Cities in Arkansas with the longest commutes
The COVID-19 pandemic transformed many Americans into remote workers, which also meant that countless commutes came to an unexpected halt. As some employees resume their office attendance, discussions about the downsides of commuting have intensified. Many individuals relished the newfound time in the mornings and evenings that was previously consumed by non-reimbursed travel to work—a time-consuming and exhausting daily ritual. Notably, this isn’t just a trivial amount: before the pandemic, the average one-way commute across the U.S. exceeded 27 minutes, according to data from the Census Bureau. This represented an all-time high. Therefore, 27 minutes each trip amounts to 54 minutes daily, or about four-and-a-half hours weekly. This totals 18 hours per month and an astonishing 216 hours annually dedicated to commuting.
Regular commuters can attest that the experience is less than enjoyable. While a very limited number of individuals benefit from an ideal commuting situation—living just a short walk away from the office, on well-maintained sidewalks unaffected by winter snow, and without arriving at work sweaty during the summer—most face congested streets, unreliable public transport, and the myriad frustrations these conditions cause. Naturally, not all commutes are equal; some cities offer superior public transportation and smoother traffic.
Stacker has created a ranking of the cities in Arkansas with the most challenging commutes, utilizing information from the Census Bureau. The rankings include cities with a minimum of 5,000 employed adults and are based on the longest average commuting times derived from the 2021 five-year estimates.
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#25. El Dorado
– Average commute time: 16.5 minutes
– National rank: #2149
#24. Fort Smith
– Average commute time: 16.8 minutes
– National rank: #2116
#23. Texarkana
– Average commute time: 17.3 minutes
– National rank: #2070
#22. Hot Springs
– Average commute time: 17.5 minutes
– National rank: #2045
#21. Pine Bluff
– Average commute time: 17.6 minutes
– National rank: #2039
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#20. Fayetteville
– Average commute time: 17.9 minutes
– National rank: #2012
#19. Bentonville
– Average commute time: 18.1 minutes
– National rank: #1995
#18. Little Rock
– Average commute time: 18.2 minutes
– National rank: #1982
#17. Jonesboro
– Average commute time: 18.3 minutes
– National rank: #1966
#16. Springdale
– Average commute time: 18.9 minutes
– National rank: #1906
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#15. Van Buren
– Average commute time: 18.9 minutes
– National rank: #1905
#14. West Memphis
– Average commute time: 19 minutes
– National rank: #1893
#13. Siloam Springs
– Average commute time: 19.4 minutes
– National rank: #1838
#12. North Little Rock
– Average commute time: 19.6 minutes
– National rank: #1811
#11. Jacksonville
– Average commute time: 19.7 minutes
– National rank: #1801
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#10. Paragould
– Average commute time: 20.1 minutes
– National rank: #1745
#9. Marion
– Average commute time: 21 minutes
– National rank: #1626
#8. Conway
– Average commute time: 22.2 minutes
– National rank: #1462
#7. Centerton
– Average commute time: 22.7 minutes
– National rank: #1385
#6. Sherwood
– Average commute time: 23.4 minutes
– National rank: #1287
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#5. Benton
– Average commute time: 23.6 minutes
– National rank: #1261
#4. Bryant
– Average commute time: 23.7 minutes
– National rank: #1242
#3. Maumelle
– Average commute time: 24.2 minutes
– National rank: #1155
#2. Bella Vista
– Average commute time: 26.6 minutes
– National rank: #789
#1. Cabot
– Average commute time: 28.2 minutes
– National rank: #585
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By Stacker
