Blytheville, AR to Jacksonville, AR is 184.6 miles and takes about 3h 12m via I-40 and I-55, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Arkansas, making it a straightforward drive. You'll primarily be on interstate highways for most of the way, with a short stretch on North Belt Freeway. Given its relatively short distance and highway-focused profile, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing ample time for any necessary stops or detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.3 miles from Blytheville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
117.5 mi
1h 58m
I 55
55.4 mi
55m
North Belt Freeway
3.6 mi
3m
South Division Street
2.7 mi
4m
I 57
1.3 mi
1m
South Redmond Road
0.6 mi
1m
South 1st Street
0.5 mi
1m
South James Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 117.5 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blytheville, AR and Jacksonville, AR.
1
Start on US 78; AR 18
46 ft·4 sec·West Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 61
2.7 mi·4 min·South Division Street
3
Turn right onto Barker Road
0.2 mi·14 sec·Barker Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
5
Merge onto I 55; US 78
55 mi·55 min·I 55; US 78
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
7
Merge onto I 40
118 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 40
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward AR 440 East: Jacksonville, Saint Louis
10
Merge onto I 440
3.6 mi·3 min·North Belt Freeway
11
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·22 sec·this road
Toward I 57, US 67, US 167: Sherwood, North Little Rock, Jacksonville
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·33 sec
Toward I 57 North, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville
13
Merge onto I 57; US 167
1.3 mi·1 min·I 57; US 167
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward Redmond Road
15
Turn right onto South Redmond Road
0.6 mi·1 min·South Redmond Road
16
Turn left onto South James Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South James Street
17
Turn right onto Stone Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Stone Street
18
Turn slight left onto AR 161
0.5 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
19
Arrive at destination
AR 161
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over 3 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. The fuel cost is estimated at $28, so ensure your tank is full before you depart Blytheville. While there's only one recommended stop, you'll find plenty of service areas along I-40 and I-55 should you need a break. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-55 to I-40, which is a key point on your route.
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 92.3 miles from Blytheville, AR, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.5 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 41 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.3 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Blytheville, 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 Blytheville, AR
This is one driving day of about 184.6 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Blytheville, 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 I 40 for about 117.5 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 58.5 and 182.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 40 West: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 8
Toward I 40 West: Little Rock
7
176.6 mi into trip|~3h in
Take the exit toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 40, AR 440: Jacksonville, Texarkana
7
176.8 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AR 440 East: Jacksonville, Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 440 East: Jacksonville, Saint Louis
6
181 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 57 North, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 57 North, US 67 North, US 167 North: J...
4
182.8 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward Redmond Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Redmond Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.88 one way
$55.76 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.60
$61.21
premium
$4.56
$33.13
$66.27
diesel
$5.61
$40.76
$81.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.4
0
$19.38
$8.86
Efficient EV
46.2
0
$16.15
$7.38
EV Truck/SUV
73.8
0
$25.84
$11.81
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Blytheville, AR
Late night
in Blytheville on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jacksonville, AR
Late night
in Jacksonville on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live 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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 drive is overwhelmingly on highways, with 96% of the 184.6 miles on interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 117.5 miles on I-40, offering extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will likely be brief as you approach your destination. Expect a steady stream of exits and potential for merging traffic as you pass through or near more populated areas.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 58.5 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 184.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 176.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 184.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117.5 miles on I 40. 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 Jacksonville, 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 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 176.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Jacksonville, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
