Gurdon, AR to Bentonville, AR is 266.6 miles and takes about 4h 54m via I 49, I 40, and AR 7, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Arkansas, starting in the Southeast region and heading toward the northwest. It's a highway-focused drive that should be manageable in a single day. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a straightforward journey if you're looking for efficiency. Consider this route if you need to cover ground between these two points without a lot of detours.
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
133.3 miles from Gurdon, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 54m. Total distance: 266.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is primarily on highways, with 82% of the route utilizing major roads like I 49 and I 40. You can expect long stretches of consistent speed, including a continuous segment of 65.6 miles on I 49. While much of the journey is focused on efficient travel, you will also incorporate AR 7, which may offer a slightly different driving experience. The profile suggests a generally highway-focused drive, meaning you'll likely encounter fewer complex turns or slow local roads and more straightforward interstate cruising.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 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 65.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 62.5 miles in near AR 7.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 266.6 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 62.5 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 132.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 244.2 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
62.5 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|AR 7
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
132.4 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 78
Toward I-40
6
244.2 mi into trip|~4h 26m in|I 49; US 62; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
263.5 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|US 62; AR 12
Take the exit onto US 62; AR 12 toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Southeast 14th Street, Hudson Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 62 East, AR 12 East, AR 102 West: Sou...
6
264.9 mi into trip|~4h 50m in|Southeast J Street
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 49
65.6 mi
1h 8m
I 40
64.8 mi
1h 4m
AR 7
45.1 mi
51m
I 30
35.3 mi
35m
4th Street
14.4 mi
16m
Martin Luther King Road
12.3 mi
14m
Hot Springs Bypass
5.9 mi
6m
AR 53
4.9 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gurdon, AR and Bentonville, AR.
1
Start on US 67; AR 53
0.9 mi·1 min·North Elm Street
2
Continue on AR 53
4.9 mi·8 min·AR 53
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
4
Merge onto I 30
35 mi·35 min·I 30
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 270 West: Hot Springs
6
Merge onto US 270
12 mi·14 min·Martin Luther King Road
7
Continue on US 270
0.5 mi·33 sec·Malvern Avenue
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
9
Merge onto US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway
10
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
5.9 mi·6 min·Hot Springs Bypass
11
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
185 ft·2 sec·AR 7
12
Continue on AR 7
45 mi·50 min·AR 7
13
At end of road, turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·20 sec·AR 7
14
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·23 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
15
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·4th Street
16
Continue on AR 7
0.2 mi·15 sec·North State Highway 7
17
Continue on AR 22
374 ft·9 sec·AR 22
18
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·Union Street
19
Turn left onto US 64
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
20
Continue on US 64
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Street
21
Turn right onto Mission Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mission Road
22
Continue on Lakewood Drive
367 ft·9 sec·Lakewood Drive
23
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 78Toward I-40
24
Merge onto I 40
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
26
Continue on I 49
46 mi·47 min·I 49
Use the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
19 mi·20 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
28
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
29
Turn left onto AR 12; US 62
1.1 mi·2 min·Southeast 14th Street
30
Turn right onto Southeast J Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Southeast J Street
Use the left lane.
31
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi·2 min·East Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto North Main Street
185 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
33
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under 5 hours, this trip is well-suited for a single day, giving you flexibility on when to depart. Leaving in the morning will ensure you have ample daylight to reach Bentonville. The longest stretch without a stop is over 65 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or when you see service areas marked on I 40. Given the relatively short duration and highway focus, you won't need to worry about splitting the drive, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always wise, especially as you transition between major highways.
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 133.3 miles from Gurdon, AR, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.6 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 59 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.3 miles or 2h 34m 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
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 Gurdon, 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 Gurdon, AR
This is one driving day of about 266.6 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Gurdon, 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 49 for about 65.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 133.3 mi from Gurdon, AR
· 2h 34m 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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 55.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.26 one way
$80.53 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$44.20
$88.40
premium
$4.56
$47.85
$95.70
diesel
$5.61
$58.86
$117.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80
0
$27.99
$12.80
Efficient EV
66.7
0
$23.33
$10.66
EV Truck/SUV
106.6
1
$37.32
$17.06
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Gurdon, AR
Evening
in Gurdon on Friday
Local time
6:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bentonville, AR
Evening
in Bentonville on Friday
Local time
6:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
2 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
4h 54m 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 Gurdon, AR to Bentonville, AR covers 266.6 miles and takes about 4h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, I 40, AR 7. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 133.3 miles from Gurdon, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.26 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 is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 266.6 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 62.5 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 132.4 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 244.2 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Gurdon, AR to Bentonville, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
