Origin
Monticello, AR
Morning in Monticello on Monday
Local time
7:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monticello, AR to Russellville, AR
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
162.3 mi
261 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 46m
★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, AR
Md Jawadur Rahman
Russellville, AR
Get Lost Mike
Trip Overview
The drive from Monticello, AR to Russellville, AR covers 162.3 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 65, Wiley A Branton Sr Highway, Highway 530 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69.1 miles on US 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.81 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
81.2 miles from Monticello, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 57m highway drive covering 162.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 65 and Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 69.1 miles on US 65.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 69.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 278 / North Hyatt Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 162.3 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.3 miles (US 278 / North Hyatt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 41.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.2 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 278 / North Hyatt Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 278 / North Hyatt Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
41.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 530 North, US 65 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
90.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65 toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143A
Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Co...
6
90.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
160.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
|
US 64 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 64 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Monticello, AR to Russellville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
Fort Smith
90.2 mi in
|
~1h 41m
|
via US 65
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 65 | 69.1 mi | 1h 10m |
| Wiley A Branton Sr Highway | 26.9 mi | 28m |
| Highway 530 | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| I 530 | 16.8 mi | 16m |
| US 425 | 15.7 mi | 20m |
| I 30 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| East Main Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Highway 11 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 69.1 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, AR and Russellville, AR.
1
Start on US 278; Hwy 83
23 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Gaines Avenue
2
Turn left onto AR 83
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 278; Hwy 83
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
West McCloy Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 278
146 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Hyatt Street
5
Turn slight right onto US 278
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Gaines Avenue
6
Take the ramp
219 ft
·
5 sec
7
Merge onto US 425
16 mi
·
20 min
·
US 425
8
Turn left onto AR 11
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 11
9
Turn right onto AR 530
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Highway 530
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
11
Merge onto I 530; US 63; US 65; US 79
27 mi
·
28 min
·
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
12
Continue on I 530; US 65
17 mi
·
16 min
·
I 530; US 65
13
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 65
Exit 143A
Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
69 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 84
Toward AR 331, US 64
17
Turn left onto AR 331
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
AR 331
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 64
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto AR 7
106 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Arkansas Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
AR 7
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 81.2 miles from Monticello, AR, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.1 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.2 miles or 1h 31m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Russellville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Monticello, 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 Monticello, AR
This is one driving day of about 162.3 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Monticello, 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 US 65 for about 69.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.2 mi from Monticello, AR · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 81.2 miles from Monticello, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.1 miles.
Arriving in Russellville, AR
The final approach into Russellville, 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 Russellville, AR.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.81 one way
$49.62 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $27.21 | $54.43 |
| premium | $4.61 | $29.46 | $58.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.06 | $72.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.04 | $7.79 |
| Efficient EV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.20 | $6.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.72 | $10.39 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Russellville, AR
Morning in Russellville on Monday
Local time
7:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 57m 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 Monticello, AR to Russellville, AR covers 162.3 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 65, Wiley A Branton Sr Highway, Highway 530. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.2 miles from Monticello, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.81 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 162.3 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.3 miles (US 278 / North Hyatt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 41.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.2 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Monticello, AR to Russellville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.
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