Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
71.5 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springdale, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Barling, AR
Andrea Piacquadio
This straightforward 71.5-mile drive from Springdale, AR to Barling, AR is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 22 minutes. The route is predominantly highway, with 85% of the journey on major roads like Fulbright Expressway and US 71, eventually merging onto I-40. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this drive through the Southeast region of Arkansas offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two locations. It's a simple, no-fuss journey perfect for those prioritizing direct travel over extensive sightseeing.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 71.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 71.5-mile trip. With 85% of the drive on major roadways, you'll be covering ground efficiently. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 48.3 miles on Fulbright Expressway, offering a sustained period of consistent driving. While primarily highway, the route transitions between different major roads, including US 71 and I-40, providing a varied, yet consistently fast-paced, driving environment.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Fulbright Expressway and US 71. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Johnson Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 22m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto East Johnson Avenue
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 71 toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Rogers Avenue East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Springdale, AR and Barling, AR, road signs point toward Fort Smith and Rogers Avenue East.
Fort Smith
Rogers Avenue East
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Expressway | 48.3 mi | 49m |
| US 71 | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| I 40 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| North Thompson Street | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Rogers Avenue | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Fort Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North College Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Johnson Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Springdale, AR and Barling, AR.
Start on North Commercial Street
Turn right onto East Johnson Avenue
Turn left onto US 71B
Continue on US 71B
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 40; US 71
Take the exit onto US 71
Take the exit
Turn straight onto AR 22
Continue on AR 22
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.8 mi from Springdale, AR · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Springdale, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Barling, AR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.80 one way
$21.60 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.85 | $23.71 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.83 | $25.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.79 | $31.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.51 | $3.43 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.01 | $4.58 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Springdale on Friday
Local time
6:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Barling on Friday
Local time
6:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
75°F
Alma, AR
36 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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