Origin
Blytheville, AR
Afternoon in Blytheville on Sunday
Local time
3:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blytheville, AR to Hot Springs, AR
Drive Time
4h 14m
Distance
238.5 mi
384 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 1m
★
6 AM
4h 15m
8 AM
4h 41m
10 AM
4h 24m
12 PM
4h 21m
3 PM
4h 25m
5 PM
4h 40m
8 PM
4h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blytheville, AR
Jonathan Fuentes
Hot Springs, AR
Siarhei Nester
Trip Overview
Spanning 238.6 miles across Arkansas, this trip from Blytheville to Hot Springs is a manageable undertaking that takes approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes behind the wheel. Given the duration, it works perfectly as a single-day journey, though you may prefer to stay overnight in Hot Springs to fully enjoy your destination. Budgeting around $32 for fuel should cover your transit, which relies on a mix of local roads like South Division Street and Barker Road before connecting to I-40 West. You are traveling entirely within the Southeast region, moving from the northeastern corner of the state toward the central Ouachita region. It is a straightforward route, but the turn-heavy nature of the local sections requires you to stay alert and ready for navigation changes.
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
119.2 miles from Blytheville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive that transitions from local navigation into longer highway stretches. Since this route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, you will find yourself navigating through town roads early on, with no single stretch on South Division Street offering a long, uninterrupted run. The trip features a zero percent highway share in its initial local segments, meaning you will need to pay close attention to turns before eventually merging onto I-40 West. As you progress, the personality of the road shifts from the frequent maneuvering required on Barker Road to the more consistent pace of the interstate. You won't be staring at a monotonous highway for the entire duration, so keep your focus sharp for the varied road types you will encounter.
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 117.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
604 ft
189 ft
Total Climb
431 ft
Total Descent
96 ft
Highest Point
604 ft
~228.6 mi in
Elevation Range
415 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 55. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 61 / South Division Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 238.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 (US 61 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 176.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 61 / South Division Street
Turn right onto US 61 / South Division Street
Navigation decision point
5
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 40 West: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 8
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
7
176.6 mi into trip
|
~3h in
Take the exit toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
5
176.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 440 West: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 440 West: Texarkana
4
213.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 43m in
|
US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward US-70 West: Hot Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US-70 West: Hot Springs
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Blytheville, AR to Hot Springs, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Texarkana
176.6 mi in
|
~3h
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 117.5 mi | 1h 58m |
| I 55 | 55.4 mi | 55m |
| I 30 | 26.6 mi | 29m |
| US 70 | 24.6 mi | 31m |
| East Belt Freeway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| South Division Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Barker Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 117.5 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blytheville, AR and Hot Springs, AR.
1
Start on US 78; AR 18
46 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 61
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
South Division Street
3
Turn right onto Barker Road
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Barker Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
5
Merge onto I 55; US 78
55 mi
·
55 min
·
I 55; US 78
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
7
Merge onto I 40
118 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
I 40
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 440 West: Texarkana
10
Merge onto I 440
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
East Belt Freeway
11
Continue on I 30; US 67
24 mi
·
26 min
·
I 30; US 67
12
Continue on I 30; US 70
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 30; US 70
13
Take the exit onto US 70
25 mi
·
31 min
·
US 70
Toward US-70 West: Hot Springs
14
Arrive at destination
US 70B; US 270B
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 42-minute trek, plan to leave Blytheville early to avoid any unexpected local traffic congestion. Since the trip includes one recommended stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $32 budget in mind for mid-trip fill-ups. Because the drive involves a high number of turns early on, double-check your GPS settings before you depart to ensure you don't miss a transition between the local roads and the interstate. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the relatively short distance allows you to depart at your leisure without the pressure of an overnight split. If you are prone to fatigue, prioritize your single stop around the halfway mark to maintain your focus for the final stretch into Hot Springs.
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 119.2 miles from Blytheville, AR, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.5 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 80 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.2 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hot Springs, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blytheville, 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 Blytheville, AR
This is one driving day of about 238.5 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Blytheville, 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 117.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 119.2 mi from Blytheville, AR · 2h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
119 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 119.2 miles from Blytheville, 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 117.5 miles.
Arriving in Hot Springs, AR
The final approach into Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.46 one way
$72.92 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $39.99 | $79.98 |
| premium | $4.61 | $43.29 | $86.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $52.99 | $105.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.6 | 0 | $25.04 | $11.45 |
| Efficient EV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.87 | $9.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95.4 | 1 | $33.39 | $15.26 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Hot Springs, AR
Afternoon in Hot Springs on Sunday
Local time
3:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
24 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
4h 14m 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 Blytheville, AR to Hot Springs, AR covers 238.5 miles and takes about 4h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 55, I 30. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 119.2 miles from Blytheville, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.46 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 238.5 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 61 / South Division Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 176.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Blytheville, AR to Hot Springs, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 189 ft to 604 ft elevation with about 431 ft of total climbing.
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