The drive from Benton, AR to Paris, AR covers 131.4 miles and takes about 2h 38m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, AR 22, US 70 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.8 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.84 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.7 miles from Benton, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 131.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 38m highway drive covering 131.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and AR 22. The longest continuous stretch is about 62.8 miles on I 40.
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.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 62.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and AR 22. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in near US 70.
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 131.4 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: at 12.9 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
8
12.9 mi into trip|~15m 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
25.9 mi into trip|~30m 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
6
89.5 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward AR 331, US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 84
Toward AR 331, US 64
7
90.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 64 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 64 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
92.5 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|AR 7 / South Arkansas Avenue
Turn left onto AR 7 / South Arkansas Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
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 Benton, AR to Paris, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Oklahoma City
25.9 mi in|~30m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
62.8 mi
1h 2m
AR 22
34 mi
53m
US 70
13.1 mi
15m
I 30
11.7 mi
12m
South Arkansas Avenue
4.9 mi
5m
East Main Street
2.3 mi
3m
AR 331
0.4 mi
<1m
East Carpenter Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 62.8 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, AR and Paris, AR.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·North Main Street
2
Continue on Military Road
0.1 mi·20 sec·Military Road
3
Turn left onto AR 35
0.3 mi·35 sec·East Carpenter Street
4
Turn straight
0.1 mi·26 sec
5
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.3 mi·29 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
6
Take the ramp
516 ft·12 sec
7
Merge onto I 30; US 67; US 70
12 mi·12 min·I 30; US 67; US 70
8
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.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 13BToward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
10
Merge onto I 40; US 65
63 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 84Toward AR 331, US 64
12
Turn left onto AR 331
0.4 mi·46 sec·AR 331
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 64
2.3 mi·3 min·East Main Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·South Arkansas Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto AR 22
34 mi·53 min·AR 22
16
Turn left onto AR 309
34 ft·1 sec·South Elm Street
17
Arrive at destination
AR 309
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.7 miles from Benton, AR, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.8 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.7 miles or 1h 10m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paris, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Benton, 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 Benton, AR
This is one driving day of about 131.4 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Benton, 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 62.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.7 mi from Benton, AR
· 1h 10m into the drive
The midpoint is around 65.7 miles from Benton, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.8 miles.
Arriving in Paris, AR
The final approach into Paris, 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 Paris, AR.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.84 one way
$39.69 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$21.78
$43.57
premium
$4.56
$23.58
$47.17
diesel
$5.61
$29.01
$58.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
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 $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
Efficient EV
32.9
0
$11.50
$5.26
EV Truck/SUV
52.6
0
$18.40
$8.41
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Benton, AR
Morning
in Benton on Friday
Local time
6:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paris, AR
Morning
in Paris on Friday
Local time
6:43 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 38m 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 Benton, AR to Paris, AR covers 131.4 miles and takes about 2h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, AR 22, 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 65.7 miles from Benton, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.84 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.
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 131.4 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: at 12.9 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Benton, AR to Paris, 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.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
