Origin
Chester, AR
Night in Chester on Tuesday
Local time
10:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chester, AR to Alma, AR
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
20m
Distance
17.1 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chester, AR
Andrea Piacquadio
Alma, AR
Sami Aksu
Trip Overview
The drive from Chester, AR to Alma, AR covers 17.1 miles and takes about 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 49, East Front Avenue, Fayetteville Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14 miles on I 49. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.6 miles from Chester, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 20m highway drive covering 17.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 49 and East Front Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 14 miles on I 49.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 14 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and East Front Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Turner.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 17.1 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: near the start (Turner): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AR 282 / East Front Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
|
Turner
Turn right onto Turner
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 282 / East Front Avenue
Turn left onto AR 282 / East Front Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
15 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
4
16 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward US 71: Alma
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 71: Alma
5
16.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Fayetteville Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto Fayetteville Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Chester, AR to Alma, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Little Rock
15 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 14 mi | 14m |
| East Front Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Fayetteville Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 40 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US Highway 71 North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 71 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Turner | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 14 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chester, AR and Alma, AR.
1
Start on East Central Avenue
163 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Central Avenue
2
Turn right onto Turner
364 ft
·
21 sec
·
Turner
3
Turn left onto AR 282
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Front Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
5
Merge onto I 49
14 mi
·
14 min
·
I 49
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
7
Merge onto I 40; US 71
0.4 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 40; US 71
8
Take the exit onto US 71
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 71
Toward US 71: Alma
9
Turn right onto US 71B; AR 162
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
US Highway 71 North
10
Continue on Fayetteville Avenue
448 ft
·
12 sec
·
Fayetteville Avenue
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Fayetteville Avenue
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Fayetteville Avenue
12
Continue on Fayetteville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Fayetteville Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Fayetteville Avenue
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8.6 miles from Chester, AR, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14 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 17.1 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.6 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alma, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chester, 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 Chester, AR
This is one driving day of about 17.1 miles and 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chester, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 49 for about 14 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.6 mi from Chester, AR · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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 17.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.6 miles from Chester, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alma, AR
The final approach into Alma, 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 Alma, 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
$2.58 one way
$5.17 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.83 | $5.67 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.07 | $6.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.78 | $7.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.50 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Alma, AR
Night in Alma on Tuesday
Local time
10:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Garland, TX
9 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
20 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
20m 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 Chester, AR to Alma, AR covers 17.1 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, East Front Avenue, Fayetteville Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.6 miles from Chester, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.58 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 17.1 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: near the start (Turner): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (AR 282 / East Front Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Chester, AR to Alma, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
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