Bentonville to Little Rock Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Bentonville, AR to Little Rock, AR (213 miles). Connects Northwest Arkansas's retail/logistics corridor to the state capital's I-40/I-30 crossroads.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Bentonville to Little Rock?
Bentonville to Little Rock is a 213-mile lane paying about $543 - $629 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, retail-distribution freight and barge/rail-connected freight.
- Distance
- 213 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $543 - $628
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- Transit time
- Same day / 3-4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and winter weather. See our dispatch fee structure.
Bentonville to Little Rock
Bentonville to Little Rock is a 213-mile, roughly 3.5-hour run south, connecting Walmart's global headquarters to Arkansas's state capital and primary logistics hub at the junction of I-40 and I-30. The Port of Little Rock on the Arkansas River handles over 12 million tons of cargo annually, and Amazon broke ground on a 930,000-square-foot Little Rock logistics facility in July 2025.
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Distance
213 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3-4 hrs
Average Rate
$543 - $628
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
213-mile lane, about 3.5 hours south
The Port of Little Rock handles over 12 million tons of cargo annually via barge access to the Mississippi River and Gulf
Amazon broke ground on a 930,000-square-foot Little Rock logistics facility in July 2025
Bentonville to Little Rock: route facts a driver should know
The Port of Little Rock sits at a five-interstate crossroads
The Port of Little Rock is accessible by five interstates (I-30, I-40, I-430, I-440 and I-630), spans 2,640 acres of industrial land, and includes two barge docking facilities. Roughly 90 million people live within a day's drive of Little Rock.
Source: Metro Little Rock Alliance, location and infrastructure overview. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Amazon is building a $151 million logistics center at the port
Amazon broke ground on a 950,000-square-foot, $151 million logistics center at the Port of Little Rock, expected to open in 2027 and add 1,000 full- and part-time jobs.
Source: Transport Topics, Amazon Little Rock logistics center coverage. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A short lane: you likely won't need the 30-minute break
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 213-mile lane runs about 3.5 hours, so most drivers can finish it without a required break.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Bentonville to Little Rock?
About $193.44 this week. The lane is 213 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 33 gallons, and diesel is averaging $5.90 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 213 mi
- Diesel needed
- 33 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $193.44
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, retail-distribution freight and barge/rail-connected freight fill the trailers heading south.
- Consumer Goods
- Retail Distribution
- Rice & Agricultural Products
What makes the Bentonville to Little Rock lane difficult?
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Winter weather along the route can occasionally affect road conditions
Winter weather along the route can occasionally affect road conditions.
Retail-connected freight can see tight scheduling windows tied to delivery appointments
Retail-connected freight can see tight scheduling windows tied to delivery appointments.
What freight moves on the Bentonville to Little Rock lane?
What travels between Bentonville and Little Rock, and why the Port of Little Rock's multimodal access matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Retail Distribution
- •Rice & Agricultural Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Retail-distribution-connected freight (Walmart)
- •Barge/rail-intermodal-connected freight (Port of Little Rock)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Back-to-school retail freight (July-August)
- •Barge/rail-connected freight (steady)
When is the Bentonville to Little Rock lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady multimodal freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays as retail inventory normalizes.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and retail-distribution freight both climb sharply from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Back-to-school retail season (July-August)
- •Steady barge/rail-connected freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
None. Occasional winter weather is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Distribution freight through the Port of Little Rock runs steady year-round, with growth expected as Amazon's new logistics center ramps up toward 2027.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Bentonville to Little Rock lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical Walmart and e-commerce fulfillment-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Bentonville to Little Rock
- •
Ask about freight connected to Amazon's new $151 million logistics center at the Port of Little Rock, a genuinely fresh reload source.
- •
This lane runs about 3.5 hours, so it pairs well with a same-day return if the Little Rock-side dock window cooperates.
- •
Confirm which of the port's five interstate connections your delivery uses, since routing differs by facility.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Bentonville to Little Rock lane?
The Port of Little Rock's multimodal access makes a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Little Rock, AR
- •Regional distribution hubs near Little Rock
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With over 12 million tons moving through the Port of Little Rock annually and Amazon's new facility, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Little Rock's institutional and Dillard's-driven retail freight base gives reasonable northbound backhaul freight back toward Bentonville.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
The Port of Little Rock's five-interstate access and two barge docks give this lane real, multimodal backhaul variety.
- •
Amazon's new logistics center will add fresh freight volume as it ramps toward its 2027 opening.
- •
With about 3.5 hours of driving each way, a same-day round trip is realistic.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Bentonville to Little Rock lane?
Four notes before this Arkansas capital-corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Confirm Walmart delivery-appointment windows before committing to a tight schedule.
Check current Little Rock-area freight-market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Before you book Bentonville to Little Rock, ask whether your freight connects to Amazon's new logistics center at the Port of Little Rock.
Bentonville to Little Rock Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Little Rock's multimodal access, and winter weather.
The lane data shows about $543 - $629 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 213 miles.
The Port of Little Rock handles over 12 million tons of cargo annually via barge access to the Mississippi River, and Amazon broke ground on a 930,000-square-foot facility there in 2025.
About 3.5 hours for the 213 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's multimodal cargo volume and growing e-commerce presence.
Other Arkansas freight lanes we dispatch
- Bentonville to New Orleans
- Bentonville to Springfield
- Bentonville to Springdale
- Bentonville to Fort Smith
- Bentonville to Blytheville
- Bentonville to Tulsa
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, Southeast: +$2,550/week after moving to $2.85/mi on automotive parts / retail / beverage freight.
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