The drive from Des Arc, AR to Kentucky, AR covers 86.4 miles and takes about 1h 44m 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 30, AR 11 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.7 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.05 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.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Des Arc, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 86.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 44m highway drive covering 86.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 30. The longest continuous stretch is about 33.7 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 16 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 33.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 30. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 323 / Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 (AR 323 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AR 38): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AR 323 / Main Street
Turn right onto AR 323 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North 5th Street
Turn right onto North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|AR 38
At end of road, turn left onto AR 38
Navigation decision point
7
49 mi into trip|~57m 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
49.2 mi into trip|~57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 440 West: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 440 West: Texarkana
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 Des Arc, AR to Kentucky, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Texarkana
49 mi in|~57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
33.7 mi
33m
I 30
20.4 mi
22m
AR 11
9.9 mi
14m
East Belt Freeway
9.8 mi
11m
Old Hot Springs Highway
5.7 mi
10m
AR 38
4.7 mi
6m
I-30 Frontage Road
0.4 mi
<1m
North 5th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 33.7 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Arc, AR and Kentucky, AR.
1
Start on North 3rd
36 ft·3 sec·North 3rd
2
Turn right onto AR 323
0.1 mi·21 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto North 5th Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·North 5th Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 38
4.7 mi·6 min·AR 38
5
Continue on AR 11
9.9 mi·14 min·AR 11
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
34 mi·33 min·I 40
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, TexarkanaUse 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
20 mi·22 min·I 30; US 67
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
13
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.4 mi·37 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
14
Turn slight right onto AR 5
0.2 mi·19 sec·Old Hot Springs Highway
15
Continue on AR 5
5.5 mi·9 min·Old Hot Springs Highway
16
Arrive at destination
AR 5
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 43.2 miles from Des Arc, AR, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.7 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kentucky, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Des Arc, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Arc, AR
This is one driving day of about 86.4 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Des Arc, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 33.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.2 mi from Des Arc, AR
· 51m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hot Springs National Park
National Park
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 86.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.05 one way
$26.10 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.32
$28.65
premium
$4.56
$15.51
$31.02
diesel
$5.61
$19.08
$38.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.07
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.56
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.10
$5.53
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Des Arc, AR
Morning
in Des Arc on Friday
Local time
10:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kentucky, AR
Morning
in Kentucky on Friday
Local time
10:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 44m 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 Des Arc, AR to Kentucky, AR covers 86.4 miles and takes about 1h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 30, AR 11. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.2 miles from Des Arc, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.05 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 (AR 323 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AR 38): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Des Arc, AR to Kentucky, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hot Springs National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
