If you are looking to traverse Arkansas from Delaware to Tennessee, prepare for a 178.6-mile journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes. This route functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Navigating the path requires sticking primarily to local roads, including Union Street, East Main Street, and AR 331. With a fuel budget of about $24, the drive is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. Since both your origin and destination are located within the Southeast region of the state, the transition between these two points is consistent and localized.
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
89.3 miles from Delaware, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
68.7 mi
1h 9m
I 530
43.9 mi
45m
Highway 530
22.9 mi
26m
US 425
15.7 mi
20m
AR 22
9.2 mi
13m
Union Street
4.9 mi
5m
US 65
4.6 mi
6m
West Gaines Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 68.7 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware, AR and Tennessee, 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
44 mi·45 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·52 sec
Exit 44Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
11
Continue on AR 530
23 mi·26 min·Highway 530
12
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11
2.0 mi·2 min·Highway 11
13
Turn right onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
14
Take the exit
226 ft·6 sec
15
Turn slight right onto US 278
2.6 mi·4 min·West Gaines Avenue
16
Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Tennessee Spur Road
17
Arrive at destination
Tennessee Spur Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy drive, plan to depart early in the day to ensure you have plenty of natural light for the winding sections. You only need to account for one planned stop along the way, which offers a great opportunity to stretch your legs and refresh before the final leg of the 3-hour journey. Keep your fuel gauge in mind, as the $24 estimate is based on typical conditions and could fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the entire route is local, enjoy the flexibility of your schedule and don't feel pressured to rush through the turns. A specific tip for this trip: prioritize checking your tire pressure and vehicle fluid levels before departure, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be relying on your brakes and steering more than usual.
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 89.3 miles from Delaware, AR, or about 1h 39m 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.3 miles or 1h 39m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tennessee, 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 178.6 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.5 and 157.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
134.2 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 44
Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
5
157.9 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|AR 11 / Highway 11
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11 / Highway 11
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.97 one way
$53.95 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$29.61
$59.22
premium
$4.56
$32.06
$64.11
diesel
$5.61
$39.43
$78.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.5 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
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
Efficient EV
44.7
0
$15.63
$7.14
EV Truck/SUV
71.4
0
$25.00
$11.43
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 14, 2026
Origin
Delaware, AR
Morning
in Delaware on Tuesday
Local time
7:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tennessee, AR
Morning
in Tennessee on Tuesday
Local time
7:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 5 mph5% 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
15 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
3h 21m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, keeping you on surface roads for the entire 178.6-mile duration. Because there are no long stretches—not even a single mile of uninterrupted driving on Union Street—you will find yourself navigating constant turns and transitions. The personality of this trip is defined by its technical nature rather than high-speed cruising. You should be prepared for a drive that feels more like a winding regional tour than a direct highway sprint.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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 I 530. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 16.5 miles in near AR 331.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 21m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.5 miles (AR 331): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 90.3 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
437 ft213 ft
Total Climb
223 ft
Total Descent
346 ft
Highest Point
437 ft
~22.3 mi in
Elevation Range
224 ft
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 Tennessee, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello 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.
Tennessee is a US state in the South known for its rich history, music, and the Appalachian Mountains along its eastern border. Many visitors come to see Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The longest stretch is about 68.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 16.5 miles (AR 331): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 90.3 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Tennessee, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
