The drive from Hot Springs, AR to Southside, AR covers 140.9 miles and takes about 2h 42m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, US 64, US 70 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.14 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.4 miles from Hot Springs, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 140.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 42m highway drive covering 140.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and US 64. The longest continuous stretch is about 55 miles on I 57.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 55 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 64. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 24.2 miles in near US 70.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 42m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.2 miles (US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.1 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 56 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
24.2 mi into trip|~30m in|US 70
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
51.1 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|I 30; US 67
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
56 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|US 67; US 167
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167 toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143B
Toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Ja...
7
57.6 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|I 57; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167 toward Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Saint Louis
5
112.6 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|US 64; US 167
Take the exit onto US 64; US 167 toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Batesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Bate...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hot Springs, AR and Southside, AR, road signs point toward Memphis, Saint Louis and Batesville.
Memphis
56 mi in|~1h 7m|via US 67; US 167
Saint Louis
57.6 mi in|~1h 9m|via I 57; US 167
Batesville
112.6 mi in|~2h 5m|via US 64; US 167
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
55 mi
56m
US 64
28.3 mi
36m
US 70
26.9 mi
30m
West Grand Avenue
24.2 mi
30m
I 30
4.9 mi
6m
US 67
1.6 mi
2m
Batesville Boulevard
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 55 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hot Springs, AR and Southside, AR.
1
Start on US 70B; US 270B
82 ft·8 sec·West Grand Avenue
2
Continue on US 70B; US 270B
24 mi·30 min·West Grand Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70
27 mi·30 min·US 70
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
0.7 mi·49 sec·I 30; US 67
5
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
4.2 mi·5 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167
1.6 mi·2 min·US 67; US 167
Exit 143BToward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167
28 mi·29 min·I 57; US 167
Toward Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167
27 mi·26 min·I 57; US 64; US 167
9
Take the exit onto US 64; US 167
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 64; US 167
Toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Batesville
10
Turn left onto US 64; US 167
28 mi·35 min·US 64; US 167
11
Arrive at destination
US 167
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.4 miles from Hot Springs, AR, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.4 miles or 1h 23m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southside, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, AR
This is one driving day of about 140.9 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Hot Springs, 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 57 for about 55 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.4 mi from Hot Springs, AR
· 1h 23m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.14 one way
$38.28 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$21.36
$42.71
premium
$4.15
$23.02
$46.04
diesel
$3.75
$20.80
$41.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.3
0
$14.79
$6.76
Efficient EV
35.2
0
$12.33
$5.64
EV Truck/SUV
56.4
0
$19.73
$9.02
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 18, 2026
Origin
Hot Springs, AR
Late night
in Hot Springs on Saturday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph52% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Southside, AR
Late night
in Southside on Saturday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
21 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 42m 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 Hot Springs, AR to Southside, AR covers 140.9 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, US 64, 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 70.4 miles from Hot Springs, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.14 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 straightforward 2h 42m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.2 miles (US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.1 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 56 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Hot Springs, AR and Southside, AR, road signs point toward Memphis, Saint Louis and Batesville.
