Trip from Dardanelle, AR to Tennessee, AR

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 6m

Distance

168.8 mi

272 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

2h 55m ★

6 AM

3h 6m

8 AM

3h 29m

10 AM

3h 14m

12 PM

3h 12m

3 PM

3h 15m

5 PM

3h 28m

8 PM

2h 59m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Dardanelle, AR to Tennessee, AR covers 168.8 miles and takes about 3h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, I 530, Highway 530 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 68.7 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.49 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

84.4 miles from Dardanelle, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 6m highway drive covering 168.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 530. The longest continuous stretch is about 68.7 miles on I 40.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 15 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 68.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 530. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in near AR 331.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 6m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6.7 miles (AR 331): Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 80.6 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

6

6.7 mi into trip | ~8m in | AR 331

Turn left onto AR 331

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

6

7 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the ramp toward I-40

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Exit 84 Toward I-40

6

80.6 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in | I 530; US 65; US 167

Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

6

124.4 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in

Take the exit toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 44 Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello

5

148.1 mi into trip | ~2h 38m in | AR 11 / Highway 11

At end of road, turn left onto AR 11 / Highway 11

Navigation decision point

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 Dardanelle, AR to Tennessee, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.

Monticello

124.4 mi in | ~2h 11m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	68.7 mi	1h 9m
I 530	43.9 mi	45m
Highway 530	22.9 mi	26m
US 425	15.7 mi	20m
US 65	4.6 mi	6m
Union Street	4.4 mi	5m
West Gaines Avenue	2.6 mi	4m
East Main Street	2.3 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 68.7 mi, about 1h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dardanelle, AR and Tennessee, AR.

1

Start on AR 7

4.4 mi · 5 min · Union Street

2

Turn right onto US 64

2.3 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

3

Turn left onto AR 331

0.3 mi · 28 sec · AR 331

Use the left lane.

4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 84 Toward I-40

5

Merge onto I 40

69 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 40

6

Take the exit onto US 65

4.6 mi · 6 min · US 65

7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167

44 mi · 45 min · I 530; US 65; US 167

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

8

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 52 sec

Exit 44 Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello

9

Continue on AR 530

23 mi · 26 min · Highway 530

10

At end of road, turn left onto AR 11

2.0 mi · 2 min · Highway 11

11

Turn right onto US 425

16 mi · 20 min · US 425

12

Take the exit

226 ft · 6 sec

13

Turn slight right onto US 278

2.6 mi · 4 min · West Gaines Avenue

14

Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Tennessee Spur Road

15

Arrive at destination

Tennessee Spur Road

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 84.4 miles from Dardanelle, AR, or about 1h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.7 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 37 miles or 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 84.4 miles or 1h 29m 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 27m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Dardanelle, 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 Dardanelle, AR

This is one driving day of about 168.8 miles and 3h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Dardanelle, 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 68.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 84.4 mi from Dardanelle, AR · 1h 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Little Rock, AR

84 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.

Popular next leg

Little Rock, AR to Tennessee, AR

91.8 mi · 1h 46m

Pacing Suggestions

Conway, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Little Rock, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.4 miles from Dardanelle, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.7 miles.

Arriving in Tennessee, AR

The final approach into Tennessee, 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 Tennessee, 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

$25.49 one way

$50.99 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$27.98	$55.97
premium	$4.56	$30.30	$60.60
diesel	$5.61	$37.27	$74.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 59.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	50.6	$17.72	$8.10
Efficient EV	42.2	$14.77	$6.75
EV Truck/SUV	67.5	$23.63	$10.80

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Dardanelle, AR

Night in Dardanelle on Wednesday

Local time

9:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tennessee, AR

Night in Tennessee on Wednesday

Local time

9:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

1 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

3h 6m 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 Dardanelle, AR to Tennessee, AR covers 168.8 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, I 530, Highway 530. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 84.4 miles from Dardanelle, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.49 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.