New Caledonia, AR to Booneville, AR is 233.6 miles and takes about 4h 52m via AR 7 and US 270, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region for its entirety. Expect a mix of highway speeds and surface road cruising, making it a manageable single-day excursion. It's a straightforward drive that should get you to your destination without much fuss, ideal if you're looking for a simple point-to-point trip.
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
116.8 miles from New Caledonia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
AR 7
45.1 mi
51m
US 270
38.8 mi
45m
Lee Street
35.7 mi
43m
US 167
29.9 mi
34m
East Broadway
23.9 mi
36m
Junction City Highway
15 mi
16m
West Pennington Street
11.1 mi
16m
Calion Highway
9.8 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
AR 7
— 45.1 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Caledonia, AR and Booneville, 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
5.2 mi·6 min·Sheridan Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto US 270
25 mi·28 min·US 270
Use the left lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 270
1.4 mi·1 min·US 270
12
Take the exit onto US 270
13 mi·15 min·US 270
Toward US 270 West: Hot Springs
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
14
Merge onto US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway
15
Continue on Hot Springs Bypass
5.9 mi·6 min·Hot Springs Bypass
16
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
185 ft·2 sec·AR 7
17
Continue on AR 7
45 mi·50 min·AR 7
18
At end of road, turn right onto AR 7
0.2 mi·20 sec·AR 7
19
At end of road, turn left onto AR 7; AR 10
0.3 mi·28 sec·South Scenic 7 Drive
20
Turn left onto AR 10
11 mi·16 min·West Pennington Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto AR 10
8.7 mi·12 min·Main Street
22
Continue on AR 10
24 mi·36 min·East Broadway
23
Arrive at destination
AR 10
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 52m estimated drive time, starting in the morning is highly recommended to comfortably complete this 233.6-mile trip within daylight hours. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; consider planning your break around the midpoint or when you anticipate needing fuel. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 45.1 miles on AR 7, so be mindful of your fuel gauge as you approach that section. Your estimated fuel cost is around $34, so factor that into your budget.
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 116.8 miles from New Caledonia, AR, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.1 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 51 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.8 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Booneville, 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 233.6 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 AR 7 for about 45.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 144.5 — 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
97.6 mi into trip|~2h in|US 270
Turn left onto US 270
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
122.2 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|US 270
Take the exit onto US 270
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
144.5 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|AR 7
Enter roundabout onto AR 7
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.76 one way
$71.51 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$39.60
$79.20
premium
$4.65
$42.76
$85.51
diesel
$6.28
$57.72
$115.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.1
0
$24.53
$11.21
Efficient EV
58.4
0
$20.44
$9.34
EV Truck/SUV
93.4
1
$32.70
$14.95
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
New Caledonia, AR
Morning
in New Caledonia on Thursday
Local time
6:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
E 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Booneville, AR
Morning
in Booneville on Thursday
Local time
6:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% 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
4h 52m 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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 136.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About half of this 233.6-mile drive is on highways, with the remaining portion on surface roads. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on AR 7, covering 45.1 miles. This suggests you'll transition from higher-speed travel to more local road conditions, likely noticing a change in speed limits and traffic patterns as you move between road types. Keep an eye out for the shift from highway to surface roads as you progress.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.1 mi on AR 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 52m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 97.6 miles (US 270): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
668 ft113 ft
Total Climb
799 ft
Total Descent
483 ft
Highest Point
668 ft
~166.9 mi in
Elevation Range
555 ft
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 Booneville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Little Rock along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.1 miles on AR 7. 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.
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 97.6 miles (US 270): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Booneville, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
