Elm Springs to Jonesboro is 299.8 miles and takes about 5h 22m via I 40, US 64, and I 49, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day travel time, this route is a solid option for a direct connection between these two points.
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
149.9 miles from Elm Springs, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
113.8 mi
1h 53m
US 64
74.6 mi
1h 17m
I 49
51.4 mi
52m
Vilonia Bypass
25.9 mi
32m
US 78
12.1 mi
13m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
9m
State Highway 64
5.4 mi
6m
North Maestri Road
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 113.8 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elm Springs, AR and Jonesboro, AR.
1
Start on School Street
113 ft·10 sec·School Street
2
Turn left onto AR 112
0.1 mi·15 sec·South Elm Street
3
Continue on AR 112
2.3 mi·4 min·North Maestri Road
4
Turn left onto US 412
0.4 mi·36 sec·East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 412
1.4 mi·2 min·West Sunset Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 49; US 62; US 71
51 mi·52 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
9
Merge onto I 40; US 71
114 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 40; US 71
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 64
11
Keep slight left at fork
212 ft·8 sec
12
Turn left onto US 64
1.8 mi·3 min·East Oak Street
13
Continue on US 64
5.4 mi·6 min·State Highway 64
14
Continue on US 64
26 mi·32 min·Vilonia Bypass
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto US 64
75 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 64
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward AR 226: Jonesboro
17
Keep slight right at fork
346 ft·8 sec
18
Merge onto US 78; AR 226
12 mi·13 min·US 78; AR 226
19
Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78
7.4 mi·9 min·Southwest Drive
20
Continue on South Main Street
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
21
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
207 ft·14 sec·Cate Avenue
22
Turn left
75 ft·5 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 22m estimated duration, leaving Elm Springs in the morning will allow you to reach Jonesboro before evening. The route is designed for a single day, so you won't need to plan for an overnight stay. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 113.8-mile stretch on I 40, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. The estimated fuel cost of $44 should help with budgeting.
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 149.9 miles from Elm Springs, AR, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.8 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 66 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.9 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 22m
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 Elm Springs, 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 Elm Springs, AR
This is one driving day of about 299.8 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Elm Springs, 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 113.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 55.8 — 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|AR 112 / South Elm Street
Turn left onto AR 112 / South Elm Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in|US 412 / East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
Turn left onto US 412 / East Henri de Tonti Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
4.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in|I 49; US 62; US 71
Merge onto I 49; US 62; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
55.8 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.67 one way
$93.34 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.45
$102.90
premium
$4.71
$55.60
$111.21
diesel
$6.18
$72.93
$145.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.9
1
$31.48
$14.39
Efficient EV
75
0
$26.23
$11.99
EV Truck/SUV
119.9
1
$41.97
$19.19
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Elm Springs, AR
Morning
in Elm Springs on Monday
Local time
6:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jonesboro, AR
Morning
in Jonesboro on Monday
Local time
6:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
E 5 mph0% 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
3 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
5h 22m 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?
Expect to be on highways for 86% of this 299.8-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 113.8 miles on I 40. You'll transition from primarily highway driving to surface roads for the remaining portion of the trip. Be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic and more frequent exits as you approach your destination.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 64. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 112 / South Elm Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 299.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 112 / South Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 412 / East Henri de Tonti Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,185 ft229 ft
Total Climb
288 ft
Total Descent
1,149 ft
Highest Point
1,185 ft
Elevation Range
957 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 Elm Springs, AR to Jonesboro, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 299.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m 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 113.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Jonesboro, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 112 / South Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 412 / East Henri de Tonti Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jonesboro, AR before the return drive.
