Origin
Jonesboro, AR
Late night in Jonesboro on Friday
Local time
1:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jonesboro, AR to Smackover, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 38m
Distance
246.5 mi
397 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 25m
★
6 AM
4h 38m
8 AM
5h 5m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 45m
3 PM
4h 49m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jonesboro, AR
Md Jawadur Rahman
Smackover, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Jonesboro, AR to Smackover, AR covers 246.5 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 57, US 167, US 79 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.7 miles on I 57. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
123.3 miles from Jonesboro, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 102.7 mi | 1h 45m |
| US 167 | 60.8 mi | 1h 12m |
| US 79 | 31.8 mi | 37m |
| Dr Martin Luther King Expressway | 15.5 mi | 17m |
| US 78 | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| I 530 | 10 mi | 10m |
| Southwest Drive | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| West 7th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, AR and Smackover, 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
10.0 mi
·
10 min
·
I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto US 167
56 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
US 167
Toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dorado
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto US 79; US 167
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
US 79; US 167
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 79
28 mi
·
31 min
·
US 79
Toward US 79: Camden
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
17
Turn left onto AR 7
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Adams Avenue
18
Continue on AR 7
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Dr Martin Luther King Expressway
19
Turn left onto AR 7B
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West 7th Street
20
Arrive at destination
AR 7B
Trip Plan
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 123.3 miles from Jonesboro, AR, or about 2h 12m 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 54 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.3 miles or 2h 12m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smackover, 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 246.5 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123.3 miles from Jonesboro, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 21.5 and 200.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
7
140.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m 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...
5
200.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 43m in
|
US 79
Keep slight right at fork onto US 79 toward US 79: Camden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 79: Camden
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.11 one way
$72.22 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $40.09 | $80.18 |
| premium | $4.49 | $43.54 | $87.07 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $54.34 | $108.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74 | 0 | $25.88 | $11.83 |
| Efficient EV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.57 | $9.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.6 | 1 | $34.51 | $15.78 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Destination
Smackover, AR
Late night in Smackover on Friday
Local time
1:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 38m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
246.5 mi in 4h 38m, mostly highway — 102.7 mi of that is on I 57.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 167. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 246.5 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: 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; at 130.4 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
328 ft
102 ft
Total Climb
303 ft
Total Descent
504 ft
Highest Point
328 ft
~123.3 mi in
Elevation Range
226 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jonesboro, AR and Smackover, AR, road signs point toward Fordyce and El Dorado.
Fordyce
140.4 mi in
|
~2h 31m
|
via US 167
El Dorado
140.4 mi in
|
~2h 31m
|
via US 167
About the Cities
Starting in Jonesboro, AR
Full guide →Jonesboro is a city in the Delta region of Arkansas.
Top landmarks
- • Craighead County Courthouse — courthouse in Arkansas, United States
Arriving in Smackover, AR
Full guide →Founded 1922
Top landmarks
- • Smackover Historic Commercial District — historic district in Arkansas, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 246.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). 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.
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 Smackover, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 130.4 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Smackover, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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