Traveling from Jonesboro to Mena covers 258.6 miles and takes approximately 5 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. Since the route stays within Arkansas, you will remain in the Southeast region for the duration of your journey. This trip is manageable as a single-day excursion, though it requires a steady pace to keep your fuel costs around the $40 mark. You will primarily utilize I-57, East Broadway Avenue, and Albert Pike Road to navigate between these two points. It is a straightforward drive that works well for those looking to reach their destination without multiple overnight splits. Expect a consistent experience as you move across the state, making it a reliable choice for a weekend getaway or a planned road trip.
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
129.3 miles from Jonesboro, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 45m
Albert Pike Road
34.9 mi
40m
East Broadway Avenue
29.5 mi
51m
I 30
27 mi
29m
US 70
25.5 mi
32m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
US 270
9 mi
10m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, AR and Mena, 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
25 mi·32 min·US 70
Toward US-70 West: Hot Springs
15
Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B
0.3 mi·28 sec·Summer Street
16
Turn straight onto US 70B; US 270B
35 mi·40 min·Albert Pike Road
17
Continue on US 270; AR 27
9.0 mi·10 min·US 270; AR 27
18
Turn left onto AR 88
29 mi·51 min·East Broadway Avenue
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 59; US 71
1.7 mi·2 min·US 59; US 71
20
Turn right onto AR 88
0.3 mi·38 sec·Mena Street
21
Turn left onto Church Avenue
375 ft·18 sec·Church Avenue
22
Turn right onto DeQueen Street
80 ft·3 sec·DeQueen Street
23
Arrive at destination
DeQueen Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 9-minute drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid midday congestion on the busier sections of the route. Planning for at least one dedicated stop will help you break up the 258.6-mile trek and keep your fuel budget steady at $40. Since this trip is designed as a one-day affair, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions along I-57. A practical tip for this specific drive is to monitor your fuel levels before leaving the interstate, as transitioning to the local roads like Albert Pike Road can change your access to service stations. Staying mindful of these road transitions will ensure a smoother arrival in Mena.
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 129.3 miles from Jonesboro, AR, or about 2h 19m 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 57 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.3 miles or 2h 19m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mena, 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 258.6 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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.
Final third
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hours: 4 PM–12 AM
+15017014162
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 258.6 — 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
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
5
258.6 mi into trip|~5h 9m in|DeQueen Street
Turn right onto DeQueen Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.75 one way
$79.49 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$43.96
$87.92
premium
$4.65
$47.31
$94.62
diesel
$5.35
$54.47
$108.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.6
0
$27.15
$12.41
Efficient EV
64.7
0
$22.63
$10.34
EV Truck/SUV
103.4
1
$36.20
$16.55
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Jonesboro, AR
Afternoon
in Jonesboro on Wednesday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Cloudy
NNE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 7:49PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Mena, AR
Afternoon
in Mena on Wednesday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
0 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 1 at 7:49PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
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 9m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 178.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 258.6-mile journey is heavily highway-focused, with 71% of the route consisting of major thoroughfares. You should prepare for a consistent interstate experience, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 102.7 miles on I-57. While the initial portion of your trip focuses on high-speed highway travel, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto local routes like Albert Pike Road and East Broadway Avenue. The drive balances these faster, monotonous highway segments with the necessary navigation through local infrastructure. By the time you reach Mena, you will have navigated a mix of high-capacity roads and regional connectors that define this cross-state transition.
71% 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: 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 Albert Pike Road. You will hit about 15 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 258.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 125.5 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,173 ft226 ft
Total Climb
1,064 ft
Total Descent
216 ft
Highest Point
1,173 ft
~258.6 mi in
Elevation Range
947 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 Mena, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Mena is a town in Arkansas. A railroad town, Mena grew to a population of over 3,000 people within a few years of its founding in 1897. It was also touted for its health spa amenities. But soon after, the town's vitality diminished when rail facilities were moved to a nearby locale. Mena also had this troubling tendency of unabashed racial mistreatment towards African Americans that endured through much of the 20th century.
Today it attracts tourists with its picturesque location among the Ouachita National Forest and Mountains.
Top landmarks
•Mountain Fork Bridge — historic bridge in rural Polk County, Arkansas, United States of America
•Janssen Park — municipal park in Mena, Arkansas, United States
•Polk County Courthouse — courthouse in Arkansas, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 258.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). 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 7 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.
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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 125.5 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mena, AR before the return drive.
