Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
186.7 mi
300 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hot Springs, AR
Jimmy Liao
Prairie Grove, AR
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Hot Springs, AR to Prairie Grove, AR covers 186.7 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, AR 7, I 49 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.8 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.20 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
93.3 miles from Hot Springs, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 64.8 mi | 1h 4m |
| AR 7 | 45.1 mi | 51m |
| I 49 | 32.6 mi | 32m |
| 4th Street | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| Park Avenue | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| Hogeye Road | 5.9 mi | 10m |
| Union Street | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| West Main Street | 4.6 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hot Springs, AR and Prairie Grove, AR.
Start on US 70B; US 270B
Turn right onto AR 7
Continue on AR 7
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
Continue on AR 7
At end of road, turn right onto AR 7
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7; AR 10
Continue on AR 7
Continue on AR 7
Continue on AR 22
Turn right onto AR 7
Turn left onto US 64
Continue on US 64
Turn right onto Mission Road
Continue on Lakewood Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Continue on I 49
Take the exit
Turn left onto AR 170
Turn right onto AR 156
Continue on AR 265
Turn right onto Hogeye Road
Continue on South Mock Street
Turn left onto West Mock Drive
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.3 miles or 1h 50m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Prairie Grove, AR than in the middle of the route.
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 186.7 miles and 3h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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.
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 93.3 miles from Hot Springs, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 175.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto AR 7 / Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
At end of road, turn right onto AR 7
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Take the exit toward State Highway 170: West Fork
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$28.20 one way
$56.39 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $30.95 | $61.91 |
| premium | $4.56 | $33.51 | $67.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.22 | $82.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56 | 0 | $19.60 | $8.96 |
| Efficient EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.34 | $7.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.7 | 0 | $26.14 | $11.95 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Hot Springs on Saturday
Local time
2:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Prairie Grove on Saturday
Local time
2:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
186.7 mi in 3h 32m, mostly highway — 64.8 mi of that is on I 40.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and AR 7. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 7 / Central Avenue.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hot Springs, AR to Prairie Grove, AR is easy. At 3h 32m with 79% 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 7 / Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 7.3 miles (AR 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 52.2 miles (AR 7): Navigation decision point.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,863 ft
Total Descent
1,287 ft
Highest Point
1,613 ft
~173.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,286 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hot Springs, AR to Prairie Grove, AR, road signs begin pointing toward State Highway 170: West Fork along the way.
State Highway 170: West Fork
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 186.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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