Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 39m
Distance
218.3 mi
351 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bentonville, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Murfreesboro, AR
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Bentonville, AR to Murfreesboro, AR covers 218.3 miles and takes about 4h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 71, I 49, US 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.2 miles on US 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.97 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
109.1 miles from Bentonville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 67.2 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 49 | 65.7 mi | 1h 8m |
| US 270 | 32 mi | 39m |
| AR 27 | 14.9 mi | 26m |
| East Main Street | 13 mi | 22m |
| Elm Street | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Bridge Street | 8.2 mi | 14m |
| I 40 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bentonville, AR and Murfreesboro, AR.
Start on North Main Street
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Turn left onto AR 102
Take the ramp onto US 62; AR 12
Continue on I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 40; US 71
Take the exit onto US 71
Take the exit onto US 71
Turn left onto US 71
Turn left onto US 270
Turn right onto AR 27
Continue on AR 27
Turn left onto AR 8
Turn right onto US 70B; AR 8
Continue on US 70B; AR 8
At end of road, turn right onto US 70; AR 8
Continue on AR 27
Turn slight left onto Courthouse Square
Keep slight left at fork onto AR 27
Keep slight left at fork onto Courthouse Square
Arrive at destination
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.
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 48 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.1 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murfreesboro, AR than in the middle of the route.
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 218.3 miles and 4h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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.
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 109.1 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 67.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 73.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto AR 102 / Southeast 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Regular Gas
$32.97 one way
$65.94 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $36.19 | $72.38 |
| premium | $4.56 | $39.18 | $78.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.20 | $96.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.5 | 0 | $22.92 | $10.48 |
| Efficient EV | 54.6 | 0 | $19.10 | $8.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.3 | 1 | $30.56 | $13.97 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Bentonville on Saturday
Local time
3:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Murfreesboro on Saturday
Local time
3:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
77°F
Booneville, AR
109 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
218.3 mi in 4h 39m, mostly highway — 67.2 mi of that is on US 71.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 49. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 218.3 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bentonville, AR to Murfreesboro, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
Fort Smith
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 218.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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