Bethel Heights to Jonesboro is 251.6 miles and takes about 5h 18m via US 62 and US 65, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. With a highway share of 67%, you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, making for a straightforward drive. This route is a solid option if you need to cover ground efficiently within the state.
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
125.8 miles from Bethel Heights, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 62
142.1 mi
2h 52m
West Robinson Avenue
58.8 mi
1h 10m
US 65
12.4 mi
20m
US 63
12 mi
14m
T & C Boulevard
10.1 mi
11m
Main Street
5.9 mi
8m
US 63 BUS
3 mi
5m
North Thompson Street
2.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 62
— 142.1 mi, about 2h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethel Heights, AR and Jonesboro, AR.
1
Start on Alliance Drive
139 ft·8 sec·Alliance Drive
2
Turn right onto East Morris Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East Morris Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 71B
0.3 mi·22 sec·North Thompson Road
4
Continue on US 71B
2.8 mi·5 min·North Thompson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 412
154 ft·3 sec·US 412
6
Continue on US 412
0.1 mi·19 sec·US 412
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 412
59 mi·1 hr 10 min·West Robinson Avenue
8
Continue on US 62; US 412
5.9 mi·8 min·Main Street
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·22 sec
10
Turn right onto US 65
12 mi·20 min·US 65
11
Continue on US 62; US 412
31 mi·35 min·US 62; US 412
12
Continue on US 62; US 412
16 mi·18 min·US 62; US 412
13
Take the exit onto US 62; US 412
50 mi·56 min·US 62; US 412
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 62; US 412
10 mi·11 min·T & C Boulevard
15
Turn right onto US 63 BUS
3.0 mi·5 min·US 63 BUS
16
Continue on US 62; US 63; US 412
45 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 62; US 63; US 412
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 63; AR 228
12 mi·14 min·US 63; AR 228
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
19
Keep slight left at fork
101 ft·7 sec
20
Turn left onto West Washington Avenue
2.7 mi·5 min·West Washington Avenue
21
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Main Street
22
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
207 ft·14 sec·Cate Avenue
23
Turn left
75 ft·5 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 18m estimated drive time, starting in the morning allows you to reach Jonesboro with plenty of daylight remaining. There's one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel, especially since the longest stretch without a major road change is 142.1 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is around $40 for the 251.6 miles. This is a manageable one-day drive, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, breaking it up is certainly an option.
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 125.8 miles from Bethel Heights, AR, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.1 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 55 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.8 miles or 2h 37m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jonesboro, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethel Heights, 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 Bethel Heights, AR
This is one driving day of about 251.6 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Bethel Heights, 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 62 for about 142.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 248.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Morris Avenue
Turn right onto East Morris Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 71B / North Thompson Road
Turn left onto US 71B / North Thompson Road
Navigation decision point
4
3.6 mi into trip|~7m in|US 412
Take the exit onto US 412
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
3.8 mi into trip|~7m in|US 412 / West Robinson Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 412 / West Robinson Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
248.6 mi into trip|~5h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.93 one way
$69.85 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$39.08
$78.15
premium
$4.29
$42.48
$84.97
diesel
$4.80
$47.51
$95.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.42
$12.08
Efficient EV
62.9
0
$22.02
$10.06
EV Truck/SUV
100.6
1
$35.22
$16.10
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Bethel Heights, AR
Late night
in Bethel Heights on Sunday
Local time
4:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Jonesboro, AR
Late night
in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
4:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
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
16 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 18m 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?
You'll be on highways for about 67% of this trip. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 142.1 miles on US 62, so expect a good amount of consistent cruising. The shift from highway to surface roads will likely happen in stages as you approach your destination. Given the highway percentage, you should anticipate periods of steady driving with fewer interruptions.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.1 mi on US 62.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 62 and West Robinson Avenue. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Morris Avenue.
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 251.6 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (East Morris Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 71B / North Thompson Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 251.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142.1 miles on US 62. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Jonesboro, 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 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Morris Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 71B / North Thompson Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jonesboro, AR before the return drive.
