Trip from Morrilton, AR to Hot Springs, AR

Drive Time

1h 49m

Distance

66.6 mi

107 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 42m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m

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

Downtown Morrilton, AR, AR

Morrilton, AR

Regan Dsouza

Downtown Hot Springs, AR, AR

Hot Springs, AR

Siarhei Nester

Trip Overview

Connecting Morrilton to Hot Springs, this 66.6-mile drive is a straightforward journey through Arkansas that typically takes about 1 hour and 49 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you choose to extend your time in the destination. You can expect a modest fuel budget of roughly $10 for the one-way trip. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of the state, the transition between them feels consistent rather than jarring. It is an ideal choice for travelers looking for a manageable regional route that balances efficiency with a bit of local flavor.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

33.3 miles from Morrilton, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps you engaged without being overly taxing. You will spend about 59% of your time on highways, providing a nice balance between steady cruising and navigating more localized roads. State Highway 9 serves as the backbone of your journey, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 29.9 miles that allows you to settle into a rhythm. As you transition onto State Highway 10 and Park Avenue, the road character shifts, requiring you to stay attentive to changing conditions. You won't face a monotonous interstate grind here; instead, the route provides a practical variety of road types that reflect the landscape between these two Arkansas hubs.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 9 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 64 / East Broadway Street.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Morrilton, AR to Hot Springs, AR is easy. At 1h 49m with 59% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 64 / East Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (AR 9 / State Highway 9): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 64 / East Broadway Street

Turn right onto US 64 / East Broadway Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
3
24.6 mi into trip | ~37m in | AR 9 / State Highway 9

Turn right onto AR 9 / State Highway 9

Navigation decision point

4
45.3 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | AR 5 / Hot Springs Highway

At end of road, turn right onto AR 5 / Hot Springs Highway

Navigation decision point

4
59.2 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in | AR 7 / Park Avenue

Enter roundabout onto AR 7 / Park Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 9 29.9 mi 50m
Park Avenue 13.6 mi 22m
State Highway 10 9.6 mi 14m
Old Hot Springs Highway 5.9 mi 10m
Main Street 4.2 mi 6m
East Broadway Street 1.2 mi 1m
Central Avenue 1.1 mi 1m
Hot Springs Highway 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 9 — 29.9 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Morrilton, AR and Hot Springs, AR.

1

Start on South Moose Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · South Moose Street
2

Turn right onto US 64

1.2 mi · 1 min · East Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Use the left lane.
4

Turn straight onto AR 9

9.3 mi · 13 min · State Highway 9
5

Continue on AR 9

4.2 mi · 6 min · Main Street
6

Continue on AR 9; AR 10

9.6 mi · 14 min · State Highway 10
7

Turn right onto AR 9

51 ft · 1 sec · State Highway 9
8

Continue on AR 9

21 mi · 36 min · State Highway 9
9

At end of road, turn right onto AR 5

0.6 mi · 1 min · Hot Springs Highway
10

Continue on AR 5

5.9 mi · 10 min · Old Hot Springs Highway
11

Continue on AR 5

7.4 mi · 12 min · Park Avenue
12

Enter roundabout onto AR 7

236 ft · 3 sec · Park Avenue
13

Continue on AR 7

6.1 mi · 9 min · Park Avenue
14

Continue on AR 7

1.1 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue
15

Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B

429 ft · 20 sec · West Grand Avenue
16

Continue on US 70B; US 270B

348 ft · 12 sec · West Grand Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

US 70B; US 270B

Trip Plan

Given the total duration of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the route is direct with no required stops, you can easily plan your day around your specific destination goals in Hot Springs. Aim to fill your tank before heading out to keep your costs near that $10 estimate, as you won't encounter major service breaks along the way. Because your longest stretch of 29.9 miles occurs early on State Highway 9, make sure you are comfortable with your vehicle's performance before leaving Morrilton. Take advantage of the short travel time by departing early in the morning to maximize your full day at your destination.

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 33.3 miles from Morrilton, AR, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.9 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 66.6 miles or 1h 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 33.3 miles or 52m 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 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hot Springs, AR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Morrilton, 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 Morrilton, AR

This is one driving day of about 66.6 miles and 1h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Morrilton, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 9 for about 29.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.3 mi from Morrilton, AR · 52m into the drive

Downtown Texarkana, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Texarkana, TX

33 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

Texarkana, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 66.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Texarkana, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.3 miles from Morrilton, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Hot Springs, AR

The final approach into Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, 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

$10.18 one way

$20.36 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $11.17 $22.33
premium $4.61 $12.09 $24.18
diesel $5.64 $14.80 $29.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20 0 $6.99 $3.20
Efficient EV 16.7 0 $5.83 $2.66
EV Truck/SUV 26.6 0 $9.32 $4.26

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Morrilton, AR

Evening in Morrilton on Sunday

Local time

7:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hot Springs, AR

Evening in Hot Springs on Sunday

Local time

7:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 49m 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 Morrilton, AR to Hot Springs, AR covers 66.6 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 9, Park Avenue, State Highway 10. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.3 miles from Morrilton, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.18 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 Morrilton, AR to Hot Springs, AR is easy. At 1h 49m with 59% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 64 / East Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (AR 9 / State Highway 9): Navigation decision point.
The route from Morrilton, AR to Hot Springs, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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