Spanning 320 miles across Arkansas, this trip connects Farmington to New Caledonia in approximately 5 hours and 54 minutes. Because the route is entirely contained within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent landscape as you travel. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, making it an efficient choice for those looking to reach their destination without an overnight stay. Expect to budget around $49 for fuel, keeping your travel costs predictable. This highway-focused journey relies heavily on major thoroughfares, allowing for steady progress throughout the day. It is a straightforward trip ideal for travelers who prefer minimizing time on secondary roads.
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
160 miles from Farmington, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
140.4 mi
2h 21m
US 167
113.3 mi
2h 14m
Fulbright Expressway
41.9 mi
42m
I 530
10 mi
10m
US 65
4.6 mi
6m
US 79
4.1 mi
6m
Caledonia Road
1.8 mi
6m
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 140.4 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington, AR and New Caledonia, AR.
1
Start on US 62
1.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on US 62
1.7 mi·2 min·West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto South Shiloh Drive
328 ft·16 sec·South Shiloh Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·13 sec
5
Merge onto I 49; US 71
42 mi·42 min·Fulbright Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
7
Merge onto I 40; US 71
140 mi·2 hr 21 min·I 40; US 71
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
Turn right onto US 79; US 167
4.1 mi·6 min·US 79; US 167
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
42 mi·50 min·US 167
Toward US 167: El Dorado
13
Take the exit onto US 167
16 mi·18 min·US 167
Toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Junction City
14
Turn left onto Caledonia Road
1.8 mi·6 min·Caledonia Road
15
Arrive at destination
Caledonia Road
Trip Plan
To keep your drive manageable, plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the nearly six hours of time on the road. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you arrive in New Caledonia with plenty of daylight to spare. Since the route is dominated by high-speed highway travel, stay alert for changes in traffic flow as you transition between the Fulbright Expressway and the longer interstate segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that 140.4-mile stretch on I-40, as finding a convenient station is easier when you plan your stop before the tank runs low. This flexibility allows you to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions rather than rushing through the 320-mile trip.
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 160 miles from Farmington, AR, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.4 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 70 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160 miles or 2h 43m 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 40m
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 Farmington, 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 Farmington, AR
This is one driving day of about 320 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Farmington, 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 140.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 302.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3 mi into trip|~4m in|South Shiloh Drive
Turn right onto South Shiloh Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
45.2 mi into trip|~47m 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
6
190.9 mi into trip|~3h 16m 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
200.8 mi into trip|~3h 26m 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...
7
302.5 mi into trip|~5h 29m 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
$44.42 one way
$88.84 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$49.70
$99.40
premium
$4.29
$54.03
$108.07
diesel
$4.80
$60.42
$120.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96
1
$33.60
$15.36
Efficient EV
80
0
$28.00
$12.80
EV Truck/SUV
128
1
$44.80
$20.48
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Farmington, AR
Evening
in Farmington on Saturday
Local time
8:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 to 10 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New Caledonia, AR
Evening
in New Caledonia on Saturday
Local time
8:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 54m 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?
With 98% of your journey spent on highways, this drive is defined by high-speed efficiency rather than winding backroads. You will rely primarily on I-40, US-167, and the Fulbright Expressway to cover the distance. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will occur during the 140.4-mile stretch on I-40, which serves as the backbone of the trip. While the road personality is largely utilitarian, the transition between these major arteries keeps the drive feeling active. You should prepare for a consistent, interstate-heavy experience that prioritizes quick transit over technical navigation.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 167. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near South Shiloh Drive.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 320 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: at 3 miles (South Shiloh Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.9 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,311 ft178 ft
Total Climb
437 ft
Total Descent
1,442 ft
Highest Point
1,311 ft
~22.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,133 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Farmington, AR and New Caledonia, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock, Fordyce, El Dorado and Junction City.
Little Rock
45.2 mi in|~47m
Fordyce
200.8 mi in|~3h 26m|via US 167
El Dorado
200.8 mi in|~3h 26m|via US 167
Junction City
302.5 mi in|~5h 29m|via US 167
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 320 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 New Caledonia, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (South Shiloh Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.9 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Caledonia, AR before the return drive.
