The drive from Austin, AR to Hot Springs, AR covers 113.7 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 70, US 65, I 430 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.8 miles on US 70.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.8 miles from Austin, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 113.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 25m highway drive covering 113.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 70 and US 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 42.8 miles on US 70.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 42.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and US 65. You will hit about 9 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 Effort5/10
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 113.7 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: near the start (AR 9 / State Highway 9): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.4 miles (AR 92 / Bennett Road): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (US 65 / South Broadway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These 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
4
5.4 mi into trip|~9m in|AR 92 / Bennett Road
Turn left onto AR 92 / Bennett Road
Navigation decision point
4
16.5 mi into trip|~29m in|US 65 / South Broadway
Merge onto US 65 / South Broadway
Merge point - match speed before joining
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
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 70
42.8 mi
50m
US 65
22 mi
22m
I 430
12.3 mi
14m
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 70
— 42.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, AR and Hot Springs, 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: TexarkanaUse 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
18 mi·19 min·US 70
Exit 129BToward I 30 West: TexarkanaUse the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit onto US 70
25 mi·31 min·US 70
Toward US-70 West: Hot Springs
17
Arrive at destination
US 70B; US 270B
Trip Plan
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 56.8 miles from Austin, AR, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.8 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 25 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.8 miles or 1h 18m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hot Springs, 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.
+
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 Austin, AR
This is one driving day of about 113.7 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Austin, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 70 for about 42.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.8 mi from Austin, AR
· 1h 18m into the drive
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...
1 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 113.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.17 one way
$34.34 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.85
$37.70
premium
$4.56
$20.41
$40.82
diesel
$5.61
$25.10
$50.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.1
0
$11.94
$5.46
Efficient EV
28.4
0
$9.95
$4.55
EV Truck/SUV
45.5
0
$15.92
$7.28
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Austin, AR
Late night
in Austin on Saturday
Local time
12:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hot Springs, AR
Late night
in Hot Springs on Saturday
Local time
12:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 25m 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 Hot Springs, AR covers 113.7 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 70, US 65, I 430. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.8 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 $17.17 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 113.7 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: near the start (AR 9 / State Highway 9): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.4 miles (AR 92 / Bennett Road): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (US 65 / South Broadway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Austin, AR to Hot Springs, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hot Springs National Park.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
