Traveling from Kentucky to McCrory, Arkansas, covers 111.6 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes. Since the entire journey stays within the Southeast region of Arkansas, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $15 on fuel for the trek. You will be navigating a mix of roads including I-30, I-40 East, and Saint Louis. Because there are no scheduled stops in this plan, it is a straightforward drive that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.8 miles from Kentucky, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
55 mi
56m
I 30
25.3 mi
28m
US 64
22.5 mi
34m
Old Hot Springs Highway
5.5 mi
9m
US 67
1.6 mi
2m
Edmonds Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
AR 35
0.4 mi
<1m
I-30 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 55 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kentucky, AR and McCrory, AR.
1
Start on AR 5
5.5 mi·9 min·Old Hot Springs Highway
2
Continue on AR 35
0.4 mi·48 sec·AR 35
3
Turn sharp left
0.1 mi·26 sec
4
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.3 mi·29 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
516 ft·12 sec
6
Merge onto I 30; US 67; US 70
20 mi·22 min·I 30; US 67; US 70
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
0.7 mi·49 sec·I 30; US 67
8
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
4.2 mi·5 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167
1.6 mi·2 min·US 67; US 167
Exit 143BToward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167
28 mi·29 min·I 57; US 167
Toward Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
11
Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167
27 mi·26 min·I 57; US 64; US 167
12
Take the exit onto US 64; US 167
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 64; US 167
Toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Batesville
13
Continue on US 64
0.3 mi·29 sec·US 64
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
22 mi·32 min·US 64
15
Turn right onto AR 145
0.9 mi·1 min·Edmonds Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
AR 145
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can be tiring, so ensure you are well-rested before heading out. Budget $15 for fuel before you leave to avoid unnecessary stops along the way. Given the lack of designated stops, plan your own breaks strategically to keep your energy up during the two-hour drive. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, keep a close eye on your navigation to ensure you remain on track through the various turns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.8 miles from Kentucky, AR, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.8 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McCrory, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kentucky, 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 Kentucky, AR
This is one driving day of about 111.6 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Kentucky, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 55 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 88.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.9 mi into trip|~10m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
26.7 mi into trip|~34m in|I 30; US 67
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
31.7 mi into trip|~40m in|US 67; US 167
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167 toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143B
Toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Ja...
7
33.3 mi into trip|~42m in|I 57; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167 toward Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Saint Louis
5
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|US 64; US 167
Take the exit onto US 64; US 167 toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Batesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Bate...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.85 one way
$33.71 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.50
$37.00
premium
$4.56
$20.03
$40.06
diesel
$5.61
$24.64
$49.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.5
0
$11.72
$5.36
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.76
$4.46
EV Truck/SUV
44.6
0
$15.62
$7.14
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Kentucky, AR
Late night
in Kentucky on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
McCrory, AR
Late night
in McCrory on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
1 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
2h 14m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will not find any long stretches of interstate driving here, as the longest uninterrupted segment on I-30 is 0 miles. The experience behind the wheel is defined by constant maneuvering on local roads instead of high-speed highway travel. Stay alert, as the technical nature of these turns requires more active steering than a typical freeway commute.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 30. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.
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 111.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 5.9 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 26.7 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 31.7 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kentucky, AR and McCrory, AR, road signs point toward Memphis, Saint Louis and Batesville.
Kentucky is a Southern state of the United States; its state capital is Frankfort. Attractions include horse racing and beautiful lakes. It is home to famous food (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hot Brown, and Burgoo), drink (bourbon whiskey) and music (bluegrass) traditions.
Top landmarks
•United States Bullion Depository — building used for gold storage
•Creation Museum — museum
•Black Mountain — mountain in Kentucky, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 111.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 5.9 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 26.7 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 31.7 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at McCrory, AR before heading back.
