Traveling from New Caledonia to Benton covers 120.2 miles of Arkansas landscape, typically taking about 2 hours and 9 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Southeast region of the state, your path primarily utilizes Junction City Highway, Barnett Drive, and US 167 North. This route serves as a practical connection between these two points, offering a straightforward travel experience for those looking to move efficiently between Southeast Arkansas locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.9 miles from New Caledonia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lee Street
35.7 mi
43m
US 167
29.9 mi
34m
AR 35
19.4 mi
31m
Junction City Highway
15 mi
16m
Calion Highway
9.8 mi
12m
Sheridan Bypass
6.4 mi
8m
Caledonia Road
1.8 mi
6m
Edison Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Lee Street
— 35.7 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Caledonia, AR and Benton, AR.
1
Start on Caledonia Road
1.8 mi·6 min·Caledonia Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 63; US 167
9.0 mi·10 min·Junction City Highway
3
Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7
0.3 mi·18 sec·Barnett Drive
4
Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7
6.1 mi·6 min·Junction City Highway
5
Take the exit onto US 167
0.4 mi·40 sec·US 167
Toward US 167 North, US 167B South: Fordyce, Little Rock
6
Continue on US 167
9.8 mi·12 min·Calion Highway
7
Merge onto US 167
36 mi·43 min·Lee Street
8
Turn left onto US 167
29 mi·33 min·US 167
9
Turn straight onto US 167
6.4 mi·8 min·Sheridan Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto AR 35
19 mi·31 min·AR 35
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto AR 35
1.1 mi·1 min·Edison Avenue
12
At end of road, turn right onto AR 35
0.3 mi·27 sec·South East Street
13
Turn left onto East Ashley Street
497 ft·9 sec·East Ashley Street
14
Continue on South Main Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for a morning start is always a smart way to avoid potential local traffic. You don't need to worry about extensive rest stops, as the route is short enough to drive in one go, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise given the $16 estimated cost. Because the route is composed entirely of local roads, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns that characterize this turn-heavy path. Take advantage of the fact that there are 0 mandatory stops, allowing you to tailor your pace exactly to your own schedule.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.9 miles from New Caledonia, AR, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.7 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 26 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.9 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Caledonia, 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 New Caledonia, AR
This is one driving day of about 119.9 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from New Caledonia, 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 Lee Street for about 35.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 119.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip|~6m in|US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway
Navigation decision point
5
17.1 mi into trip|~24m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 North, US 167B South: Fordyce, Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 167 North, US 167B South: Fordyce, Li...
6
98.9 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|AR 35
Turn left onto AR 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|AR 35 / South East Street
At end of road, turn right onto AR 35 / South East Street
Navigation decision point
4
119.6 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|East Ashley Street
Turn left onto East Ashley Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.11 one way
$36.22 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.88
$39.76
premium
$4.56
$21.52
$43.04
diesel
$5.61
$26.47
$52.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36
0
$12.59
$5.76
Efficient EV
30
0
$10.49
$4.80
EV Truck/SUV
48
0
$16.79
$7.67
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
New Caledonia, AR
Late night
in New Caledonia on Tuesday
Local time
3:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Benton, AR
Late night
in Benton on Tuesday
Local time
3:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
3 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 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 120-mile stretch. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be spending time on high-speed expressways, which means the pace remains steady and grounded in local road conditions. Because the longest stretch on Junction City Highway is 0 miles, you will find that the road requires your consistent attention as you navigate through various turns. The character of this drive is defined by its local road connectivity, ensuring you stay engaged with the nuances of the Arkansas countryside throughout the entire 2-hour duration.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.7 mi on Lee Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from New Caledonia, AR to Benton, AR is easy. At 2h 37m with 41% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.9 miles (AR 35): Lane positioning matters here.
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 New Caledonia, AR to Benton, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
The longest stretch is about 35.7 miles on Lee Street. 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 1.8 miles (US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 98.9 miles (AR 35): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Benton, AR before heading back.
