The drive from Leachville, AR to Kentucky, AR covers 188.6 miles and takes about 3h 38m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, Highway 18, I 30 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.7 miles on I 57.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.48 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
94.3 miles from Leachville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 188.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 38m highway drive covering 188.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 57 and Highway 18. The longest continuous stretch is about 102.7 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 15 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 102.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Highway 18. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 119 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 188.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 119 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 156.7 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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 119 / South Main Street
Turn left onto AR 119 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
52.7 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
156.7 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US...
8
161.5 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|I 30; US 67
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67 toward Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 138
Toward Texarkana
5
182.4 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
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 Leachville, AR to Kentucky, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Texarkana
161.5 mi in|~3h 4m|via I 30; US 67
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 45m
Highway 18
29.4 mi
40m
I 30
20.8 mi
23m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
Old Hot Springs Highway
5.7 mi
10m
US 167
4.9 mi
6m
South Main Street
3.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leachville, AR and Kentucky, AR.
1
Start on AR 77
64 ft·6 sec·East 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto AR 119
3.3 mi·5 min·South Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 78; AR 18
29 mi·40 min·Highway 18
4
Turn left onto AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
5
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
7
Merge onto I 57
103 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 57
8
Merge onto I 40; US 167
0.9 mi·1 min·I 40; US 167
9
Take the exit onto US 167
4.9 mi·6 min·US 167
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67
21 mi·23 min·I 30; US 67
Exit 138Toward TexarkanaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
12
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.4 mi·37 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
13
Turn slight right onto AR 5
0.2 mi·19 sec·Old Hot Springs Highway
14
Continue on AR 5
5.5 mi·9 min·Old Hot Springs Highway
15
Arrive at destination
AR 5
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 94.3 miles from Leachville, AR, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.3 miles or 1h 53m 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 55m
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 Leachville, 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 Leachville, AR
This is one driving day of about 188.6 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Leachville, 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 102.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.3 mi from Leachville, AR
· 1h 53m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 188.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.48 one way
$56.97 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$31.27
$62.54
premium
$4.56
$33.85
$67.70
diesel
$5.61
$41.64
$83.28
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: 66 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.6
0
$19.80
$9.05
Efficient EV
47.2
0
$16.50
$7.54
EV Truck/SUV
75.4
0
$26.40
$12.07
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Leachville, AR
Afternoon
in Leachville on Friday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kentucky, AR
Afternoon
in Kentucky on Friday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
15 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
3h 38m 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 Leachville, AR to Kentucky, AR covers 188.6 miles and takes about 3h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 57, Highway 18, I 30. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 94.3 miles from Leachville, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 188.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 119 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 156.7 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Leachville, AR to Kentucky, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
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.
