Jonesboro, AR to Prairie Creek, AR is 253.6 miles and takes about 5h 29m via US 63, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, primarily within Arkansas, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, you'll spend most of your time on highways, covering a good distance without needing an overnight stay. Expect a mostly highway experience with a few surface road sections as you approach your destination.
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
126.8 miles from Jonesboro, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
56.6 mi
1h 16m
US 62
53.3 mi
1h 9m
T & C Boulevard
49.9 mi
56m
US 412
45.8 mi
52m
Shield-Hopper Bypass
19.1 mi
22m
AR 12
9.2 mi
16m
Shied-Hopper Bypass
5.4 mi
6m
AR 303
5 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 56.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, AR and Prairie Creek, AR.
1
Start on this road
75 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
207 ft·11 sec·Cate Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·South Main Street
4
Turn left onto AR 91
1.2 mi·2 min·West Johnson Avenue
5
Continue on AR 91
0.2 mi·18 sec·North Gee Street
6
Continue on AR 91
2.7 mi·4 min·Dan Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
8
Merge onto US 63
57 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 63
9
Turn right onto US 62; US 412
436 ft·5 sec·US 62; US 412
10
Continue on US 62; US 63; US 412
1.4 mi·1 min·US 62; US 63; US 412
11
Continue on US 62; US 412
413 ft·13 sec·US 62; US 412
12
Continue on US 62; US 412; US 63 Business
0.2 mi·27 sec·US 62; US 412; US 63 Business
13
Take the exit
365 ft·10 sec
14
Merge onto US 62; US 412; AR 175
10 mi·11 min·US 62; US 412; AR 175
15
Continue on US 62; US 412
50 mi·56 min·T & C Boulevard
16
Turn left onto US 62; US 412
332 ft·4 sec·Shield-Hopper Highway
17
Continue on US 62; US 412
5.4 mi·6 min·Shied-Hopper Bypass
18
Continue on US 62; US 412
19 mi·22 min·Shield-Hopper Bypass
19
Turn right onto US 62; US 412
23 mi·25 min·US 62; US 412
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412
7.2 mi·11 min·US 62; US 65; US 412
21
Take the exit onto US 62; US 65; US 412
5.0 mi·7 min·US 62; US 65; US 412
22
Take the exit onto US 62; US 412
6.1 mi·8 min·US 62; US 412
23
Continue on US 62; US 412
0.5 mi·1 min·US 62; US 412
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Turn left onto US 412
46 mi·52 min·US 412
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto AR 303
5.0 mi·8 min·AR 303
26
Continue on High Sky Inn Road
2.9 mi·6 min·High Sky Inn Road
27
Continue on War Eagle Road
1.5 mi·3 min·War Eagle Road
28
At end of road, turn left onto AR 12
9.2 mi·16 min·AR 12
29
Arrive at destination
AR 12
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Jonesboro to maximize daylight and avoid any potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can be flexible with your timing, but it's wise to break up the 56.6-mile stretch on US 63 for a quick stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $38, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially before you transition to surface roads. This route is easily manageable in a single day, so you won't need to worry about booking accommodations.
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 126.8 miles from Jonesboro, AR, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 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 56 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.8 miles or 2h 41m 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 Prairie Creek, 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 253.6 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 US 63 for about 56.6 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 189.1 — 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
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|AR 91 / West Johnson Avenue
Turn left onto AR 91 / West Johnson Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
170.3 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|US 62; US 65; US 412
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412
Navigation decision point
5
189.1 mi into trip|~4h in|US 412
Turn left onto US 412
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.98 one way
$77.96 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$43.11
$86.22
premium
$4.65
$46.40
$92.79
diesel
$5.35
$53.42
$106.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.1
0
$26.63
$12.17
Efficient EV
63.4
0
$22.19
$10.14
EV Truck/SUV
101.4
1
$35.50
$16.23
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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 1, 2026
Origin
Jonesboro, AR
Afternoon
in Jonesboro on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 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
Prairie Creek, AR
Afternoon
in Prairie Creek on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph17% 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
70°F
Summit, AR
127 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 29m 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?
You'll be on highways for about 67% of this 253.6-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 56.6 miles on US 63. After the predominantly highway driving, you'll transition to surface roads, including T & C Boulevard, as you get closer to Prairie Creek. Given the highway share, anticipate some periods of consistent cruising and potential for merging traffic as you navigate between US 63 and US 62.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.6 mi on US 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and US 62. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cate Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 29m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (AR 91 / West Johnson Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,457 ft265 ft
Total Climb
1,441 ft
Total Descent
362 ft
Highest Point
1,457 ft
~217.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,192 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The longest stretch is about 56.6 miles on US 63. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 2 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 (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (AR 91 / West Johnson Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Prairie Creek, AR before the return drive.
