Drive or Fly: Lowell, AR to Hot Springs, AR?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for XNA–HOT. At 202 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 43m

Distance

202.2 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

82 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$45

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 41m

16m in the air

Air Distance

135 mi

Total Cost

$180

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lowell, AR → XNA 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOT → Hot Springs, AR 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lowell, AR XNA — Northwest Arkansas National Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Hot Springs, AR HOT — Memorial Field Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between XNA and HOT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 32m

2h 50m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US1148S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lowell, AR → Van Buren/ Ft Smith Bus Depot (FSM6) 88m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 170m

Arrival 10m

Bryant-Little Rock (Gassy's) (BRT6) → Hot Springs, AR 49m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From FSM6 — Van Buren/ Ft Smith Bus Depot 59 mi, ~88m drive

To BRT6 — Bryant-Little Rock (Gassy's) 33 mi, ~49m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 43m	2h 41m	5h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$180	$13
Carbon footprint	82 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

202.2 mi 3h 42m

via AR 7, I 40; US 71, I 49; US 62; US 71

Shortest (+8 min)

199.2 mi 3h 51m

via US 71, US 270, I 49; US 62; US 71

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Lowell, AR to Hot Springs, AR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.