This 135.5-mile journey from Highland, AR to Conway, AR takes approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day trip. With 94% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on I-30 and I-40, with a brief stretch on AR-26. The estimated fuel cost is around $20, and you can expect a largely highway-focused experience. Given its duration and focus, this route is ideal for a single day of travel within the Southeast region. It offers a straightforward path with minimal complications for a quick transit.
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
67.8 miles from Highland, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 135.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 94% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-30 and I-40. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 55.7 miles on I-30, so be prepared for sustained highway speeds. While AR-26 offers a brief change of pace, the overall character is that of efficient, direct travel. This means you'll likely experience smooth sailing for the majority of your 2-hour and 55-minute journey, with clear signage and predictable road conditions.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 55.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and AR 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 44 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 135.5 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 44 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
44 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the ramp toward AR 8, AR 26, AR 51: Arkadelphia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 8, AR 26, AR 51: Arkadelphia
8
100 mi into trip|~2h 15m 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
113.1 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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
113.8 mi into trip|~2h 31m 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
134.1 mi into trip|~2h 52m 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 Highland, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Oklahoma City
113.1 mi in|~2h 30m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 30
55.7 mi
57m
AR 26
21 mi
36m
I 40
20.1 mi
20m
US 70
13.1 mi
15m
Highway 26
9.9 mi
17m
AR 27
4.9 mi
8m
Hollywood Road
4.7 mi
8m
State Highway 26
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 30
— 55.7 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland, AR and Conway, AR.
1
Start on Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road
29 ft·6 sec·Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road
2
Turn right onto AR 26
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 26
3
At end of road, turn left onto AR 27
4.9 mi·8 min·AR 27
4
Turn right onto AR 19; AR 26
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 19/State Highway 26/13th Street
5
Continue on AR 19; AR 26
9.9 mi·17 min·Highway 26
6
Continue on AR 19; AR 26
0.9 mi·1 min·Antioch Street
7
Turn slight left onto AR 26
21 mi·36 min·AR 26
8
Continue on AR 51
4.7 mi·8 min·Hollywood Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto AR 8; AR 51
0.3 mi·31 sec·Pine Street
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·29 sec
Toward AR 8, AR 26, AR 51: Arkadelphia
11
Merge onto I 30
56 mi·57 min·I 30
12
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.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 13BToward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
14
Merge onto I 40; US 65
20 mi·20 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 64
16
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft·8 sec
17
Turn left onto US 64
1.0 mi·1 min·East Oak Street
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Oak Street
19
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft·19 sec·Locust Avenue
20
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft·4 sec·Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under three hours, this drive from Highland to Conway is best tackled in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and have ample time upon arrival. You'll only need to plan for one main stop, so consider breaking up the longest stretch of 55.7 miles on I-30 for a quick stretch or fuel top-off. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as highway services can sometimes be spaced out, and the $20 fuel cost is an estimate to budget for.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.8 miles from Highland, AR, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.7 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 30 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.8 miles or 1h 42m 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 28m
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 Highland, 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 Highland, AR
This is one driving day of about 135.5 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Highland, 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 30 for about 55.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.8 mi from Highland, AR
· 1h 42m into the drive
The midpoint is around 67.8 miles from Highland, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Conway, AR
The final approach into Conway, 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 Conway, AR.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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 65.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.46 one way
$40.93 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.46
$44.93
premium
$4.56
$24.32
$48.64
diesel
$5.61
$29.92
$59.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Tesla Supercharger
Conway, Arkansas
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Conway, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.7
0
$14.23
$6.50
Efficient EV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
EV Truck/SUV
54.2
0
$18.97
$8.67
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Highland, AR
Late night
in Highland on Friday
Local time
3:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Conway, AR
Late night
in Conway on Friday
Local time
3:27 AM
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
4 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
2h 55m 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 Highland, AR to Conway, AR covers 135.5 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 30, AR 26, I 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.8 miles from Highland, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.46 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 135.5 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 44 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Highland, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
