Gurdon, AR to Conway, AR is 107.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 57 minutes via I 30, I 40, and US 70, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arkansas, moving you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, largely highway-focused trip that's ideal for a single-day journey. Given its relatively short duration, you'll likely find it easy to manage without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.7 miles from Gurdon, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 107.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 97% of the route being on major highways. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 66 miles on I 30, offering a consistent pace. The profile suggests a drive that primarily utilizes interstate and major highway systems, meaning you'll encounter higher speed limits and fewer traffic signals for most of the journey. This setup makes for an efficient transit between your starting point in Gurdon and your destination in Conway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 66 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and I 40. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 107.5 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 71.9 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
5.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
8
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 129
Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
7
85 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13B
Toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
5
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|I 40; US 65
Merge onto I 40; US 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
106 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork
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 Gurdon, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Oklahoma City
85 mi in|~1h 33m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 30
66 mi
1h 7m
I 40
20.1 mi
20m
US 70
13.1 mi
15m
AR 53
4.9 mi
8m
East Oak Street
1 mi
1m
North Elm Street
0.9 mi
1m
Oak Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Locust Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 30
— 66 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gurdon, AR and Conway, 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
66 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 30
5
Take the exit onto US 70
13 mi·15 min·US 70
Exit 129Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort SmithUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 13BToward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
7
Merge onto I 40; US 65
20 mi·20 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 64
9
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft·8 sec
10
Turn left onto US 64
1.0 mi·1 min·East Oak Street
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Oak Street
12
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·19 sec·Locust Avenue
13
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft·4 sec·Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility; you can leave whenever it suits you best. Plan to depart mid-morning to avoid rush hour if that's a concern in either city. Since the longest stretch without a major change is 66 miles, you'll have ample opportunities to stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 66-mile mark on I 30, to ensure you don't need to detour for gas.
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 53.7 miles from Gurdon, AR, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.7 miles or 59m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Conway, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gurdon, AR
This is one driving day of about 107.5 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Gurdon, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 30 for about 66 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.7 mi from Gurdon, AR
· 59m 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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 37.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.24 one way
$32.47 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$17.82
$35.64
premium
$4.56
$19.29
$38.59
diesel
$5.61
$23.73
$47.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.3
0
$11.29
$5.16
Efficient EV
26.9
0
$9.41
$4.30
EV Truck/SUV
43
0
$15.05
$6.88
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Gurdon, AR
Evening
in Gurdon on Friday
Local time
5:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Conway, AR
Evening
in Conway on Friday
Local time
5:23 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
2 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
1h 57m 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 Gurdon, AR to Conway, AR covers 107.5 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 30, I 40, US 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.7 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 $16.24 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 107.5 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 71.9 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Gurdon, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City 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.
