Trip from Bentonville, AR to Bay, AR

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

5h 47m

Distance

321.7 mi

518 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 34m ★

6 AM

5h 47m

8 AM

6h 13m

10 AM

5h 56m

12 PM

5h 54m

3 PM

5h 58m

5 PM

6h 12m

8 PM

5h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Bentonville, AR

Wikimedia Commons

city in Craighead County, Arkansas, United States

Bay, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Bentonville to Bay covers 321.7 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 47 minutes behind the wheel. Because this route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint, it is best approached as a dedicated one-day trip. Budget approximately $49 for fuel to complete the journey across Arkansas. While the drive remains within the Southeast region, the transition from the northwest corner of the state toward the eastern plains offers a significant change in local geography. It is a practical trek for those who prefer navigating local roads over high-speed highways, providing a consistent, albeit demanding, driving experience throughout the day.

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

160.9 miles from Bentonville, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a technical journey as this route relies entirely on local roads like East Central Avenue, Southeast J Street, and Southeast 14th Street rather than major interstates. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating constant turns and local traffic patterns for the duration of the 5 hour and 47 minute drive. This setup creates a hands-on experience that requires your full attention compared to a monotonous freeway cruise. The road’s personality is defined by its repetitive, turn-heavy nature, which keeps you engaged with the local landscape as you traverse the 321.7-mile distance. Prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace that prioritizes local navigation over speed.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

East Central Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 47m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bentonville, AR to Bay, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East Central Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Southeast J Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Southeast 14th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 40 East	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 64	Unavailable	Refreshing
East Oak Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 64	Unavailable	Refreshing
Vilonia Bypass	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: East Central Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Main Street

187 ft · 14 sec · North Main Street

Turn left onto East Central Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · East Central Avenue

Turn right onto Southeast J Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · Southeast J Street

Turn left onto Southeast 14th Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Southeast 14th Street

Take the ramp slight right

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Continue straight

66 mi · 1 hr 8 min

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock

0.6 mi · 49 sec · I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock

Merge slight left

114 mi · 1 hr 53 min

Take the exit slight right toward US 64

0.2 mi · 30 sec · US 64

Keep slight left

213 ft · 8 sec

Turn left onto East Oak Street

1.8 mi · 3 min · East Oak Street

Continue on State Highway 64

5.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 64

Continue on Vilonia Bypass

26 mi · 32 min · Vilonia Bypass

Take the exit slight left

75 mi · 1 hr 17 min

Take the exit slight right toward AR 226: Jonesboro

0.5 mi · 1 min · AR 226: Jonesboro

Keep slight right

344 ft · 8 sec

Merge slight left

12 mi · 13 min

Continue on Southwest Drive

6.1 mi · 7 min · Southwest Drive

Take the exit right

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Merge slight left onto Joe N Martin Expressway

9.6 mi · 10 min · Joe N Martin Expressway

Take the exit slight right toward AR 463: Bay

0.4 mi · 1 min · AR 463: Bay

Turn right

125 ft · 3 sec

Turn right

1.2 mi · 2 min

Turn left onto Elder Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Elder Street

At the end of the road, turn right onto North Main Street

0.2 mi · 18 sec · North Main Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given the turn-heavy nature of this 321.7-mile route, plan to leave early in the morning to ensure you reach Bay before fatigue sets in. You should factor in at least one stop to stretch and reset, as the lack of highway miles makes the drive feel longer than the clock suggests. Keep your fuel budget of $49 in mind, and consider topping off your tank before departing Bentonville to avoid searching for stations along the more technical sections of the route. Since the drive is a single-day commitment, stay flexible with your arrival time to account for the slower speeds necessitated by local road navigation. Your best strategy is to focus on maintaining a steady, comfortable pace through the many turns you will encounter along the way.

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 160.9 miles from Bentonville, AR, or about 2h 53m into the drive.

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 160.9 miles or 2h 53m 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 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay, 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 321.7 miles and 5h 47m.

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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 160.9 mi from Bentonville, AR · 2h 53m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Haskell, AR

161 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

Garland, 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 160.9 miles from Bentonville, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bay, AR

The final approach into Bay, 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 Bay, 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

$48.58 one way

$97.17 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 113 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$53.33	$106.67
premium	$4.56	$57.74	$115.48
diesel	$5.61	$71.03	$142.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 112.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	96.5	1	$33.78	$15.44
Efficient EV	80.4	0	$28.15	$12.87
EV Truck/SUV	128.7	1	$45.04	$20.59

Gas CO2

113 kg

EV CO2

38 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 6 hours ago

Origin

Bentonville, AR

Morning in Bentonville on Wednesday

Local time

7:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bay, AR

Morning in Bay on Wednesday

Local time

7:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Haskell, AR

161 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

5h 47m 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 Bay, AR covers 321.7 miles and takes about 5h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are East Central Avenue, Southeast J Street, Southeast 14th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 160.9 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 $48.58 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 straightforward 5h 47m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bentonville, AR to Bay, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Bentonville, AR to Bay, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.