Origin
Springdale, AR
Afternoon in Springdale on Sunday
Local time
4:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Springdale, AR to Conway, AR
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
168.6 mi
271 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 46m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 6m
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.
Springdale, AR
Choco Kitty
Conway, AR
Md Jawadur Rahman
Trip Overview
Connecting Springdale to Conway, this 168.6-mile trek across Arkansas is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 57 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short and manageable, it works perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $26 for fuel to complete the transit. Navigating primarily via I-40, Fulbright Expressway, and North Thompson Street, you will stay within the Southeast region for the duration of the trip. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, this route offers a reliable and efficient way to cross the state.
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
84.3 miles from Springdale, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 95% of your travel time will be spent on major roads. The personality of this drive is defined by a significant, 112.1-mile stretch on I-40, which serves as the backbone of your journey. While you will navigate local transitions on Fulbright Expressway and North Thompson Street, the vast majority of your time behind the wheel involves steady, high-speed interstate driving. You will find that the road maintains a consistent pace, allowing for predictable travel times once you clear the initial local exits. It is a functional, no-nonsense path that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
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.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 112.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Fulbright Expressway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in near US 71B / Fulbright Expressway.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 168.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 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 166.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese 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
166.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward US 65 North, US 65B South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 65 North, US 65B South
5
166.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
167.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m in
|
Harkrider Street
Enter roundabout onto Harkrider Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Springdale, AR to Conway, 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 | 112.1 mi | 1h 52m |
| Fulbright Expressway | 48.3 mi | 49m |
| North Thompson Street | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| North College Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Harkrider Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| East Johnson Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Oak Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Skyline Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 112.1 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springdale, AR and Conway, 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
Use the none lane.
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
112 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
·
I 40; US 71
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward US 65 North, US 65B South
9
Keep slight right at fork
498 ft
·
12 sec
10
Turn slight right onto US 65B
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Skyline Drive
11
Continue on US 64; US 65B
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Harkrider Street
Use the none lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto Harkrider Street
181 ft
·
2 sec
·
Harkrider Street
13
Continue on Harkrider Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Harkrider Street
14
Enter roundabout onto Harkrider Street
162 ft
·
2 sec
·
Harkrider Street
15
Continue on Harkrider Street
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Harkrider Street
16
Turn right onto Oak Street
492 ft
·
9 sec
·
Oak Street
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Oak Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Oak Street
18
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
497 ft
·
19 sec
·
Locust Avenue
19
Turn left onto Main Street
104 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for one strategic stop along the way will help keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before entering the longest 112.1-mile stretch on I-40 to ensure you aren't caught off guard between major service areas. Because you are spending nearly the entire journey on major highways, monitor traffic reports for I-40 specifically, as congestion can occasionally impact your arrival time. Making a single stop is all you really need to break up the drive comfortably. Aim to leave during off-peak hours if you want to avoid the heaviest traffic patterns typically associated with the interstate segments of this route.
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 84.3 miles from Springdale, AR, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.1 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.3 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 Conway, 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 168.6 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 112.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.3 mi from Springdale, AR · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 84.3 miles from Springdale, 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 112.1 miles.
Arriving in Conway, AR
The final approach into Conway, 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 Conway, AR.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.77 one way
$51.55 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $28.27 | $56.54 |
| premium | $4.61 | $30.60 | $61.20 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.46 | $74.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.6 | 0 | $17.70 | $8.09 |
| Efficient EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.75 | $6.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.60 | $10.79 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Conway, AR
Afternoon in Conway on Sunday
Local time
4:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
13 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 Springdale, AR to Conway, AR covers 168.6 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 I 40, Fulbright Expressway, North Thompson Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.3 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 $25.77 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 168.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 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 166.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Springdale, AR to Conway, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
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