Stretching 64.4 miles across Arkansas, the drive from Cave City to Jonesboro is a straightforward journey typically taking about 1 hour and 40 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it doesn't require an overnight stay to manage the distance. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable option for travelers. The route remains entirely within the Southeast region of the state, maintaining a consistent regional feel from start to finish. Since the itinerary is compact, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to easily complete the transit in one sitting.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.2 miles from Cave City, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
29.2 mi
37m
AR 230
18.9 mi
33m
State Highway 25
11.8 mi
20m
West Washington Avenue
2.7 mi
5m
West Center Street
1 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South 3rd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Cate Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 29.2 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cave City, AR and Jonesboro, AR.
1
Start on West Center Street
1.0 mi·1 min·West Center Street
2
Continue on AR 230
19 mi·33 min·AR 230
3
Continue on AR 25
12 mi·20 min·State Highway 25
4
Turn left onto AR 25
0.2 mi·26 sec·South 3rd Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 63; US 412
17 mi·22 min·US 63; US 412
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 63; AR 228
12 mi·14 min·US 63; AR 228
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
101 ft·7 sec
9
Turn left onto West Washington Avenue
2.7 mi·5 min·West Washington Avenue
10
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Main Street
11
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
207 ft·14 sec·Cate Avenue
12
Turn left
75 ft·5 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this drive is relatively short, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that best fits your personal itinerary without worrying about fatigue. With no mandatory stops required to cover the 64.4 miles, you can complete the trip in one go, though planning for a quick break during your transit is always a smart move. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Cave City, as your $10 budget assumes efficient travel. Since US 63 accounts for nearly half of your longest stretch, monitor your speed and traffic flow closely once you merge onto that main artery. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to focus on your arrival in Jonesboro rather than complex navigation.
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 32.2 miles from Cave City, AR, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.2 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 14 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.2 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 25m
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 Cave City, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cave City, AR
This is one driving day of about 64.4 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Cave City, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 63 for about 29.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 31.8 and 64.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
31.8 mi into trip|~55m in|AR 25 / South 3rd Street
Turn left onto AR 25 / South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
31.9 mi into trip|~56m in|US 63; US 412
At end of road, turn left onto US 63; US 412
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
61.4 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
61.4 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|West Washington Avenue
Turn left onto West Washington Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.73 one way
$19.45 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$10.68
$21.35
premium
$4.56
$11.56
$23.12
diesel
$5.61
$14.22
$28.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
Efficient EV
16.1
0
$5.64
$2.58
EV Truck/SUV
25.8
0
$9.02
$4.12
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Cave City, AR
Late night
in Cave City on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jonesboro, AR
Late night
in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Black Rock, AR
32 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 40m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of your time spent on main thoroughfares like US 63, AR 230, and State Highway 25. You will experience a mix of road types, anchored by a significant 29.2-mile stretch on US 63 that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. Behind the wheel, you can anticipate a steady pace as you transition between these connected routes. The character of the drive is functional and efficient, prioritizing direct travel over technical or winding backroads. Staying alert is key during those long highway segments, as the road conditions remain fairly uniform throughout the transition between these two Arkansas hubs.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.2 mi on US 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and AR 230. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 31.8 miles in near AR 25 / South 3rd Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 31.8 miles (AR 25 / South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.9 miles (US 63; US 412): Lane positioning matters here; at 61.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 64.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 29.2 miles on US 63. 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 31.8 miles (AR 25 / South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.9 miles (US 63; US 412): Lane positioning matters here; at 61.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jonesboro, AR before heading back.
