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Trip from Highland, AR to Kentucky, AR

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 13m

Distance

93.8 mi

151 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 4m ★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 20m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 7m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Highland, AR, AR

Highland, AR

Rámon van Raaij

Downtown Kentucky, AR, AR

Kentucky, AR

Owen.outdoors

Trip Overview

The drive from Highland, AR to Kentucky, AR covers 93.8 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 30, AR 26, Highway 26 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.4 miles on I 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.17 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

46.9 miles from Highland, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 93.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 13m highway drive covering 93.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 30 and AR 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 43.4 miles on I 30.

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 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and AR 26. 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 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Highland, AR to Kentucky, AR is easy. At 2h 13m with 87% 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 43.8 miles (AR 8; AR 51 / Pine Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 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
43.8 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | AR 8; AR 51 / Pine Street

At end of road, turn right onto AR 8; AR 51 / Pine Street

Navigation decision point

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
5
87.7 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in

Take the exit toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 30 43.4 mi 43m
AR 26 21 mi 36m
Highway 26 9.9 mi 17m
Old Hot Springs Highway 5.5 mi 9m
AR 27 4.9 mi 8m
Hollywood Road 4.7 mi 8m
State Highway 26 1.5 mi 2m
State Highway 19/State Highway 26/13th Street 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 30 — 43.4 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Highland, AR and Kentucky, 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

43 mi · 43 min · I 30
12

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
13

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 36 sec
14

At end of road, turn left onto AR 35

0.4 mi · 39 sec · West Carpenter Street
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 46.9 miles from Highland, AR, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.4 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 21 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 46.9 miles or 1h 20m 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 51m

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 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 93.8 miles and 2h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Highland, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 30 for about 43.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 46.9 mi from Highland, AR · 1h 20m into the drive

city in Clark County, Arkansas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Arkadelphia, AR

47 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

Alpine, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arkadelphia, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.9 miles from Highland, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Kentucky, AR

The final approach into Kentucky, 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 Kentucky, 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

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 64.7
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.17 one way

$28.33 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $15.55 $31.10
premium $4.56 $16.84 $33.67
diesel $5.61 $20.71 $41.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.1 0 $9.85 $4.50
Efficient EV 23.5 0 $8.21 $3.75
EV Truck/SUV 37.5 0 $13.13 $6.00

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 16, 2026

Origin

Highland, AR

Night in Highland on Thursday

Local time

10:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kentucky, AR

Night in Kentucky on Thursday

Local time

10:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 5 mph 28% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 16 at 4:25PM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 4:19PM CDT until April 16 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN

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

9 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 13m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Kentucky, AR covers 93.8 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 30, AR 26, 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 46.9 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 $14.17 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 Kentucky, AR is easy. At 2h 13m with 87% 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 43.8 miles (AR 8; AR 51 / Pine Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Highland, AR to Kentucky, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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