Origin
Texarkana, AR
Night in Texarkana on Tuesday
Local time
10:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Texarkana, AR to Cave Springs, AR
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
5h 6m
Distance
251.5 mi
405 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 53m
★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Texarkana, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Cave Springs, AR
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Texarkana, AR to Cave Springs, AR covers 251.5 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 71, I 49, North Lakeside Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86.5 miles on US 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.98 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
125.8 miles from Texarkana, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Texarkana, AR to Cave Springs, AR covers 251.5 miles and takes about 5h 6m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 86.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 186.1 miles in near US 71.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 251.5 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 186.1 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 237.7 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
186.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
|
US 71
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
6
190.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
6
237.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 44m in
|
I 49; US 62; US 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
242.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 412
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72
Toward US 412
8
242.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 412
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward US 412
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 Texarkana, AR to Cave Springs, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
186.1 mi in
|
~3h 50m
|
via US 71
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 86.5 mi | 1h 42m |
| I 49 | 51.3 mi | 52m |
| North Lakeside Drive | 51.2 mi | 59m |
| Main Street | 24.3 mi | 32m |
| North State Line Avenue | 20.2 mi | 27m |
| US 59 | 8 mi | 11m |
| North Maestri Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street (Cave Springs) | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 86.5 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Texarkana, AR and Cave Springs, AR.
1
Start on East 20th Street
180 ft
·
9 sec
·
East 20th Street
2
Turn right onto County Avenue
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
County Avenue
3
Turn left onto East 24th Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East 24th Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 71
20 mi
·
27 min
·
North State Line Avenue
5
Continue on US 59; US 71
24 mi
·
32 min
·
Main Street
6
Continue on US 59; US 70; US 71; US 371
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
US 59; US 70; US 71; US 371
7
Turn right onto US 59; US 71
51 mi
·
59 min
·
North Lakeside Drive
8
Continue on US 71; US 270
70 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
US 71; US 270
9
Take the exit onto US 71
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 71
Toward 540 North
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 49
46 mi
·
47 min
·
I 49
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 49; US 62; US 71
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 72
Toward US 412
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
193 ft
·
12 sec
Toward US 412
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 412
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Sunset Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on US 412
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto AR 112
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Maestri Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on AR 112
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Elm Street
20
Continue on AR 112
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street Elm Springs
21
Continue on AR 112
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street (Cave Springs)
22
Turn right onto Midway Avenue
53 ft
·
7 sec
·
Midway Avenue
23
Turn left
43 ft
·
3 sec
24
Arrive at destination
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 125.8 miles from Texarkana, AR, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.5 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 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.8 miles or 2h 39m 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 Cave Springs, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Texarkana, 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 Texarkana, AR
This is one driving day of about 251.5 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Texarkana, 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 US 71 for about 86.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 125.8 mi from Texarkana, AR · 2h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 125.8 miles from Texarkana, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.5 miles.
Arriving in Cave Springs, AR
The final approach into Cave 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 Cave 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
$37.98 one way
$75.96 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $41.70 | $83.39 |
| premium | $4.56 | $45.14 | $90.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.53 | $111.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.5 | 0 | $26.41 | $12.07 |
| Efficient EV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.01 | $10.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.6 | 1 | $35.21 | $16.10 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Cave Springs, AR
Night in Cave Springs on Tuesday
Local time
10:13 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
11 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 6m 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 Texarkana, AR to Cave Springs, AR covers 251.5 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 71, I 49, North Lakeside Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 125.8 miles from Texarkana, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.98 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 14 significant decision points across 251.5 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 186.1 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 237.7 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Texarkana, AR to Cave Springs, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
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