Jonesboro to Waldron is 263.6 miles and takes about 5h 1m via I 57 and Albert Pike Road, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Given its manageable distance and primarily highway profile, this route is well-suited for a single-day drive. It offers a straightforward path with a significant portion on interstate before transitioning to more rural roads. Plan for a direct trip that gets you where you need to go efficiently.
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
131.8 miles from Jonesboro, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 45m
Albert Pike Road
34.9 mi
40m
US 270
31.7 mi
39m
I 30
27 mi
29m
US 70
25.5 mi
32m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
US 71
10 mi
11m
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 Waldron, 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
32 mi·39 min·US 270; AR 27
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 71
10 mi·11 min·US 71
19
Turn slight right onto US 71B
3.8 mi·5 min·South Main Street
20
Turn right onto Danville Road
128 ft·5 sec·Danville Road
21
Arrive at destination
Danville Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider departing Jonesboro in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can either push through or break it up with a brief rest. The $36 fuel estimate suggests you won't need to worry excessively about gas prices, but it’s always wise to top off before leaving Jonesboro. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the non-interstate sections of Albert Pike Road and US 270, where services might be less frequent than on I 57.
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 131.8 miles from Jonesboro, AR, or about 2h 22m 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 58 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.8 miles or 2h 22m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waldron, 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 263.6 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 12
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
$36.59 one way
$73.19 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$40.94
$81.88
premium
$4.29
$44.51
$89.02
diesel
$4.80
$49.77
$99.55
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: 92.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.1
0
$27.68
$12.65
Efficient EV
65.9
0
$23.07
$10.54
EV Truck/SUV
105.4
1
$36.90
$16.87
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Jul 13, 2026
Origin
Jonesboro, AR
Late night
in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
NNE 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Waldron, AR
Late night
in Waldron on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 0 to 5 mph22% chanceLive 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 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 1m 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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 181.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 82% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on I 57 covers 102.7 miles, so expect extended periods of consistent cruising. After leaving the interstate, you'll transition to Albert Pike Road and US 270, which will feel more like rural cruising. Pay attention as you exit I 57; the change in road type and speed limits will be noticeable.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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 12 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 263.6 miles you will encounter 12 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
945 ft226 ft
Total Climb
798 ft
Total Descent
462 ft
Highest Point
945 ft
~244.8 mi in
Elevation Range
719 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 Waldron, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 263.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). 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.
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: 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 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Waldron, AR before the return drive.
