Origin
Cave Springs, AR
Morning in Cave Springs on Monday
Local time
6:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cave Springs, AR to Texarkana, AR
Drive Time
5h 5m
Distance
251.4 mi
405 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 52m
★
6 AM
5h 5m
8 AM
5h 32m
10 AM
5h 15m
12 PM
5h 12m
3 PM
5h 16m
5 PM
5h 31m
8 PM
4h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Texarkana, AR
ARMAN ALCORDO JR.
Trip Overview
The drive from Cave Springs, AR to Texarkana, AR covers 251.4 miles and takes about 5h 5m 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 59 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 133.8 miles on US 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.43 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
125.7 miles from Cave Springs, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 5m highway drive covering 251.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 71 and I 49. The longest continuous stretch is about 133.8 miles on US 71.
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 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 133.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 49. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Midway Avenue.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 251.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Midway Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (US 412 / East Henri de Tonti Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Midway Avenue
Turn right onto Midway Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
6.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 412 / East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
Turn left onto US 412 / East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
8.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
8.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 49; US 62; US 71
Merge onto I 49; US 62; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
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
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Cave Springs, AR to Texarkana, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
Fort Smith
60 mi in
|
~1h 8m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 133.8 mi | 2h 38m |
| I 49 | 51.4 mi | 52m |
| US 59 | 44.5 mi | 1h |
| East Collin Raye Drive | 8 mi | 11m |
| I 40 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| North Maestri Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street (Cave Springs) | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street (Elm Springs) | 1.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 133.8 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave Springs, AR and Texarkana, AR.
1
Start on the route
43 ft
·
6 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Midway Avenue
52 ft
·
8 sec
·
Midway Avenue
3
Turn left onto South Main Street (Cave Springs)
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street (Cave Springs)
4
Continue on North Main Street Elm Springs
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street Elm Springs
5
Continue on North Main Street (Elm Springs)
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street (Elm Springs)
6
Continue on North Maestri Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Maestri Road
7
Turn left onto East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
8
Continue on West Sunset Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Sunset Avenue
9
Take the exit right
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
10
Merge slight left
51 mi
·
52 min
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
12
Merge slight left
4.3 mi
·
4 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 71 South: Texarkana
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 71 South: Texarkana
15
Turn left
121 mi
·
2 hr 23 min
16
Turn left onto East Collin Raye Drive
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
East Collin Raye Drive
17
Continue straight
44 mi
·
1 hr
18
Turn left onto East 24th Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
East 24th Street
19
Turn right onto County Avenue
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
County Avenue
20
Turn left onto East 20th Street
180 ft
·
8 sec
·
East 20th Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 125.7 miles from Cave Springs, AR, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.8 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.7 miles or 2h 25m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Texarkana, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cave Springs, 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 Cave Springs, AR
This is one driving day of about 251.4 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cave Springs, 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 71 for about 133.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 125.7 mi from Cave Springs, AR · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 125.7 miles from Cave Springs, 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 133.8 miles.
Arriving in Texarkana, AR
The final approach into Texarkana, 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 Texarkana, 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
$38.43 one way
$76.87 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $42.15 | $84.31 |
| premium | $4.61 | $45.63 | $91.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $55.85 | $111.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.40 | $12.07 |
| Efficient EV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.00 | $10.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.6 | 1 | $35.20 | $16.09 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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
Texarkana, AR
Morning in Texarkana on Monday
Local time
6:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
11 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
5h 5m 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 Cave Springs, AR to Texarkana, AR covers 251.4 miles and takes about 5h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 71, I 49, US 59. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 125.7 miles from Cave Springs, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.43 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 251.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Midway Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 6.6 miles (US 412 / East Henri de Tonti Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Cave Springs, AR to Texarkana, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
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