This 242.6-mile journey from Jonesboro to Dermott, Arkansas, is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 4 hours and 32 minutes. With 96% of the route on highways, it's a straightforward drive primarily utilizing I-57, US-65, and I-530. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $37. Given the manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited as a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. You'll be traversing the Southeast region of Arkansas for the entirety of this drive.
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
121.3 miles from Jonesboro, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 45m
US 65
61.1 mi
1h 15m
I 530
46.1 mi
47m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
US 167
4.9 mi
6m
US 165
2 mi
3m
AR 35
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, AR and Dermott, 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 left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
46 mi·47 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65
1.2 mi·1 min·Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
14
Continue on US 65; US 425
38 mi·46 min·US 65; US 425
15
Continue on US 65; US 165
24 mi·29 min·US 65; US 165
16
Turn right onto US 165
2.0 mi·3 min·US 165
17
Turn right onto AR 35
1.8 mi·3 min·AR 35
18
Turn right onto South Main Street
162 ft·4 sec·South Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over 4.5 hours, this route from Jonesboro to Dermott is easily accomplished in one day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and allow ample time for any brief stops you might need. The longest stretch without a major exit is 102.7 miles on I-57, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. Given the $37 fuel estimate, it's wise to fill up before you leave Jonesboro to ensure you have plenty of gas for the entire 242.6-mile 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 121.3 miles from Jonesboro, AR, or about 2h 10m 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 53 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.3 miles or 2h 10m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dermott, 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 242.6 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 13
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...
6
130.4 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.64 one way
$73.28 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$40.22
$80.44
premium
$4.56
$43.54
$87.09
diesel
$5.61
$53.56
$107.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.8
0
$25.47
$11.64
Efficient EV
60.7
0
$21.23
$9.70
EV Truck/SUV
97
1
$33.96
$15.53
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Jonesboro, AR
Late night
in Jonesboro on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dermott, AR
Late night
in Dermott on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live 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
7 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
4h 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.
Arkansas Post National Memorial
National Memorial
Located at the confluence of two rivers, Arkansas Post has served as a gathering place for many cultures throughout human history - it represents cultural cooperation, conflict, synthesis, and diversi...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 209.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 242.6-mile trip, with 96% of your travel on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 102.7 miles on I-57, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of the drive. While primarily interstate, the route transitions between I-57, US-65, and I-530, offering some variety in the road ahead. This highway-centric profile suggests a predominantly efficient and direct driving experience.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 65. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cate Avenue.
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 242.6 miles you will encounter 13 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 242.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m 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 102.7 miles on I 57. 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: 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 — Arkansas Post National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Dermott, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
