Origin
Alexander, AR
Late night in Alexander on Friday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alexander, AR to Springdale, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
205.9 mi
331 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 25m
★
6 AM
3h 37m
8 AM
4h 2m
10 AM
3h 46m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 47m
5 PM
4h 1m
8 PM
3h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alexander, AR
Andrea Piacquadio
Springdale, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 205.9-mile journey from Alexander, Arkansas, to Springdale, Arkansas, is a straightforward drive that can comfortably be completed in about 3 hours and 37 minutes. It's an ideal one-day trip, so you won't need to worry about booking overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $31, making it an economical option. You'll primarily be on interstates, with a 96% highway share, suggesting a predominantly fast-paced travel experience. Since both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout your drive.
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
102.9 miles from Alexander, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 205.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 96% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-40 and I-49. This means you'll encounter relatively high speeds and minimal traffic lights. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 134.7 miles on I-40, so be prepared for a sustained period of driving without needing to exit. While largely interstate, the route does transition between different highway systems, offering a sense of progression as you make your way across Arkansas.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 134.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 205.9 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 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
8
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 129
Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
7
16.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13B
Toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
5
17.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
I 40; US 65
Merge onto I 40; US 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
198.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 24m in
|
US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
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 Alexander, AR to Springdale, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Oklahoma City
16.4 mi in
|
~20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 134.7 mi | 2h 14m |
| I 49 | 46.4 mi | 47m |
| US 70 | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| South Thompson Street | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Fulbright Expressway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| I 30 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| North College Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Johnson Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 134.7 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexander, AR and Springdale, AR.
1
Start on Alexander Street
83 ft
·
2 sec
·
Alexander Street
2
Continue on AR 111
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Alexander Road
3
Continue on AR 111
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
North Walnut Street
4
Continue on AR 111
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Alexander Road
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
6
Turn straight onto I-30 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
I-30 Frontage Road
7
Take the ramp
409 ft
·
9 sec
8
Merge onto I 30; US 67; US 70
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 30; US 67; US 70
9
Take the exit onto US 70
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 70
Exit 129
Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 13B
Toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
11
Merge onto I 40; US 65
135 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
13
Continue on I 49
46 mi
·
47 min
·
I 49
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fulbright Expressway
Exit 67B
Toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on US 71B
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North College Avenue
16
Continue on US 71B
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
South Thompson Street
17
Turn right onto West Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Johnson Avenue
18
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
119 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Commercial Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Commercial Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 37-minute duration, leaving Alexander, AR, in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Springdale with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Consider filling up your fuel tank before you depart to minimize any stops. A good strategy is to break up the longest stretch of 134.7 miles on I-40 with a brief rest stop to stay alert. Since this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 102.9 miles from Alexander, AR, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.7 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 45 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.9 miles or 1h 47m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springdale, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alexander, 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 Alexander, AR
This is one driving day of about 205.9 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Alexander, 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 134.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.9 mi from Alexander, AR · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102.9 miles from Alexander, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 134.7 miles.
Arriving in Springdale, AR
The final approach into Springdale, AR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Springdale, AR.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.10 one way
$62.19 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $34.14 | $68.27 |
| premium | $4.56 | $36.96 | $73.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.46 | $90.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.8 | 0 | $21.62 | $9.88 |
| Efficient EV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.02 | $8.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.4 | 1 | $28.83 | $13.18 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Springdale, AR
Late night in Springdale on Friday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Delaware, AR
103 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
3 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 37m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alexander, AR to Springdale, AR covers 205.9 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 49, US 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.9 miles from Alexander, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.10 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 205.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Alexander, AR to Springdale, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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