Origin
Austin, AR
Morning in Austin on Saturday
Local time
10:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, AR to Benton, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
84.8 mi
136 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, AR
Elsie Soto
Benton, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Austin, AR to Benton, AR is 84.8 miles and takes about 1h 51m via US 65, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, specifically in Arkansas. It's a straightforward drive primarily on US highways and interstates, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. If you're looking for a simple, direct route with minimal complexity, this one fits the bill. The estimated fuel cost is quite low, so it's an economical choice for getting between these two Arkansas locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.4 miles from Austin, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 84.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is heavily focused on highways, with 74% of the route utilizing them. Expect a fairly consistent pace for much of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22 miles on US 65. While the profile indicates a highway-focused drive, there will be segments on US 65 and I 430, offering a mix of speeds and road types as you transition between them. The overall feel is efficient rather than particularly winding or scenic.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 22 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and I 430. 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 AR 9 / State Highway 9.
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 84.8 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 (AR 9 / State Highway 9): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 58 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.9 miles (US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 9 / State Highway 9
Turn sharp right onto AR 9 / State Highway 9
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
58 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m 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
70.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m 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
82.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m 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
84.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 65 | 22 mi | 22m |
| I 430 | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| US 70 | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| North Broadview Street | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| Bennett Road | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 9 | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| AR 285 | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| US Highway 65 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 22 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, AR and Benton, AR.
1
Start on Austin Road
122 ft
·
12 sec
·
Austin Road
2
Turn sharp right onto AR 9
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 9
3
Turn left onto AR 92
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Bennett Road
4
Turn right onto AR 285
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
AR 285
5
Turn right onto Lewis Drive
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Lewis Drive
6
Merge onto US 65
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Broadway
7
Continue on US 65
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
Broadview Street
8
Continue on US 65
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 65
9
Continue on US 65
12 mi
·
16 min
·
North Broadview Street
10
Continue on US 65
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 65
11
Continue on US 65
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Skyline Drive
12
Take the exit onto US 65
22 mi
·
22 min
·
US 65
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 430: Texarkana
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 430
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 430
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 70
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 70
Exit 129B
Toward I 30 West: Texarkana
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
17
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
I-30 Frontage Road
18
Turn slight right onto AR 5
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Old Hot Springs Highway
19
Turn left onto AR 35
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
AR 35
20
Turn right onto East Sevier Street
383 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Sevier Street
21
Turn right onto North Main Street
14 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a shorter drive, taking just under 2 hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Austin, AR in the morning or early afternoon should allow you ample time to reach Benton, AR before evening. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you likely won't need to worry about finding multiple gas stations, but it's always wise to top off before you depart. Keep an eye on signs for US 65 and I 430 as you navigate; these are your primary arteries for this trip.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.4 miles from Austin, AR, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22 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 19 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.4 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
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 Austin, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Austin, AR
This is one driving day of about 84.8 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Austin, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 65 for about 22 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.4 mi from Austin, AR · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.4 miles from Austin, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Benton, AR
The final approach into Benton, AR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.81 one way
$25.61 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $14.06 | $28.12 |
| premium | $4.56 | $15.22 | $30.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.72 | $37.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
| Efficient EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.42 | $3.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.87 | $5.43 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Benton, AR
Morning in Benton on Saturday
Local time
10:39 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
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
1h 51m 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 Austin, AR to Benton, AR covers 84.8 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 65, I 430, 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 42.4 miles from Austin, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.81 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.8 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 (AR 9 / State Highway 9): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 58 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.9 miles (US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Austin, AR to Benton, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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