The drive from Springdale, AR to Pea Ridge, AR covers 294 miles and takes about 5h 20m 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, I 530 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 140.4 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.40 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
147 miles from Springdale, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 20m. Total distance: 294 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 20m highway drive covering 294 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Fulbright Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 140.4 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 15 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 140.4 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Johnson Avenue.
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 294 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 (East Johnson Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Johnson Avenue
Turn right onto East Johnson Avenue
Navigation decision point
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
6
199.3 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|I 530; US 65; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
4
245.5 mi into trip|~4h 16m in|I 530; US 65 / Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65 / Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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 Pea Ridge, 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
140.4 mi
2h 21m
Fulbright Expressway
48.3 mi
49m
I 530
46.1 mi
47m
US 65
41.4 mi
51m
Pickens Street
7 mi
10m
AR 1
3.3 mi
5m
North Thompson Street
3.3 mi
6m
North College Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 140.4 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springdale, AR and Pea Ridge, 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
140 mi·2 hr 21 min·I 40; US 71
8
Take the exit onto US 65
4.6 mi·6 min·US 65
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
46 mi·47 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65
1.2 mi·1 min·Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
11
Continue on US 65; US 425
37 mi·45 min·US 65; US 425
12
Turn left onto US 165
7.0 mi·10 min·Pickens Street
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·24 sec·this road
14
Continue on AR 1
3.3 mi·5 min·AR 1
15
Arrive at destination
AR 1
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 147 miles from Springdale, AR, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.4 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 65 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pea Ridge, 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 294 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 140.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147 mi from Springdale, AR
· 2h 34m 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.
Arkansas Post National Memorial
National Memorial
Located at the confluence of two rivers, Arkansas Post has served as a gathering place for many cultures throughout human history - it represents cultural cooperation, conflict, synthesis, and diversi...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.40 one way
$88.80 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$48.74
$97.48
premium
$4.56
$52.77
$105.54
diesel
$5.61
$64.91
$129.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Tesla Supercharger
Conway, Arkansas
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Conway, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.2
1
$30.87
$14.11
Efficient EV
73.5
0
$25.72
$11.76
EV Truck/SUV
117.6
1
$41.16
$18.82
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Thursday
Local time
8:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pea Ridge, AR
Evening
in Pea Ridge on Thursday
Local time
8:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
5 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
5h 20m 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 Pea Ridge, AR covers 294 miles and takes about 5h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Fulbright Expressway, I 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 147 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 $44.40 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 294 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 (East Johnson Avenue): Navigation decision point; 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.
On the drive from Springdale, AR to Pea Ridge, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
