Traveling from Mena to Paragould covers 286.2 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 54 minutes of driving time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you should plan for this to be a full day’s commitment. Budgeting roughly $44 for fuel is a smart move for this journey across Arkansas. While the trip is manageable in a single day, the winding nature of the roads makes it feel longer than a typical highway cruise. Both the origin and destination sit within the Southeast region, keeping the cultural and geographic feel consistent throughout your journey. Expect a practical, steady pace as you navigate local thoroughfares rather than major transit corridors.
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
142.4 miles from Mena, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
122.8 mi
2h 7m
US 270
52.7 mi
59m
US 70
27.4 mi
31m
US 412
24.5 mi
30m
Highway 88
23.3 mi
40m
East Grand Avenue
18.2 mi
22m
AR 88
6.1 mi
10m
I 30
4.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 122.8 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mena, AR and Paragould, AR.
1
Start on DeQueen Street
80 ft·8 sec·DeQueen Street
2
Turn left onto Church Avenue
375 ft·18 sec·Church Avenue
3
Turn right onto AR 88
0.3 mi·40 sec·Mena Street
4
Turn left onto US 59; US 71; AR 8
1.7 mi·1 min·Pickering
5
Turn right onto AR 88
6.1 mi·10 min·AR 88
6
Keep slight left at fork onto AR 88
23 mi·40 min·Highway 88
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 270
41 mi·47 min·US 270
8
Take the exit onto US 270
11 mi·12 min·US 270
9
Take the exit onto US 70
0.5 mi·1 min·US 70
10
Merge onto US 70
18 mi·22 min·East Grand Avenue
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70
27 mi·30 min·US 70
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
0.7 mi·49 sec·I 30; US 67
13
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
4.2 mi·5 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
14
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
15
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.
16
Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167
94 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 57; US 64; US 167
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
0.5 mi·1 min·US 412
Toward US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
18
Turn right onto US 412
24 mi·28 min·US 412
19
Turn left onto US 49Y
0.4 mi·37 sec·West Court Street
20
Turn left onto US 49; AR 1
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 49; AR 1
21
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
251 ft·10 sec·West Hunt Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto North 14th Street
51 ft·1 sec·North 14th Street
23
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Hunt Street
24
Turn right onto Hayes Place
237 ft·15 sec·Hayes Place
25
Turn left onto Winchester
0.2 mi·42 sec·Winchester
26
Arrive at destination
Winchester
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 286.2-mile route, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to ensure you arrive in Paragould with plenty of daylight. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and break up the technical driving segments, which will help keep you alert. Since you are relying on local roads, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge throughout the trip and top off before leaving Mena to avoid any mid-route stress. Because the journey takes nearly five hours of active steering, maintaining a steady, relaxed pace is more important here than it would be on a straight interstate. Use the flexibility of your one-stop schedule to pull over whenever you feel the need to refresh, as the local road layout allows for easier exits than a restricted-access highway.
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 142.4 miles from Mena, AR, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.8 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 63 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.4 miles or 3h 2m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paragould, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mena, 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 Mena, AR
This is one driving day of about 284.7 miles and 5h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Mena, 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 122.8 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 284.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Church Avenue
Turn left onto Church Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
134.7 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
136.2 mi into trip|~2h 55m 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
6
259.1 mi into trip|~5h 3m in|US 412
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412 toward US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
6
284.2 mi into trip|~5h 34m in|West Hunt Street
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.52 one way
$79.04 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$44.22
$88.44
premium
$4.29
$48.07
$96.15
diesel
$4.80
$53.76
$107.51
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: 99.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.4
1
$29.89
$13.67
Efficient EV
71.2
0
$24.91
$11.39
EV Truck/SUV
113.9
1
$39.86
$18.22
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Mena, AR
Late night
in Mena on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Paragould, AR
Late night
in Paragould on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph6% 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 36m 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 78.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical experience behind the wheel as you navigate away from standard highway travel. This route relies entirely on local roads like Church Avenue, Mena Street, and Pickering, resulting in a 0% highway share. You will find that the road demands your full attention, as the profile is characterized by frequent turns and varied local conditions. Without long, monotonous interstate stretches to zone out on, the drive requires a more active, engaged driving style. Prepare for a road environment that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed transit, making it a unique change of pace compared to typical cross-state travel.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.8 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 270. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Church 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 284.7 miles you will encounter 21 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 (Church Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 134.7 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136.2 miles (I 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,173 ft221 ft
Total Climb
137 ft
Total Descent
1,015 ft
Highest Point
1,173 ft
Elevation Range
952 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mena, AR and Paragould, AR, road signs point toward Memphis, Saint Louis and Walnut Ridge.
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 36m. Total distance: 284.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.8 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Church Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 134.7 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136.2 miles (I 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paragould, AR before the return drive.
