How far is Hot Springs, AR from Bull Shoals, AR?

The driving distance from Hot Springs, AR to Bull Shoals, AR is about 191.4 miles (308.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 132.6 miles (213.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
191.45 mi
04h 22m
Flight
132.62 mi
213.43 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hot Springs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
132.62 mi
Kilometers
213.43 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
191.45 mi
Kilometers
308.11 km
Drive Time
04h 22m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bull Shoals
Sat, Apr 18, 1:16 PM CDT
Return by in Hot Springs
Sat, Apr 18, 5:38 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hot Springs
2026-04-18T08:53
Arrive Bull Shoals
Sat, Apr 18, 1:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:23 AM to 12:23 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hot Springs
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Twin Groves
AR

Human settlement in Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States of America

From Hot Springs
95.8 mi
02h 11m
To Bull Shoals
95.7 mi
02h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph W
Destination
71°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Hot Springs and Bull Shoals.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hot Springs and Bull Shoals.

  1. 1

    Start on West Grand Avenue

    25 m · 9 sec · West Grand Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on West Grand Avenue

    24.2 mi · 30 min · West Grand Avenue

  3. 3

    Keep slight left

    18.2 mi · 21 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith

    13.1 mi · 15 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City

    1.1 km · 49 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    21.7 mi · 22 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 65 North, US 65B South

    2043 ft · 50 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Skyline Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Skyline Drive

  9. 9

    Continue on US Highway 65

    3.2 mi · 4 min · US Highway 65

  10. 10

    Continue on South Broadview Street

    11.8 mi · 17 min · South Broadview Street

  11. 11

    Continue on US Highway 65

    1.5 mi · 2 min · US Highway 65

  12. 12

    Continue on North Broadview Street

    1.2 km · 56 sec · North Broadview Street

  13. 13

    Continue on South Broadway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South Broadway

  14. 14

    Continue on US Highway 65

    18.4 mi · 26 min · US Highway 65

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    26.2 mi · 36 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    63 m · 6 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight

    10.6 mi · 19 min

  18. 18

    Continue on State Highway 14

    23.5 mi · 41 min · State Highway 14

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn right

    4.9 mi · 6 min

  20. 20

    Turn left

    10 mi · 18 min

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Broadway Avenue

    11 m · 2 sec · Broadway Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broadway Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hot Springs and Bull Shoals.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 65
49.3 mi · 26%
West Grand Avenue
42.4 mi · 22%
State Highway 14
23.5 mi · 12%
I 40 West
22.4 mi · 12%
I 430 North
13.1 mi · 7%
South Broadview Street
11.8 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

US Highway 65

Continue straight

26.2 mi · 00h 36m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.8 mi
132.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Twin Groves
02h 11m from Hot Springs
Leave By
8:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Hot Springs and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bull Shoals.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Hot Springs to Bull Shoals?

The road trip is about 191.4 miles (308.1 km) and usually takes 04h 22m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Twin Groves is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.8 miles from Hot Springs and 95.7 miles from Bull Shoals.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 132.6 miles (213.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.56 one way or $51.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Hot Springs and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Bull Shoals.

Stop Ideas Near Twin Groves

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Twin Groves, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Twin Groves.

RAIL

Little Rock Union Station

64 mi away
1400 West Markham Street
RAIL

Malvern station

112 mi away
200 East First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hot Springs and Bull Shoals. Straight-line distance: 132.62 mi (213.43 km).

Hot Springs

#1 Hot Springs

County seat and city in Garland County, Arkansas, USA

Population38,939
Coordinates34.5037000, -93.0551800
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Bull Shoals

#2 Bull Shoals

City in Arkansas, USA

Population1,952
Coordinates36.3839600, -92.5815500
Altitude244
CountryUnited States
Start: Hot Springs (-93.05518, 34.5037)
End: Bull Shoals (-92.58155, 36.38396)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 308 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.75 gal
25.57 L · about $25.56
Round trip
$51.12
13.5 gal · 51.14 L
Estimated CO2
60 kg one way
Round trip: 120 kg / 265 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $25.56 $51.12
Mid-grade $4.26 $28.75 $57.50
Premium $4.63 $31.22 $62.44
Diesel $5.42 $36.55 $73.10

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Arkansas · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Hot Springs and Bull Shoals. The current time is 08:53:27.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.