Origin
Bay, AR
Afternoon in Bay on Monday
Local time
3:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bay, AR to Bentonville, AR
Drive Time
5h 47m
Distance
321.9 mi
518 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 34m
★
6 AM
5h 47m
8 AM
6h 14m
10 AM
5h 56m
12 PM
5h 54m
3 PM
5h 58m
5 PM
6h 12m
8 PM
5h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bay, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Bentonville, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 321.9 miles across Arkansas, this trip from Bay to Bentonville takes approximately 5 hours and 47 minutes of pure drive time. Since the entire journey remains within the state, you will experience the transition from the Southeast region toward the Northwest corner of Arkansas. Budgeting around $49 for fuel is a smart move for this one-day excursion. Because the route relies heavily on local roads like Elder Street, Joe N Martin Expressway, and Alexander Drive rather than major interstates, it functions best as a single-day commitment. You should plan for at least one stop to break up the travel, as the turn-heavy nature of the drive demands sustained focus behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
161 miles from Bay, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a technical and engaging experience rather than a mindless highway cruise. With a 0% highway share, you will spend your entire journey navigating local roads that prioritize turn-heavy maneuvers over high-speed straightaways. This route avoids the monotony of large interstates, requiring you to stay alert through constant changes in direction. Because the path is composed entirely of local thoroughfares, your pace will be dictated by the local infrastructure rather than open-road cruising. It is a hands-on drive that keeps you connected to the local landscape as you transition from the eastern part of the state toward Bentonville.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Elder Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 47m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bay, AR to Bentonville, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Elder Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Joe N Martin Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Alexander Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 64 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 49 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 62 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southeast 14th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Elder Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bay, AR and Bentonville, AR.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto Elder Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Elder Street
3
Turn right
1.0 mi
·
1 min
4
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
5
Merge slight left onto Joe N Martin Expressway
9.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Joe N Martin Expressway
6
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
7
Turn right onto Alexander Drive
456 ft
·
10 sec
·
Alexander Drive
8
Turn right onto Southwest Drive
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Southwest Drive
9
Continue straight
13 mi
·
14 min
10
Take the exit sharp left
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
11
Merge slight left
75 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
13
Keep slight right to continue on US 64 West: Conway
33 mi
·
41 min
·
US 64 West: Conway
14
Take the exit straight
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
15
Merge slight left
114 mi
·
1 hr 53 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 49 North: Fayetteville
17
Continue straight
46 mi
·
47 min
18
Keep slight left
19 mi
·
20 min
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
20
Turn left onto Southeast 14th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast 14th Street
21
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast J Street
22
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East Central Avenue
23
Turn right onto North Main Street
187 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Main Street
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this nearly six-hour trek, prioritize an early morning departure to navigate the turn-heavy segments while you are fresh. Since you have 321.9 miles of local road driving ahead, plan for one intentional stop at the midpoint to stretch and refuel. Keeping that $49 fuel budget in mind, ensure your tank is topped off before heading into the more rural stretches where service might be less frequent. Given the technical nature of Elder Street and the Joe N Martin Expressway, keep a close watch on your navigation to avoid missing turns. Flexibility is your biggest asset here, so allow yourself extra time to handle the local traffic patterns you will encounter along the way.
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 161 miles from Bay, AR, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bentonville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bay, 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 Bay, AR
This is one driving day of about 321.9 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bay, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 161 mi from Bay, AR · 2h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
161 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 161 miles from Bay, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bentonville, AR
The final approach into Bentonville, 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 Bentonville, AR.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.21 one way
$98.42 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
113 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $53.98 | $107.95 |
| premium | $4.61 | $58.42 | $116.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $71.52 | $143.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.6 | 1 | $33.80 | $15.45 |
| Efficient EV | 80.5 | 0 | $28.17 | $12.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.8 | 1 | $45.07 | $20.60 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Bentonville, AR
Afternoon in Bentonville on Monday
Local time
3:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Haskell, AR
161 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
7 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
5h 47m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bay, AR to Bentonville, AR covers 321.9 miles and takes about 5h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Elder Street, Joe N Martin Expressway, Alexander Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 161 miles from Bay, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.21 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 47m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bay, AR to Bentonville, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bay, AR to Bentonville, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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