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Trip from Highland, AR to Hot Springs, AR

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

61.5 mi

99 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 33m

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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Downtown Highland, AR, AR

Highland, AR

Rámon van Raaij

Downtown Hot Springs, AR, AR

Hot Springs, AR

Jimmy Liao

Trip Overview

The drive from Highland, AR to Hot Springs, AR covers 61.5 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 70, AR 27, State Highway 26 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39 miles on US 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.29 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

30.7 miles from Highland, 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 37m. Total distance: 61.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 37m highway drive covering 61.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 70 and AR 27. The longest continuous stretch is about 39 miles on US 70.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 39 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and AR 27. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 26 / State Highway 26.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Highland, AR to Hot Springs, AR is easy. At 1h 37m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 26 / State Highway 26): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (AR 27): Navigation decision point; at 59.3 miles (US 70B; US 270B / Albert Pike Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | AR 26 / State Highway 26

Turn right onto AR 26 / State Highway 26

Navigation decision point

4
1.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | AR 27

At end of road, turn left onto AR 27

Navigation decision point

4
59.3 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | US 70B; US 270B / Albert Pike Road

At end of road, turn right onto US 70B; US 270B / Albert Pike Road

Navigation decision point

4
60.6 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | US 70B; US 270B / 3rd Street

Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B / 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

3
60.8 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | US 70B; US 270B / West Grand Avenue

Turn right onto US 70B; US 270B / West Grand Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 70 39 mi 58m
AR 27 18.8 mi 32m
State Highway 26 1.5 mi 2m
Albert Pike Road 0.9 mi 1m
West Grand Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Hobson Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
3rd Street 0.3 mi <1m
Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 70 — 39 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Highland, AR and Hot Springs, 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

19 mi · 32 min · AR 27
4

Continue on US 70

39 mi · 58 min · US 70
5

At end of road, turn right onto US 70B; US 270B

0.9 mi · 1 min · Albert Pike Road
6

Turn right onto US 70B; US 270B

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Hobson Avenue
7

Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B

0.3 mi · 23 sec · 3rd Street
8

Turn right onto US 70B; US 270B

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Grand Avenue
9

Continue on US 70B; US 270B

348 ft · 12 sec · West Grand Avenue
10

Arrive at destination

US 70B; US 270B

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 30.7 miles from Highland, AR, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 14 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 30.7 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 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hot Springs, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Highland, AR

This is one driving day of about 61.5 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Highland, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 70 for about 39 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.7 mi from Highland, AR · 51m into the drive

Downtown Glenwood, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glenwood, AR

31 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Murfreesboro, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Glenwood, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.7 miles from Highland, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Hot Springs, AR

The final approach into Hot Springs, AR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

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...

1 mi from route ~4 min detour Free near mile 61.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.29 one way

$18.58 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $10.20 $20.39
premium $4.56 $11.04 $22.08
diesel $5.61 $13.58 $27.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.5 0 $6.46 $2.95
Efficient EV 15.4 0 $5.38 $2.46
EV Truck/SUV 24.6 0 $8.61 $3.94

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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

Night in Highland on Friday

Local time

9:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hot Springs, AR

Night in Hot Springs on Friday

Local time

9:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

72°F

Glenwood, AR

31 mi in

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 37m 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 Hot Springs, AR covers 61.5 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 70, AR 27, State Highway 26. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 30.7 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 $9.29 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.

The drive from Highland, AR to Hot Springs, AR is easy. At 1h 37m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 26 / State Highway 26): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (AR 27): Navigation decision point; at 59.3 miles (US 70B; US 270B / Albert Pike Road): Navigation decision point.

The route from Highland, AR to Hot Springs, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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.

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Plan the drive back the other way.

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