Camden, AR to Jonesboro, AR is 226.6 miles and takes about 4h 15m via I 57, US 167, and US 79, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Arkansas, traversing from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major roadways, making it a practical option for a single-day drive. Expect mostly highway cruising with a good portion of your travel time spent on interstates, so plan for efficient travel without many detours.
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
113.3 miles from Camden, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 46m
US 167
50.9 mi
1h
US 79
27.4 mi
31m
Sheridan Bypass
17.9 mi
20m
US 78
12.1 mi
13m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
9m
Van Buren Street Northwest
3.8 mi
5m
US 67
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Camden, AR and Jonesboro, AR.
1
Start on US 278B
37 ft·8 sec·West Washington Street
2
Continue on US 79B
0.2 mi·21 sec·West Washington Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto US 79B
301 ft·6 sec·Harrison Avenue Northwest
4
Turn right onto US 79B
3.8 mi·5 min·Van Buren Street Northwest
5
Turn left onto US 79B
0.4 mi·38 sec·US 79B
6
Turn left onto US 79
27 mi·31 min·US 79
7
Turn left onto US 167
36 mi·44 min·US 167
8
Continue on US 167
18 mi·20 min·Sheridan Bypass
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
15 mi·16 min·US 167
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167
1.6 mi·2 min·US 67; US 167
Exit 143BToward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167
28 mi·29 min·I 57; US 167
Toward Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
12
Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167
74 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57; US 64; US 167
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward AR 226: Jonesboro
14
Keep slight right at fork
346 ft·8 sec
15
Merge onto US 78; AR 226
12 mi·13 min·US 78; AR 226
16
Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78
7.4 mi·9 min·Southwest Drive
17
Continue on South Main Street
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
18
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
207 ft·14 sec·Cate Avenue
19
Turn left
75 ft·5 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of around 4 hours and 15 minutes, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Since the longest stretch without a break is over 100 miles, consider stopping for fuel and a stretch around the halfway point, perhaps after exiting I 57. The estimated fuel cost of $33 is a good baseline, but always check current prices. Given the manageable distance, you have flexibility to depart when it suits you best.
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 113.3 miles from Camden, AR, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.3 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 28m
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 Camden, 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 Camden, AR
This is one driving day of about 226.6 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Camden, 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 57 for about 102.7 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 102.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 79B / West Washington Street
Continue onto US 79B / West Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 79B / Harrison Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto US 79B / Harrison Avenue Northwest
Navigation decision point
6
86 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North:...
7
100.7 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|US 67; US 167
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167 toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143B
Toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Ja...
7
102.3 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 57; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167 toward Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Saint Louis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.69 one way
$69.37 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$38.41
$76.83
premium
$4.65
$41.47
$82.95
diesel
$6.28
$55.99
$111.98
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: 79.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68
0
$23.79
$10.88
Efficient EV
56.7
0
$19.83
$9.06
EV Truck/SUV
90.6
1
$31.72
$14.50
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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 Oct 21, 2026
Origin
Camden, AR
Evening
in Camden on Thursday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jonesboro, AR
Evening
in Jonesboro on Thursday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
NE 0 to 5 mph1% 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 15m 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 spend 86% of this 226.6-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 102.7 miles on I 57. This means you'll experience a significant amount of high-speed, limited-access road. The transition from interstate to US highways will likely involve a noticeable change in speed limits and traffic density. Expect to notice more frequent exits and potentially some slower local traffic as you move onto US 79 and US 167.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 167. 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 US 79B / West Washington Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 226.6 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 (US 79B / West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (US 79B / Harrison Avenue Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 86 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
325 ft193 ft
Total Climb
291 ft
Total Descent
169 ft
Highest Point
325 ft
~226.6 mi in
Elevation Range
131 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Camden, AR and Jonesboro, AR, road signs point toward Memphis and Saint Louis.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 226.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 79B / West Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (US 79B / Harrison Avenue Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 86 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Jonesboro, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
