Barling, AR to Paragould, AR is 285.1 miles and takes about 5h 10m via US 71, US 64, and Vilonia Bypass, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's easy to complete in a single day. You'll find it's a practical option if you need to cover this distance efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
142.6 miles from Barling, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
119.2 mi
1h 59m
US 64
94.7 mi
1h 39m
Vilonia Bypass
25.9 mi
32m
US 412
24.5 mi
30m
I 540
7.6 mi
8m
State Highway 64
5.4 mi
6m
Rogers Avenue
2.7 mi
4m
East Oak Street
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 119.2 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Barling, AR and Paragould, AR.
1
Start on AR 22
1.6 mi·2 min·Fort Street
2
Continue on AR 22
2.7 mi·4 min·Rogers Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
4
Merge onto I 540; US 71
7.6 mi·8 min·I 540; US 71
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
119 mi·1 hr 59 min·US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, MemphisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 64
7
Keep slight left at fork
212 ft·8 sec
8
Turn left onto US 64
1.8 mi·3 min·East Oak Street
9
Continue on US 64
5.4 mi·6 min·State Highway 64
10
Continue on US 64
26 mi·32 min·Vilonia Bypass
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 64
95 mi·1 hr 39 min·US 64
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
0.5 mi·1 min·US 412
Toward US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
13
Turn right onto US 412
24 mi·28 min·US 412
14
Turn left onto US 49Y
0.4 mi·37 sec·West Court Street
15
Turn left onto US 49; AR 1
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 49; AR 1
16
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
251 ft·10 sec·West Hunt Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto North 14th Street
51 ft·1 sec·North 14th Street
18
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Hunt Street
19
Turn right onto Hayes Place
237 ft·15 sec·Hayes Place
20
Turn left onto Winchester
0.2 mi·42 sec·Winchester
21
Arrive at destination
Winchester
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 10m estimated drive time, leaving Barling, AR in the morning is ideal to make the most of daylight. The route is entirely within Arkansas, so you won't need to worry about state-specific regulations. With a fuel cost estimated around $42, plan to fill up before you leave or at a convenient point along US 71. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, aim to make your stop strategically on the 119.2-mile stretch of US 71 to break up the longest segment of highway driving.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 142.6 miles from Barling, AR, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 63 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.6 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paragould, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Barling, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Barling, AR
This is one driving day of about 285.1 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Barling, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 71 for about 119.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 284.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.1 mi into trip|~15m in|US 71
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
5
131.5 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
259.5 mi into trip|~4h 37m in|US 412
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412 toward US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
6
284.6 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|West Hunt Street
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
284.9 mi into trip|~5h 9m in|Hayes Place
Turn right onto Hayes Place
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.58 one way
$79.15 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$44.28
$88.56
premium
$4.29
$48.14
$96.28
diesel
$4.80
$53.83
$107.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.5
1
$29.94
$13.68
Efficient EV
71.3
0
$24.95
$11.40
EV Truck/SUV
114
1
$39.91
$18.25
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Barling, AR
Late night
in Barling on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
S 0 to 5 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Paragould, AR
Late night
in Paragould on Sunday
Local time
3:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 88% of the 285.1 miles on high-speed roads. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway for 119.2 miles on US 71. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, offering a change in scenery from the consistent highway environment. Expect a steady pace with numerous exits for most of the drive.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.2 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and US 64. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.1 miles in near US 71.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 285.1 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 259.5 miles (US 412): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
687 ft184 ft
Total Climb
403 ft
Total Descent
587 ft
Highest Point
687 ft
~40.7 mi in
Elevation Range
503 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Barling, AR to Paragould, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Walnut Ridge along the way.
Walnut Ridge
259.5 mi in|~4h 37m|via US 412
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 285.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.2 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Paragould, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 259.5 miles (US 412): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paragould, AR before the return drive.
