Origin
Bentonville, AR
Afternoon in Bentonville on Thursday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bentonville, AR to Mena, AR
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 5m
Distance
162 mi
261 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 54m
★
6 AM
3h 6m
8 AM
3h 29m
10 AM
3h 14m
12 PM
3h 12m
3 PM
3h 15m
5 PM
3h 28m
8 PM
2h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bentonville, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Mena, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 162-mile drive from Bentonville to Mena, Arkansas, can comfortably be completed in just over 3 hours, making it an ideal one-day trip. The route is predominantly highway, with 98% of the journey on major roads like US 71, I-49, and I-40. You'll likely spend around $24 on fuel for this excursion. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward drive that allows for plenty of flexibility in your timing. The journey remains within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience.
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
81 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 162 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 98% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll cover a significant stretch of 88.3 miles on US 71 without interruption, offering a consistent pace. The profile suggests a drive that primarily keeps you on well-maintained highways, minimizing time on slower, local roads. This means fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops but a more direct and efficient journey between Bentonville and Mena.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 88.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 49. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 5m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 pointsThese 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 right at fork toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
5
73.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
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 Mena, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
Fort Smith
68.7 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 88.3 mi | 1h 45m |
| I 49 | 65.7 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 40 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Southeast J Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Southeast 14th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Mena Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 62 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 88.3 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Mena, 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 right at fork
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
8
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 40; US 71
9
Take the exit onto US 71
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
10
Take the exit onto US 71
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 71
Toward US 71 South: Texarkana
11
Turn left onto US 71
76 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
US 71
12
Turn right onto AR 88
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Mena Street
13
Turn left onto Church Avenue
375 ft
·
18 sec
·
Church Avenue
14
Turn right onto DeQueen Street
80 ft
·
3 sec
·
DeQueen Street
15
Arrive at destination
DeQueen Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of only 3 hours and 5 minutes, this trip offers a great deal of flexibility. You can leave in the morning and be in Mena by lunchtime, or opt for a leisurely afternoon departure. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch is 88.3 miles on US 71, plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps before embarking on that longer segment. The estimated fuel cost of $24 is quite manageable, so don't worry too much about frequent fill-ups, but it's always wise to start with a full tank.
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 81 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.3 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 36 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81 miles or 1h 28m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mena, 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 162 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 US 71 for about 88.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81 mi from Bentonville, AR · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 81 miles from Bentonville, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.3 miles.
Arriving in Mena, AR
The final approach into Mena, 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 Mena, 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
$24.47 one way
$48.93 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $26.86 | $53.72 |
| premium | $4.56 | $29.08 | $58.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.77 | $71.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.01 | $7.78 |
| Efficient EV | 40.5 | 0 | $14.17 | $6.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.8 | 0 | $22.68 | $10.37 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Mena, AR
Afternoon in Mena on Thursday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
1 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
3h 5m 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 Bentonville, AR to Mena, AR covers 162 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 71, I 49, I 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81 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 $24.47 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 5m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 Mena, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
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