The Great Drive: Time It Takes To Drive From Arkansas to Maine

Are you planning a road trip from Arkansas to Maine? Driving is definitely one of the best ways to see America’s heartland and beautiful coastlines. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, it’s important to plan ahead for your journey. One of the most important things to consider is how long it takes to drive from Arkansas to Maine. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different routes you can take, the distance of those routes, and various traffic patterns that may impact your journey.

Fastest and Slowest Routes

The fastest route from Little Rock, Arkansas to Portland, Maine will take you about 20 hours and 30 minutes. It covers a distance of 1,423 miles and follows I-40 E and I-81 N. This route is really the best option if you want to get to Maine in the shortest time possible.

On the other hand, if you’re in no rush and don’t mind a slower journey, you can take a scenic route through the Great Smoky Mountains. This route will take you about 29 hours to drive a distance of about 1,700 miles. The route takes you through the Carolinas - North and South (I-40) and Virginia (I-81), New York (I-90) and finally to Maine. The journey begs for you to explore historic cities like Nashville, Asheville, Charlottesville, and Boston.

Traffic Patterns

Of course, the time it takes to drive from Arkansas to Maine heavily depends on the traffic patterns. Morning and evening rush hours in cities can add significantly to your travel time. Expect long delays and traffic jams if you’re driving through highway intersections or urban areas. It’s best to avoid driving during peak hours since you don’t want to waste time unnecessarily.

If you really need to arrive by a set time, you should always plan for an extra 2-3 hours just in case. Otherwise, adjust your driving speed when there’s less traffic. Traveling overnight or taking a different route during traffic-heavy hours can significantly shorten your travel time.

Time It Takes at Peak Traffic Times and Low Traffic Times

At peak traffic hours, travel time can take up to 25 hours, and at low traffic hours it can take around 18 hours for a regular vehicle. This time could be shorter for someone traveling in a camper or with no luggage. The only difference between these times would be how fast you are moving, and the stops you have to make during the journey.

Conclusion

As you can see, the time it takes to drive from Arkansas to Maine can vary greatly depending on the route and traffic patterns that you encounter. If you’re planning a road trip, it’s important to prepare and plan your route ahead of time. This ensures that you’ll have a smooth and enjoyable journey, with no worries about traffic and time.