The drive from Bentonville, AR to McGehee, AR covers 317.3 miles and takes about 5h 41m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 49, US 65 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 140.4 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
158.7 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 41m. Total distance: 317.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 41m highway drive covering 317.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 49. The longest continuous stretch is about 140.4 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 18 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 140.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. 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.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 317.3 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 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Central Avenue
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|Southeast J Street
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
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.
6
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
6
214.3 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|I 530; US 65; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
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 Bentonville, AR to McGehee, 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
140.4 mi
2h 21m
I 49
65.7 mi
1h 8m
US 65
59 mi
1h 12m
I 530
46.1 mi
47m
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
1.2 mi
1m
Southeast J Street
1 mi
2m
Southeast 14th Street
1 mi
1m
North 1st Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 140.4 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and McGehee, AR.
1
Start on North Main Street
185 ft·13 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·East Central Avenue
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Southeast J Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto AR 102
1.0 mi·1 min·Southeast 14th Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp onto US 62; AR 12
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 62; AR 12
Use the right lane.
6
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.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
8
Merge onto I 40; US 71
140 mi·2 hr 21 min·I 40; US 71
9
Take the exit onto US 65
4.6 mi·6 min·US 65
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
46 mi·47 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65
1.2 mi·1 min·Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
12
Continue on US 65; US 425
38 mi·46 min·US 65; US 425
13
Continue on US 65; US 165
17 mi·19 min·US 65; US 165
14
Turn right onto AR 159
0.4 mi·37 sec·Silent Street
15
Turn slight left onto AR 159
0.7 mi·1 min·North 1st Street
16
Turn right onto US 278
0.2 mi·23 sec·Holly Street
17
Turn left onto North 4th Street
76 ft·3 sec·North 4th Street
18
Arrive at destination
North 4th Street
Trip Plan
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 158.7 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.4 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 70 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.7 miles or 2h 45m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McGehee, 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 317.3 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 140.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 158.7 mi from Bentonville, AR
· 2h 45m into the drive
The midpoint is around 158.7 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 140.4 miles.
Arriving in McGehee, AR
The final approach into McGehee, 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 McGehee, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Arkansas Post National Memorial
National Memorial
Located at the confluence of two rivers, Arkansas Post has served as a gathering place for many cultures throughout human history - it represents cultural cooperation, conflict, synthesis, and diversi...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 295.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.92 one way
$95.84 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$52.60
$105.21
premium
$4.56
$56.95
$113.90
diesel
$5.61
$70.06
$140.11
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: 111 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
8 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Tesla Supercharger
Conway, Arkansas
Tesla
1 DCFC
ClipperCreek Charging Station
Bentonville, Arkansas
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Conway, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Bentonville, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Bentonville, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Bentonville, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Bentonville, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Bentonville, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 6
Tesla: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.2
1
$33.32
$15.23
Efficient EV
79.3
0
$27.76
$12.69
EV Truck/SUV
126.9
1
$44.42
$20.31
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Night
in Bentonville on Thursday
Local time
10:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 to 15 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 16 at 2:05PM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 16 at 2:04PM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
McGehee, AR
Night
in McGehee on Thursday
Local time
10:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
5h 41m 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 McGehee, AR covers 317.3 miles and takes about 5h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 49, US 65. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 158.7 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 $47.92 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 317.3 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.
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.
On the drive from Bentonville, AR to McGehee, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
