Ashdown to Conway is 175.9 miles and takes about 3h 11m via Purple Heart Trail and I 40, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a drive that combines local roads with interstate travel, offering a practical journey. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is well-suited for a straightforward trip between these two Arkansas locations.
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
87.9 miles from Ashdown, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 175.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive has a 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile, with 23% of the route on highways. You'll experience a mix of road types, including stretches on the Purple Heart Trail, I 40, and US 70. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 122.1 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, suggesting a significant portion of your journey will be on this particular road before transitioning to other highways. Be prepared for varied road conditions and potential turns as you navigate between these Arkansas cities.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 122.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 175.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 140.3 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue
Turn left onto US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
140.3 mi into trip|~2h 31m 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
153.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m 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
154.1 mi into trip|~2h 47m 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.
5
174.5 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork
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 Ashdown, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Step-by-step road directions between Ashdown, AR and Conway, AR.
1
Start on East Main Street
83 ft·9 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 59; US 71; AR 32B
11 mi·15 min·North Constitution Avenue
3
Turn left onto County Road 2320
189 ft·5 sec·County Road 2320
4
Continue on AR 108
6.6 mi·11 min·State Highway 108
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
6
Merge onto I 30
122 mi·2 hr 3 min·Purple Heart Trail
7
Take the exit onto US 70
13 mi·15 min·US 70
Exit 129Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort SmithUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 13BToward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
9
Merge onto I 40; US 65
20 mi·20 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 64
11
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft·8 sec
12
Turn left onto US 64
1.0 mi·1 min·East Oak Street
13
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Oak Street
14
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·19 sec·Locust Avenue
15
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft·4 sec·Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 11m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. With a fuel cost estimated at $27, plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially before heading into longer stretches like the 122.1 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. There's one recommended stop, so plan to use it strategically for a break or to top off your tank.
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 87.9 miles from Ashdown, AR, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.1 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 39 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.9 miles or 1h 38m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Conway, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ashdown, 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 Ashdown, AR
This is one driving day of about 175.9 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Ashdown, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 122.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 87.9 mi from Ashdown, AR
· 1h 38m into the drive
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 12.6
Texarkana, Texas
Hours: 5:30–11 pm
+19037923222
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 103.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.57 one way
$53.13 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$29.16
$58.32
premium
$4.56
$31.57
$63.14
diesel
$5.61
$38.84
$77.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Tesla Supercharger
Conway, Arkansas
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Conway, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.8
0
$18.47
$8.44
Efficient EV
44
0
$15.39
$7.04
EV Truck/SUV
70.4
0
$24.63
$11.26
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Ashdown, AR
Morning
in Ashdown on Friday
Local time
11:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Conway, AR
Morning
in Conway on Friday
Local time
11:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
3h 11m 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 Ashdown, AR to Conway, AR covers 175.9 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, I 40, US 70. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 87.9 miles from Ashdown, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.57 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 175.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 140.3 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ashdown, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
