Trip from Bull Shoals, AR to Bentonville, AR

Drive Time

2h 56m

Distance

132.9 mi

214 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 45m ★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m

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

Downtown Bull Shoals, AR, AR

Bull Shoals, AR

Connor Scott McManus

Downtown Bentonville, AR, AR

Bentonville, AR

Tima Miroshnichenko

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Bull Shoals to Bentonville, expect a journey covering 132.9 miles across the beautiful Southeast region of Arkansas. You should set aside about 2 hours and 56 minutes of actual driving time, making this an ideal one-day excursion. Budget roughly $18 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Navigating this route involves primarily local roads rather than high-speed interstates, so it is best to plan for a steady pace. Since the drive is under three hours, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing to book an overnight stay along the way.

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

66.5 miles from Bull Shoals, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Drive Character

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous highway cruise, this route features zero percent highway share, meaning you will be navigating local roads like Central Boulevard, North Thompson Road, and South Bloomington Street. The character of the road is winding and technical, requiring frequent adjustments rather than long, straight stretches of asphalt. You will find yourself constantly engaged with the road's curves as you transition from Bull Shoals toward Bentonville. It is a drive for those who prefer scenic, local connectivity over the fast-paced, repetitive experience of interstate travel.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 412 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.8 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,562 ft 702 ft

Total Climb

1,179 ft

Total Descent

685 ft

Highest Point

1,562 ft

~72 mi in

Elevation Range

860 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 412 and US 62. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 37.9 miles in near US 62; US 65; US 412.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 132.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 37.9 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Navigation decision point; at 56.7 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here; at 115.5 miles (US 412): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
37.9 mi into trip | ~49m in | US 62; US 65; US 412

At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412

Navigation decision point

5
56.7 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in | US 412

Turn left onto US 412

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
115.5 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | US 412

Keep slight right at fork onto US 412

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
130.1 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in | AR 12; US 62 / Southeast 14th Street

Turn left onto AR 12; US 62 / Southeast 14th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
6
131.2 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in | Southeast J Street

Turn right onto Southeast J Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 412 61.8 mi 1h 15m
US 62 47 mi 1h 2m
Central Boulevard 10 mi 17m
I 49 7.3 mi 7m
North Thompson Road 2 mi 3m
Southeast 14th Street 1.1 mi 2m
Southeast J Street 1 mi 2m
South Bloomington Street 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 412 — 61.8 mi, about 1h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Broadway Avenue

36 ft · 3 sec · Broadway Avenue
2

Turn right onto AR 178

10.0 mi · 17 min · Central Boulevard
3

Turn right onto US 62; US 412

5.4 mi · 6 min · US 62; US 412
4

Turn right onto US 62; US 412

23 mi · 25 min · US 62; US 412
5

At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412

7.2 mi · 11 min · US 62; US 65; US 412
6

Take the exit onto US 62; US 65; US 412

5.0 mi · 7 min · US 62; US 65; US 412
7

Take the exit onto US 62; US 412

6.1 mi · 8 min · US 62; US 412
8

Continue on US 62; US 412

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 62; US 412
Use the straight / left lanes.
9

Turn left onto US 412

59 mi · 1 hr 10 min · US 412
Use the left lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 412

3.0 mi · 5 min · US 412
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Continue on US 71B

2.0 mi · 3 min · North Thompson Road
12

Continue on US 71B

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Bloomington Street
13

Turn left onto AR 264

0.6 mi · 54 sec · West Monroe Avenue
14

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 28 sec
15

Merge onto I 49; US 62; US 71

7.3 mi · 7 min · I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the none lane.
16

Take the exit onto US 62; AR 12

0.3 mi · 39 sec · US 62; AR 12
Toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
17

Turn left onto AR 12; US 62

1.1 mi · 2 min · Southeast 14th Street
Use the none lane.
18

Turn right onto Southeast J Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · Southeast J Street
Use the none lane.
19

Turn left onto East Central Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · East Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
20

Turn right onto North Main Street

185 ft · 6 sec · North Main Street
21

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 132.9-mile journey, try to depart early in the morning to avoid local traffic congestion that often builds up on smaller roads. Since the trip includes one planned stop, use that time to stretch your legs and refresh before tackling the remaining sections of your route. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $18 budget is an estimate that can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency on these winding roads. Because you are traveling entirely on local infrastructure, remain patient and flexible with your timing. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to map out your one stop in advance, as the turn-heavy nature of the route makes spontaneous detours less convenient than they would be on a major highway.

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 66.5 miles from Bull Shoals, AR, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 66.5 miles or 1h 30m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bentonville, AR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Bull Shoals, 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 Bull Shoals, AR

This is one driving day of about 132.9 miles and 2h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bull Shoals, 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 412 for about 61.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 66.5 mi from Bull Shoals, AR · 1h 30m into the drive

Downtown Delaware, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Delaware, AR

66 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

Kibler, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Delaware, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 66.5 miles from Bull Shoals, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 412 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.8 miles.

Arriving in Bentonville, AR

The final approach into Bentonville, 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 Bentonville, 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

$20.32 one way

$40.63 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $22.28 $44.57
premium $4.61 $24.12 $48.24
diesel $5.64 $29.53 $59.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39.9 0 $13.95 $6.38
Efficient EV 33.2 0 $11.63 $5.32
EV Truck/SUV 53.2 0 $18.61 $8.51

Gas CO2

46 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (65% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Bull Shoals, AR

Afternoon in Bull Shoals on Sunday

Local time

4:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bentonville, AR

Afternoon in Bentonville on Sunday

Local time

4:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

57°F

Delaware, AR

66 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

18 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 56m 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 Bull Shoals, AR to Bentonville, AR covers 132.9 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 412, US 62, Central Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.5 miles from Bull Shoals, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.32 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 132.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 37.9 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Navigation decision point; at 56.7 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here; at 115.5 miles (US 412): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bull Shoals, AR to Bentonville, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 702 ft to 1,562 ft elevation with about 1,179 ft of total climbing.

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