Embarking from Jonesboro, Arkansas, to De Queen, Arkansas, this 271.4-mile journey will take approximately 5 hours and 32 minutes of pure driving time. Primarily utilizing I-57 and I-30, with a significant portion on US-70, this route is efficiently designed for speed, making it a feasible one-day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $41, which is quite reasonable for the distance covered. You'll be traversing through the Southeast region of Arkansas for the entirety of your travel. Given the focused highway profile, this trip is best suited for those who want to cover ground effectively.
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
135.7 miles from Jonesboro, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 45m
US 70
99.1 mi
2h 19m
I 30
27 mi
29m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
US 59
8.7 mi
12m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
Airport Road
5.7 mi
8m
US 167
4.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, AR and De Queen, AR.
1
Start on this road
75 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
458 ft·25 sec·Cate Avenue
3
Turn left onto Union Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Union Street
4
Turn left onto West Oak Avenue
257 ft·9 sec·West Oak Avenue
5
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
6
Continue on AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
7
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
9
Merge onto I 57
103 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 57
10
Merge onto I 40; US 167
0.9 mi·1 min·I 40; US 167
11
Take the exit onto US 167
4.9 mi·6 min·US 167
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67
24 mi·26 min·I 30; US 67
Exit 138Toward TexarkanaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 30; US 70
2.9 mi·3 min·I 30; US 70
14
Take the exit onto US 70
19 mi·22 min·US 70
Toward US-70 West: Hot Springs
15
Take the exit onto US 70
0.2 mi·19 sec·US 70
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70
11 mi·11 min·US 70
17
Take the exit onto US 70
0.2 mi·38 sec·US 70
18
Turn left onto US 70
5.7 mi·8 min·Airport Road
19
Continue on US 70
31 mi·46 min·US 70
20
Continue on US 70
38 mi·56 min·US 70
21
Continue on US 59; US 70; US 71; US 371
8.7 mi·12 min·US 59; US 70; US 71; US 371
22
Turn left onto North 4th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North 4th Street
23
Turn left onto West Dequeen Avenue
53 ft·2 sec·West Dequeen Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
West Dequeen Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 32-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Jonesboro to maximize your daylight and arrive in De Queen with ample time. With only one recommended stop and a 94% highway share, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 100 miles. Planning your fuel stop strategically before hitting that long segment on I-57 will ensure a smooth continuation of your journey.
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 135.7 miles from Jonesboro, AR, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 60 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.7 miles or 2h 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 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near De Queen, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, AR
This is one driving day of about 271.4 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Jonesboro, 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 57 for about 102.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 130.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Cate Avenue
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Union Street
Turn left onto Union Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.5 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
125.5 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US...
8
130.4 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|I 30; US 67
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67 toward Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 138
Toward Texarkana
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.71 one way
$83.43 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$46.14
$92.28
premium
$4.65
$49.65
$99.31
diesel
$5.35
$57.16
$114.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.4
1
$28.50
$13.03
Efficient EV
67.9
0
$23.75
$10.86
EV Truck/SUV
108.6
1
$38.00
$17.37
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Jonesboro, AR
Afternoon
in Jonesboro on Wednesday
Local time
2:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 0 to 5 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
De Queen, AR
Afternoon
in De Queen on Wednesday
Local time
2:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
71°F
Kentucky, AR
136 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 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 32m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hot Springs National Park
National Park
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 187.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive leans heavily towards a highway-focused experience, with 94% of the route being on interstates and major highways. Expect long stretches of consistent travel, including an uninterrupted segment of 102.7 miles on I-57. While the majority of the drive will be on high-speed roads, there might be brief transitions onto US-70 that offer a slight variation in pace. Overall, the character is one of steady progress, minimizing complex navigation and maximizing forward momentum.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 70. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cate Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 271.4 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
640 ft219 ft
Total Climb
453 ft
Total Descent
359 ft
Highest Point
640 ft
~232.6 mi in
Elevation Range
422 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 Jonesboro, AR to De Queen, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 271.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 De Queen, 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 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at De Queen, AR before the return drive.
