Hunan Restaurant
Near the end, short detour
Newport, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18705234600
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h
Distance
255.9 mi
412 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Caledonia, AR
Dominik Ruhl
Bono, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from New Caledonia to Bono covers 255.9 miles across the state of Arkansas. You should plan for a total drive time of 5 hours, making this a very manageable single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $35, it remains an affordable trek through the Southeast region. Because the journey is relatively straightforward, there is no need to split this into an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Junction City Highway, Barnett Drive, and US 167 North to reach your destination. It is a practical, direct route that keeps you within the same state while moving you across the regional landscape.
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
128 miles from New Caledonia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 110.1 mi | 1h 54m |
| US 167 | 51.3 mi | 1h 1m |
| Lee Street | 35.7 mi | 43m |
| Sheridan Bypass | 17.9 mi | 20m |
| Junction City Highway | 15 mi | 16m |
| AR 230 | 10.9 mi | 19m |
| Calion Highway | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| Caledonia Road | 1.8 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between New Caledonia, AR and Bono, AR.
Start on Caledonia Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 63; US 167
Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7
Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7
Take the exit onto US 167
Continue on US 167
Merge onto US 167
Turn left onto US 167
Continue on US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167
Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167
Take the exit
Turn right onto AR 230
Turn left onto AR 91; AR 230
Turn right onto AR 230
Turn right onto US 63B
Arrive at destination
Since this is a five-hour trip, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid midday congestion on local roads. You should build in at least one planned stop to stretch your legs and manage the turn-heavy nature of the drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $35 estimate assumes consistent driving conditions; unexpected detours could impact your costs. Because you are navigating local infrastructure, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersections along Junction City Highway and Barnett Drive. Flexibility is your greatest advantage here, so adjust your pace to account for the technical segments that characterize this specific route.
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.
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 56 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128 miles or 2h 37m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bono, AR than in the middle of the route.
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 255.9 miles and 5h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 128 miles from New Caledonia, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Newport, Arkansas
Near the end, short detour
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18705234600
Town House Restaurant
El Dorado, Arkansas
Near the end, short detour
Newport, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18705234600
Near the start, short detour
El Dorado, Arkansas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+18708634519
Near the end, right off the route
Newport, Arkansas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Newport, Arkansas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18668167584
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
El Dorado, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+18708751722
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 133.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway
Navigation decision point
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
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167 toward Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$38.65 one way
$77.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $42.42 | $84.85 |
| premium | $4.56 | $45.93 | $91.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.50 | $113.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.87 | $12.28 |
| Efficient EV | 64 | 0 | $22.39 | $10.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.4 | 1 | $35.83 | $16.38 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in New Caledonia on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Bono on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate surface roads for the entirety of the 255.9-mile journey. The path requires constant adjustments as you transition between local roads and the primary highway stretches. This technical nature makes the five-hour duration feel active rather than passive. You will find that the road's personality is defined by its winding local segments, which offer a very different experience than standard high-speed travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 167. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway.
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 255.9 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: 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 117.2 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Caledonia, AR and Bono, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock, Memphis and Saint Louis.
Little Rock
Memphis
Saint Louis
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 255.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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