Origin
Bentonville, AR
Afternoon in Bentonville on Saturday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bentonville, AR to Pottsville, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
146 mi
235 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 24m
★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bentonville, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Pottsville, AR
Andrea Piacquadio
Trip Overview
Bentonville to Pottsville is 146 miles and takes about 2 hours 33 minutes via I-49 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward trip on major highways for the most part, making it a practical choice for a quick transfer or a day trip. You'll find this route generally efficient, designed for steady progress rather than scenic detours.
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
73 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 75.3 mi | 1h 15m |
| I 49 | 65.7 mi | 1h 8m |
| Southeast J Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Southeast 14th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| US 64 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| US 62 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| AR 331 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 75.3 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Pottsville, 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
75 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
I 40; US 71
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
10
Turn right onto AR 363
224 ft
·
10 sec
·
AR 363
11
Turn right onto US 64
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 64
12
Turn left onto AR 331
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
AR 331
13
Continue on River Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
River Road
14
Arrive at destination
River Road
Trip Plan
Given this 1-day trip is under 3 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Bentonville in the morning will get you to Pottsville well before the afternoon. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $22, this route is budget-friendly and requires minimal planning. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before the longest stretch of 75.3 miles on I-40, as services can be spaced out on interstates.
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 73 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.3 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 32 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73 miles or 1h 19m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pottsville, 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 146 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 75.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73 miles from Bentonville, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 68.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
4
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 62; AR 12
Take the ramp onto US 62; AR 12
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.05 one way
$44.10 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $24.20 | $48.41 |
| premium | $4.56 | $26.21 | $52.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.23 | $64.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.33 | $7.01 |
| Efficient EV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.77 | $5.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.4 | 0 | $20.44 | $9.34 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Pottsville, AR
Afternoon in Pottsville on Saturday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Alma, AR
73 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 33m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the route on major roads. You'll cover a significant 75.3 miles on I-40 without exiting. The final portion of your drive will transition from interstate cruising to surface roads like Southeast J Street as you approach Pottsville. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits along the interstate segments.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 75.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 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 2h 33m drive. You will face about 10 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Pottsville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Little Rock
68.7 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 146 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bentonville, AR to Pottsville, AR covers 146 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 49, Southeast J Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73 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 $22.05 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 is a straightforward 2h 33m drive. You will face about 10 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 Pottsville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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