Traveling from Delaware to Fordyce covers 157.3 miles through the heart of Arkansas. You can expect a total drive time of approximately 2 hours and 58 minutes, making this a very manageable single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, it is an affordable journey that keeps you within the Southeast region for the duration of your travel. Because the route is straightforward and focused on efficient transit, there is no need to split this into an overnight excursion. It serves as a practical, direct link between these two points, allowing you to reach your destination without excessive planning or logistical hurdles.
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
78.6 miles from Delaware, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
68.7 mi
1h 9m
US 167
56 mi
1h 5m
I 530
10 mi
10m
AR 22
9.2 mi
13m
Union Street
4.9 mi
5m
US 65
4.6 mi
6m
East Main Street
2.3 mi
3m
Moro
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 68.7 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware, AR and Fordyce, AR.
1
Start on Fire Dept Loop
515 ft·27 sec·Fire Dept Loop
2
Turn left onto AR 22
9.2 mi·13 min·AR 22
3
Turn left onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·Union Street
4
Turn right onto US 64
2.3 mi·3 min·East Main Street
5
Turn left onto AR 331
0.3 mi·28 sec·AR 331
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 84Toward I-40
7
Merge onto I 40
69 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 40
8
Take the exit onto US 65
4.6 mi·6 min·US 65
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
10.0 mi·10 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 167
56 mi·1 hr 5 min·US 167
Toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El DoradoUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 79B
0.8 mi·1 min·Moro
12
Turn right onto US 79B; AR 8
0.2 mi·18 sec·East 4th Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 79B; AR 8
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs, as this will help break up the highway monotony and keep you refreshed for the final leg. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the interstate sections, as access to stations can vary once you transition onto US-167. Because your budget for gas is around $24, filling up at your starting point in Delaware is a smart way to avoid mid-trip price fluctuations. Using your single allotted stop to refuel and grab a snack will ensure you reach Fordyce without any unnecessary stress.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.6 miles from Delaware, AR, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.7 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 35 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.6 miles or 1h 27m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fordyce, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Delaware, 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 Delaware, AR
This is one driving day of about 157.3 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Delaware, 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 68.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.2 and 100.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
14.2 mi into trip|~20m in|US 64 / East Main Street
Turn right onto US 64 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
16.5 mi into trip|~23m in|AR 331
Turn left onto AR 331
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
16.7 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 84
Toward I-40
6
90.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|I 530; US 65; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
100.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dorado
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 US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dora...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.76 one way
$47.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.08
$52.16
premium
$4.56
$28.23
$56.47
diesel
$5.61
$34.73
$69.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.2
0
$16.52
$7.55
Efficient EV
39.3
0
$13.76
$6.29
EV Truck/SUV
62.9
0
$22.02
$10.07
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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 21, 2026
Origin
Delaware, AR
Morning
in Delaware on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fordyce, AR
Morning
in Fordyce on Tuesday
Local time
7:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
1 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
2h 58m 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 heavily highway-focused, with 95% of your time spent on major routes like I-40, US-167, and I-530. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 68.7 miles on I-40. The transition between these arteries defines the drive's personality, shifting from the high-speed flow of the interstates to the more localized feel of the connecting highways. Expect a consistent experience behind the wheel that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding secondary roads. It is the type of drive where you can settle into a comfortable cruising pace for the majority of the journey.
95% 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: 68.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 167. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 14.2 miles in near US 64 / East Main 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 2h 58m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.2 miles (US 64 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (AR 331): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Delaware, AR to Fordyce, AR, road signs begin pointing toward El Dorado along the way.
Delaware has beautiful beaches and parks. The more popular beaches are in: Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach. Most parks in Delaware's very extensive and well maintained park system are free or low-cost. The First State National Historical Park a group of historical sites that cover the early colonial history of Delaware and the role Delaware played in the establishment of the United States, leading up to it being the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
It is one of the smallest states in the United States. It has beautiful beaches, and activities vary from business-friendly Wilmington to the rural southern parts of the state.
The longest stretch is about 68.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 14.2 miles (US 64 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (AR 331): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fordyce, AR before heading back.
