Dover to New Caledonia is 212.8 miles and takes about 4h 7m via US 167 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving between the Southeast region and itself. With 96% of the drive on highways, expect a largely direct path. This route is straightforward, making it a solid choice for a single-day trip when you want to cover ground efficiently. You'll find it's a practical option for getting between these two points with minimal fuss.
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
106.4 miles from Dover, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 167
113.3 mi
2h 14m
I 40
71.8 mi
1h 12m
I 530
10 mi
10m
US 65
4.6 mi
6m
Market Street
4.1 mi
6m
US 79
4.1 mi
6m
North Arkansas Avenue
2.9 mi
4m
Caledonia Road
1.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 167
— 113.3 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dover, AR and New Caledonia, AR.
1
Start on AR 7
4.1 mi·6 min·Market Street
2
Continue on AR 7
2.9 mi·4 min·North Arkansas Avenue
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 81
4
Merge onto I 40
72 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 40
5
Take the exit onto US 65
4.6 mi·6 min·US 65
6
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.
7
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.
8
Turn right onto US 79; US 167
4.1 mi·6 min·US 79; US 167
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
42 mi·50 min·US 167
Toward US 167: El Dorado
10
Take the exit onto US 167
16 mi·18 min·US 167
Toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Junction City
11
Turn left onto Caledonia Road
1.8 mi·6 min·Caledonia Road
12
Arrive at destination
Caledonia Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 7m drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning, around 9 AM, should give you ample time to arrive well before evening. The longest stretch without a major exit is over 113 miles on US 167, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping the $32 budget in mind. While there's only one recommended stop, you'll have flexibility due to the relatively short distance, allowing you to adjust your pace as needed.
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 106.4 miles from Dover, AR, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.3 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 47 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.4 miles or 1h 55m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Caledonia, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dover, 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 Dover, AR
This is one driving day of about 212.8 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Dover, 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 US 167 for about 113.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 195.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 81
6
83.6 mi into trip|~1h 29m 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
93.6 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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...
5
153.6 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward US 167: El Dorado
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 167: El Dorado
7
195.3 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Junction City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Jun...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.54 one way
$59.08 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$33.05
$66.10
premium
$4.29
$35.93
$71.87
diesel
$4.80
$40.18
$80.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.8
0
$22.34
$10.21
Efficient EV
53.2
0
$18.62
$8.51
EV Truck/SUV
85.1
1
$29.79
$13.62
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Dover, AR
Late night
in Dover on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:38PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:38PM CDT until July 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
New Caledonia, AR
Late night
in New Caledonia on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:38PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:38PM CDT until July 19 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
92°F
Redfield, AR
106 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
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
4h 7m 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?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway, with 96% of the 212.8 miles on major roads like US 167 and I-40. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 113.3 miles, primarily on US 167. You'll notice the highway feel continues for most of the trip, with only a small portion transitioning to surface roads near the end. Expect consistent cruising with a steady stream of exits.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.3 mi on US 167.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 167 and I 40. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in.
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 212.8 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.6 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.6 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
450 ft103 ft
Total Climb
234 ft
Total Descent
497 ft
Highest Point
450 ft
Elevation Range
346 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dover, AR and New Caledonia, AR, road signs point toward Fordyce, El Dorado and Junction City.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 212.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.3 miles on US 167. 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: at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.6 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.6 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at New Caledonia, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
