The drive from Springdale, AR to Arkadelphia, AR covers 235.4 miles and takes about 4h 21m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Fulbright Expressway, South State Highway 7 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.9 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.55 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
117.7 miles from Springdale, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 21m. Total distance: 235.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 21m highway drive covering 235.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Fulbright Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.9 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 64.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Fulbright Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near US 71B / Fulbright Expressway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 235.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles (US 71B / Fulbright Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.4 mi into trip|~10m in|US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
53.7 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
5
119.1 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78
Toward US 64
5
197.3 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
230.6 mi into trip|~4h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward AR 7: Caddo Valley, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 7: Caddo Valley, Arkadelphia, Hot Spr...
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 Springdale, AR to Arkadelphia, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Little Rock
53.7 mi in|~1h
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
64.9 mi
1h 4m
Fulbright Expressway
48.3 mi
49m
South State Highway 7
44.8 mi
50m
I 30
19.9 mi
19m
AR 7 South
14.4 mi
16m
Malvern Road
12.2 mi
13m
Hot Springs Bypass
6.1 mi
6m
South Arkansas Avenue
4.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springdale, AR and Arkadelphia, AR.
1
Start on North Commercial Street
119 ft·7 sec·North Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Johnson Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 71B
3.3 mi·6 min·North Thompson Street
4
Continue on US 71B
1.5 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
48 mi·49 min·Fulbright Expressway
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
7
Merge onto I 40; US 71
65 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 40; US 71
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 78Toward US 64
9
Turn left onto US 64
1.6 mi·2 min·US 64
10
Continue on US 64; Hwy 326
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
11
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·South Arkansas Avenue
12
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7
0.2 mi·29 sec·North State Highway 7
13
Continue on AR 7
14 mi·16 min·AR 7 South
14
Continue on AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
15
Turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·17 sec·AR 7
16
Turn left onto AR 7
45 mi·50 min·South State Highway 7
17
Enter roundabout onto Hot Springs Bypass
222 ft·2 sec·Hot Springs Bypass
18
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
6.0 mi·6 min·Hot Springs Bypass
19
Merge onto US 70
1.9 mi·2 min·Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
21
Keep slight left at fork
81 ft·8 sec
22
Turn left onto US 270
0.6 mi·46 sec·Malvern Avenue
23
Continue on US 270
12 mi·13 min·Malvern Road
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
25
Merge onto I 30
20 mi·19 min·I 30
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward AR 7: Caddo Valley, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs
27
Keep slight left at fork
135 ft·7 sec
Toward AR 7: Caddo Valley, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs
28
Turn left onto AR 7
0.9 mi·1 min·Valley Street
29
Continue on US 67; AR 7
3.8 mi·5 min·North 10th Street
30
Turn left onto US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51
0.2 mi·17 sec·Caddo Street
31
Arrive at destination
US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51
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 117.7 miles from Springdale, AR, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.9 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 52 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.7 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arkadelphia, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Springdale, 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 Springdale, AR
This is one driving day of about 235.4 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Springdale, 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 40 for about 64.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 117.7 mi from Springdale, AR
· 2h 4m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 194.8
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.6
0
$24.72
$11.30
Efficient EV
58.9
0
$20.60
$9.42
EV Truck/SUV
94.2
1
$32.96
$15.07
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Springdale, AR
Evening
in Springdale on Friday
Local time
6:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arkadelphia, AR
Evening
in Arkadelphia on Friday
Local time
6:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
1 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
4h 21m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Springdale, AR to Arkadelphia, AR covers 235.4 miles and takes about 4h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Fulbright Expressway, South State Highway 7. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 117.7 miles from Springdale, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.55 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 235.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles (US 71B / Fulbright Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Springdale, AR to Arkadelphia, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
