Trip from Bentonville, AR to Jonesboro, AR

Drive Time

5h 36m

Distance

312.7 mi

503 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Bentonville, AR

Tima Miroshnichenko

Trip Overview

Connecting Bentonville to Jonesboro, this 312.7-mile journey across Arkansas typically takes about 5 hours and 36 minutes behind the wheel. Given the duration, it is perfectly feasible as a one-day trip if you are comfortable with a steady pace. You will primarily utilize I-49, I-40, and US-64 to navigate the state, making for a straightforward commute between these two Southeast locations. Budget roughly $48 for fuel to cover the distance, assuming standard vehicle efficiency. Since the entire drive stays within Arkansas, the transition is smooth, though you should prepare for a significant amount of highway time. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that efficiently links two major regional hubs.

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

156.3 miles from Bentonville, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 87% of your travel occurring on high-speed thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-40, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of the route at 113.8 miles. Expect a mix of fast-paced interstate travel that transitions into state highway segments as you approach your destination. While the interstate sections allow for efficient progress, the road personality shifts as you move between major corridors. Being prepared for long, consistent stretches of pavement will help you stay focused during the nearly six-hour trek.

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.

I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 113.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 312.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Southeast J Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (AR 102 / Southeast 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Central Avenue

Turn left onto East Central Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | Southeast J Street

Turn right onto Southeast J Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

1.8 mi into trip | ~4m in | AR 102 / Southeast 14th Street

Turn left onto AR 102 / Southeast 14th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

68.7 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock

183.3 mi into trip | ~3h 9m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Bentonville, AR to Jonesboro, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.

Little Rock

68.7 mi in | ~1h 14m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	113.8 mi	1h 53m
US 64	74.6 mi	1h 17m
I 49	65.7 mi	1h 8m
Vilonia Bypass	25.9 mi	32m
US 78	12.1 mi	13m
Southwest Drive	7.4 mi	9m
State Highway 64	5.4 mi	6m
East Oak Street	1.8 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 113.8 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Jonesboro, AR.

Start on North Main Street

185 ft · 13 sec · North Main Street

Turn left onto East Central Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · East Central Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto Southeast J Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · Southeast J Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto AR 102

1.0 mi · 1 min · Southeast 14th Street

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp onto US 62; AR 12

0.2 mi · 14 sec · US 62; AR 12

Use the right lane.

Continue on I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12

66 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock

Merge onto I 40; US 71

114 mi · 1 hr 53 min · I 40; US 71

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Toward US 64

Keep slight left at fork

212 ft · 8 sec

Turn left onto US 64

1.8 mi · 3 min · East Oak Street

Continue on US 64

5.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 64

Continue on US 64

26 mi · 32 min · Vilonia Bypass

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto US 64

75 mi · 1 hr 17 min · US 64

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward AR 226: Jonesboro

Keep slight right at fork

346 ft · 8 sec

Merge onto US 78; AR 226

12 mi · 13 min · US 78; AR 226

Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78

7.4 mi · 9 min · Southwest Drive

Continue on South Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

Turn right onto Cate Avenue

207 ft · 14 sec · Cate Avenue

Turn left

75 ft · 5 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Because this route covers over 300 miles in a single day, aim to depart early to avoid potential fatigue in the late afternoon. You only need one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel, which keeps your momentum steady throughout the drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 113.8-mile stretch on I-40, to ensure you don't run low between service stations. Since the drive is manageable in one day, you have the flexibility to choose your own pace, but try to avoid peak traffic hours when merging onto the major interstates. Planning your single stop around the midpoint will help you maintain comfort for the duration of the trip.

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 156.3 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 2h 42m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.8 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 80 miles or 1h 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 156.3 miles or 2h 42m 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jonesboro, AR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Bentonville, 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 Bentonville, AR

This is one driving day of about 312.7 miles and 5h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bentonville, 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 113.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 156.3 mi from Bentonville, AR · 2h 42m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Texarkana, TX

156 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

Texarkana, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Haskell, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 156.3 miles from Bentonville, 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 113.8 miles.

Arriving in Jonesboro, AR

The final approach into Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, AR.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.80 one way

$95.61 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.26	$52.43	$104.87
premium	$4.61	$56.75	$113.51
diesel	$5.64	$69.47	$138.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 109.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	93.8	1	$32.83	$15.01
Efficient EV	78.2	0	$27.36	$12.51
EV Truck/SUV	125.1	1	$43.78	$20.01

Gas CO2

109 kg

EV CO2

37 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Bentonville, AR

Afternoon in Bentonville on Sunday

Local time

2:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jonesboro, AR

Afternoon in Jonesboro on Sunday

Local time

2:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°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

13 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 36m 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 Bentonville, AR to Jonesboro, AR covers 312.7 miles and takes about 5h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, US 64, I 49. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 156.3 miles from Bentonville, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.80 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.

On the drive from Bentonville, AR to Jonesboro, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.

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Trip from Bentonville, AR to Jonesboro, AR

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Jonesboro, AR

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Bentonville, AR

Jonesboro, AR

Same local time

13 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 36m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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