Origin
Van Buren, AR
Afternoon in Van Buren on Sunday
Local time
4:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Van Buren, AR to Springdale, AR
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
61.5 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springdale, AR
Choco Kitty
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Van Buren and Springdale, Arkansas, expect a straightforward 61.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to easily complete the drive in one go without needing an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $9, it is an economical connection between these two cities in the Southeast region. The path relies heavily on major thoroughfares, making it a practical choice for those who prioritize efficiency over a winding backroad experience. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick visit, this drive offers a reliable and consistent travel experience across the Arkansas landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
30.8 miles from Van Buren, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 87% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your journey on I-49, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 46.4 miles. The transition from the interstate onto US-71 and South Thompson Street marks the shift from open highway cruising to navigating the local approach into Springdale. Because the route is dominated by interstate travel, you can expect a steady pace rather than the technical maneuvering required on smaller, secondary roads. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive designed to get you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and US 71. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 10m 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: at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock
8
2.5 mi into trip
|
~3m 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
7.1 mi into trip
|
~8m 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
8
54.1 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
4
61.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
North Commercial Street
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 46.4 mi | 47m |
| US 71 | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| South Thompson Street | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Fulbright Expressway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| North College Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Alma Highway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Johnson Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 46.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Van Buren, AR and Springdale, AR.
1
Start on AR 59
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
Continue on US 64; US 71B
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Alma Highway
3
Continue on US 64; US 71B
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Alma Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock
5
Merge onto I 540; US 71
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 540; US 71
6
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.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 49
46 mi
·
47 min
·
I 49
Use the none lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fulbright Expressway
Exit 67B
Toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on US 71B
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North College Avenue
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on US 71B
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
South Thompson Street
12
Turn right onto West Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Johnson Avenue
13
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
119 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Commercial Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Commercial Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 10 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility when it comes to your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning complex rest stops along the way, as the route is short enough to drive straight through. Before you head out, ensure your tank is ready for the 61.5-mile trek to keep your fuel costs near that $9 estimate. Since the majority of your time is spent on I-49, keep an eye on traffic patterns during peak hours to ensure your travel time remains consistent. Take advantage of the simplicity of this route by using the extra time saved on the road to focus on your arrival plans in Springdale.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.8 miles from Van Buren, AR, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.4 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 61.5 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.8 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springdale, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Van Buren, 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 Van Buren, AR
This is one driving day of about 61.5 miles and 1h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Van Buren, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 49 for about 46.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.8 mi from Van Buren, AR · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 61.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Van Buren, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Springdale, AR
The final approach into Springdale, 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 Springdale, 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
$9.40 one way
$18.80 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $10.31 | $20.62 |
| premium | $4.61 | $11.16 | $22.32 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.66 | $27.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.46 | $2.95 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.61 | $3.94 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Springdale, AR
Afternoon in Springdale on Sunday
Local time
4:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
63°F
Garland, TX
31 mi in
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
18 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
1h 10m 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 Van Buren, AR to Springdale, AR covers 61.5 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, US 71, South 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 30.8 miles from Van Buren, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.40 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Van Buren, AR to Springdale, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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