically along US 65.
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 76 miles from Yellville, AR, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.3 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 33 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76 miles or 1h 58m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kentucky, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yellville, 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 Yellville, AR
This is one driving day of about 151.9 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Yellville, 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 65 for about 86.3 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 34.4 and 145.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
34.4 mi into trip|~1h in|US 65
At end of road, turn left onto US 65
Navigation decision point
4
98.8 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
120.8 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 430: Texarkana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 430: Texarkana
8
133.6 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|US 70
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 toward I 30 West: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 129B
Toward I 30 West: Texarkana
5
145.7 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.94 one way
$45.88 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.18
$50.37
premium
$4.56
$27.26
$54.53
diesel
$5.61
$33.54
$67.08
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: 53.1 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
45.6
0
$15.95
$7.29
Efficient EV
38
0
$13.29
$6.08
EV Truck/SUV
60.8
0
$21.27
$9.72
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 15, 2026
Origin
Yellville, AR
Afternoon
in Yellville on Sunday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kentucky, AR
Afternoon
in Kentucky on Sunday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Clinton, 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 31m 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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 151.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 96% of this 151.9-mile trip, with the longest stretch of uninterrupted highway driving covering 86.3 miles on US 65. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, offering a change of pace after extended highway cruising. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal delays, given the predominantly highway nature of the route.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.3 mi on US 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and State Highway 14. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 34.4 miles in near US 65.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 31m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 34.4 miles (US 65): Navigation decision point; at 98.8 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 120.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Kentucky is a Southern state of the United States; its state capital is Frankfort. Attractions include horse racing and beautiful lakes. It is home to famous food (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hot Brown, and Burgoo), drink (bourbon whiskey) and music (bluegrass) traditions.
The longest stretch is about 86.3 miles on US 65. 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: at 34.4 miles (US 65): Navigation decision point; at 98.8 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 120.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Kentucky, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
