Monette, AR to New Caledonia, AR is 282.2 miles and takes about 5h 31m via US 167 and I 57, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region for its entirety. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day trip, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground within the state.
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
141.1 miles from Monette, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 167
118.2 mi
2h 21m
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 45m
Highway 18
23.2 mi
32m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
I 530
10 mi
10m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
US 79
4.1 mi
6m
Caledonia Road
1.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 167
— 118.2 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monette, AR and New Caledonia, AR.
1
Start on this road
33 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn right
67 ft·7 sec
3
Turn right onto West Drew Avenue
1.1 mi·1 min·West Drew Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 78; AR 18
23 mi·32 min·Highway 18
5
Turn left onto AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
6
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
8
Merge onto I 57
103 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 57
9
Merge onto I 40; US 167
0.9 mi·1 min·I 40; US 167
10
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
11
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.
12
Take the exit onto US 167
56 mi·1 hr 5 min·US 167
Toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El DoradoUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto US 79; US 167
4.1 mi·6 min·US 79; US 167
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
42 mi·50 min·US 167
Toward US 167: El Dorado
15
Take the exit onto US 167
16 mi·18 min·US 167
Toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Junction City
16
Turn left onto Caledonia Road
1.8 mi·6 min·Caledonia Road
17
Arrive at destination
Caledonia Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 31m estimated drive time, leaving Monette in the morning will allow you to reach New Caledonia well before sunset. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to stop for breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 118.2-mile segment on US 167, as services might be more spaced out in rural areas. The estimated fuel cost of $45 should help you budget accordingly for your gas needs.
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 141.1 miles from Monette, AR, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.2 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 62 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.1 miles or 2h 38m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Caledonia, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Monette, 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 Monette, AR
This is one driving day of about 282.2 miles and 5h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Monette, 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 167 for about 118.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 44.2 and 264.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
44.2 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
148.2 mi into trip|~2h 46m 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
153.1 mi into trip|~2h 52m 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
163 mi into trip|~3h 3m 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...
7
264.8 mi into trip|~5h 6m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Junction City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Jun...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.93 one way
$87.86 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$48.43
$96.86
premium
$4.71
$52.34
$104.68
diesel
$6.18
$68.65
$137.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.7
1
$29.63
$13.55
Efficient EV
70.6
0
$24.69
$11.29
EV Truck/SUV
112.9
1
$39.51
$18.06
Gas CO2
99 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Monette, AR
Morning
in Monette on Saturday
Local time
6:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 20 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 1:18PM CDT until October 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 11:41AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
New Caledonia, AR
Morning
in New Caledonia on Saturday
Local time
6:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
N 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 1:18PM CDT until October 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 11:41AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
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
9 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 31m 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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 96% of the trip on major roads like US 167 and I 57. You'll experience an 118.2-mile stretch on US 167 before transitioning to other highway systems. Expect mostly rural cruising for the majority of your travel, with fewer surface roads and town intersections to navigate.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.2 mi on US 167.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 167 and I 57. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 44.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 282.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 44.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 148.2 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.1 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
275 ft135 ft
Total Climb
244 ft
Total Descent
294 ft
Highest Point
275 ft
~181.4 mi in
Elevation Range
139 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Monette, AR and New Caledonia, AR, road signs point toward Fordyce, El Dorado and Junction City.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 31m. Total distance: 282.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.2 miles on US 167. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 New Caledonia, 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. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 148.2 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.1 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 New Caledonia, AR before the return drive.
