Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Brinkley, AR to Jonesboro, AR

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 51m

Distance

75 mi

121 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

5 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 43m ★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States

Brinkley, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 75-mile drive from Brinkley, Arkansas, to Jonesboro, Arkansas, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 51 minutes. Given its short duration and manageable distance, it's perfectly suited as a day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $11, making it an economical option for getting between these two Southeast Arkansas communities. You'll primarily navigate via US 49, Old Military Road, and Southwest Drive, offering a mixed driving experience.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.5 miles from Brinkley, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 49 39 mi 57m
Old Military Road 25.4 mi 37m
Southwest Drive 7.4 mi 9m
North Main Street 1.7 mi 3m
South Main Street 1.4 mi 2m
Cate Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 49 — 39 mi, about 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brinkley, AR and Jonesboro, AR.

1

Start on US 49; AR 17

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Main Street
Use the left lane.
2

Continue on US 49; US 63; AR 17

25 mi · 37 min · Old Military Road
3

At end of road, turn right onto US 49; US 63; US 64

178 ft · 7 sec · US 49; US 63; US 64
4

Continue on US 49; US 63

39 mi · 57 min · US 49; US 63
5

Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78

7.4 mi · 9 min · Southwest Drive
6

Continue on South Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
7

Turn right onto Cate Avenue

207 ft · 14 sec · Cate Avenue
8

Turn left

75 ft · 5 sec
9

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 1 hour and 51-minute journey, an early morning departure is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Jonesboro with plenty of daylight. Since the total distance is only 75 miles and requires minimal stops, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is low at $11, it's always wise to start with a full tank. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of the transition points between US 49 and the local roads as you approach Jonesboro, as these can sometimes involve changes in speed limits and traffic patterns.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.5 miles from Brinkley, AR, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 17 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.5 miles or 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 35m

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 Brinkley, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brinkley, AR

This is one driving day of about 75 miles and 1h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Brinkley, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 49 for about 39 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waldenburg, AR

38 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Barson, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waldenburg, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Brinkley, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sonic Drive-In

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour Inexpensiv mile 75

Hours: 6 am–10:30 pm

+18709316433

Visit website

Sonic Drive-In

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour Inexpensiv mile 75

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Hours: 6 am–10:30 pm

+18709357850

Visit website

Subway

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour Inexpensiv mile 75

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

+18709728880

Visit website

Sonic Drive-In

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour Inexpensiv mile 75

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Hours: 6 am–10:30 pm

+18709316433

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Brinkley, Arkansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 69.6

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 75

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 75

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 75

Jonesboro, Arkansas

+18668167584

Visit website

Craighead Forest Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 69.6

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+18709334604

Visit website

AGFC Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 69.6

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

+18709336787

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

3 of 3

3 decision points cluster between mile 27.1 and 75 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
27.1 mi into trip | ~41m in | US 49; US 63; US 64

At end of road, turn right onto US 49; US 63; US 64

Navigation decision point

3
74.9 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | Cate Avenue

Turn right onto Cate Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
75 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.33 one way

$22.65 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $12.43 $24.87
premium $4.56 $13.46 $26.92
diesel $5.61 $16.56 $33.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.5 0 $7.87 $3.60
Efficient EV 18.8 0 $6.56 $3.00
EV Truck/SUV 30 0 $10.50 $4.80

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Brinkley, AR

Night in Brinkley on Saturday

Local time

11:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jonesboro, AR

Night in Jonesboro on Saturday

Local time

11:35 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 51m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive features a 52% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced travel interspersed with more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 39 miles on US 49, providing a good opportunity to settle in. This route offers a mixed drive profile, so expect some variation in road conditions and speed limits as you transition between main highways and local thoroughfares. It's not a monotonous journey, but rather a practical progression through the Arkansas landscape.

52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39 mi on US 49.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in near US 49; US 63; US 64.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Brinkley, AR to Jonesboro, AR is easy. At 1h 51m with 52% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles (US 49; US 63; US 64): Navigation decision point; at 74.9 miles (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 75 miles: Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 75 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (52%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 39 miles on US 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles (US 49; US 63; US 64): Navigation decision point; at 74.9 miles (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 75 miles: Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jonesboro, AR before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Jonesboro, AR

Bella Vista, AR 322.2 mi · 5h 49m De Queen, AR 271.4 mi · 5h 32m Barling, AR 261.7 mi · 4h 44m Mena, AR 258.6 mi · 5h 9m

More from Brinkley, AR

Bentonville, AR 274.2 mi · 4h 45m Fayetteville, AR 249.4 mi · 4h 18m Little Rock, AR 68.2 mi · 1h 15m North Little Rock, AR 65.6 mi · 1h 10m

More trips to Jonesboro, AR

Bentonville, AR 312.7 mi Fayetteville, AR 288 mi West Fork, AR 277.8 mi Texarkana, AR 269.9 mi Lewisville, AR 262.5 mi Greenwood, AR 256.1 mi
Escape planner: Brinkley, AR Scenic drives in AR

Explore more options from Brinkley, AR or browse trips ending in Jonesboro, AR.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AR road trips.