How far is Van Buren, AR from Chester, AR?

The driving distance from Van Buren, AR to Chester, AR is about 23.1 miles (37.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.4 miles (31.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
23.07 mi
00h 27m
Flight
19.47 mi
31.34 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Van Buren.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
19.47 mi
Kilometers
31.34 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
23.07 mi
Kilometers
37.12 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

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 00h 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chester
Tue, Apr 14, 11:00 PM CDT
Return by in Van Buren
Tue, Apr 14, 11:27 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Van Buren
2026-04-14T22:32
Arrive Chester
Tue, Apr 14, 11:00 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Van Buren
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Rudy
AR

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

From Van Buren
11.6 mi
00h 13m
To Chester
11.5 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
74°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Van Buren and Chester.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Van Buren and Chester.

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    1 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Alma Highway

    1.5 km · 1 min · Alma Highway

  3. 3

    Continue on Alma Highway

    1524 ft · 26 sec · Alma Highway

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock

    1145 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    2030 ft · 27 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis

    4.6 mi · 5 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 49 North: Fayetteville

    1.2 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    13.9 mi · 14 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Chester

    1454 ft · 37 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto East Front Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · East Front Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Turner

    111 m · 21 sec · Turner

  12. 12

    Turn left onto East Central Avenue

    50 m · 7 sec · East Central Avenue

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Central Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Van Buren and Chester.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
13 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
56.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 49 North
14.9 mi · 65%
I 40 East
4.59 mi · 20%
Alma Highway
1.23 mi · 5%
East Front Avenue
0.99 mi · 4%
East Main Street
0.64 mi · 3%
I 540 North
0.6 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 49 North

Continue straight

13.9 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.7 mi
19.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rudy
00h 13m from Van Buren
Leave By
7:36 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Van Buren and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Chester.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Van Buren to Chester?

The road trip is about 23.1 miles (37.1 km) and usually takes 00h 27m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rudy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.6 miles from Van Buren and 11.5 miles from Chester.

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

The direct path is about 19.4 miles (31.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.07 one way or $6.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Van Buren and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Chester.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Van Buren and Chester. Straight-line distance: 19.47 mi (31.34 km).

Van Buren

#1 Van Buren

8th president of the United States (1782-1862)

Population23,812
Coordinates35.4367600, -94.3482700
Altitude126
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Chester

City in Arkansas

Population159
Coordinates35.6809200, -94.1752100
Altitude256
CountryUnited States
Start: Van Buren (-94.34827, 35.43676)
End: Chester (-94.17521, 35.68092)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 37 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.81 gal
3.08 L · about $3.07
Round trip
$6.13
1.62 gal · 6.16 L
Estimated CO2
7.2 kg one way
Round trip: 14.4 kg / 32 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $3.07 $6.13
Mid-grade $4.26 $3.45 $6.90
Premium $4.63 $3.75 $7.49
Diesel $5.42 $4.39 $8.77

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Van Buren and Chester. The current time is 22:32:55.

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.