How far is Lake City, AR from Hot Springs, AR?

The driving distance from Lake City, AR to Hot Springs, AR is about 195.9 miles (315.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 173.6 miles (279.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 26m 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
195.95 mi
03h 43m
Flight
173.6 mi
279.39 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
173.6 mi
Kilometers
279.39 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
195.95 mi
Kilometers
315.35 km
Drive Time
03h 43m

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 03h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hot Springs
Wed, Jun 3, 11:32 AM CDT
Return by in Lake City
Wed, Jun 3, 3:15 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake City
2026-06-03T07:49
Arrive Hot Springs
Wed, Jun 3, 11:32 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:43 AM to 11:43 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:34 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake City
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Higginson
AR

Township in White County, Arkansas

From Lake City
97.9 mi
01h 51m
To Hot Springs
98.1 mi
01h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Jun 3 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Jun 3 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake City and Hot Springs.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake City and Hot Springs.

  1. 1

    Start on Carter Street

    113 m · 21 sec · Carter Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 4th Street

    11 m · 4 sec · 4th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Carter Street

    101 m · 19 sec · Carter Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Main Street

    72 m · 13 sec · Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Cottonwood Street

    793 ft · 40 sec · Cottonwood Street

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left onto 1st Street

    15.2 mi · 23 min · 1st Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Southwest Drive

    7.4 mi · 9 min · Southwest Drive

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    12.5 mi · 14 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit sharp left

    1938 ft · 47 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    102.7 mi · 1 hr 46 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    1.5 km · 1 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight left toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock

    4.9 mi · 7 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Texarkana

    24.2 mi · 27 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    2.9 mi · 3 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US-70 West: Hot Springs

    24.6 mi · 31 min

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake City and Hot Springs.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
16 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Southwest Drive
124 mi · 63%
Texarkana
27 mi · 14%
US-70 West
24.6 mi · 13%
1st Street
15.2 mi · 8%
I 30 West
4.89 mi · 2%
Cottonwood Street
0.15 mi
Longest Stretch

Southwest Drive

Merge slight left

103 mi · 01h 46m

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
03h 43m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.3 mi
173.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Higginson
01h 51m from Lake City
Leave By
9:34 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Lake City and Sunny near Hot Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake City to Hot Springs?

The road trip is about 195.9 miles (315.3 km) and usually takes 03h 43m 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?

Higginson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.9 miles from Lake City and 98.1 miles from Hot Springs.

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

The direct path is about 173.6 miles (279.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.3 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 9:34 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.17 one way or $52.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Lake City and Sunny near Hot Springs.

Stop Ideas Near Higginson

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Higginson, 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 Higginson.

RAIL

Little Rock Union Station

72 mi away
1400 West Markham Street
RAIL

Walnut Ridge

119 mi away
109 Southwest Front Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake City and Hot Springs. Straight-line distance: 173.6 mi (279.39 km).

Lake City

#1 Lake City

City in Arkansas, USA

Population2,650
Coordinates35.8161900, -90.4342700
Altitude69
CountryUnited States
Hot Springs

#2 Hot Springs

County seat and city in Garland County, Arkansas, USA

Population38,939
Coordinates34.5037000, -93.0551800
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake City (-90.43427, 35.81619)
End: Hot Springs (-93.05518, 34.5037)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 315 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.91 gal
26.17 L · about $26.17
Round trip
$52.34
13.82 gal · 52.34 L
Estimated CO2
61.4 kg one way
Round trip: 122.8 kg / 271 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $26.17 $52.34
Mid-grade $4.26 $29.43 $58.86
Premium $4.63 $31.96 $63.92
Diesel $5.42 $37.42 $74.84

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 · Jun 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake City and Hot Springs. The current time is 07:49:00.

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.