The Purple Cow Restaurant (North Little Rock)
Around the midpoint, short detour
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+15019047269
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 10m
Distance
266.7 mi
429 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Caledonia, AR
Dominik Ruhl
Brookland, AR
Jo Green
Traveling from New Caledonia to Brookland covers 266.7 miles across the southeastern corner of Arkansas. You should budget approximately 5 hours and 11 minutes of driving time, making this a manageable journey to complete in a single day. With an estimated fuel cost of $36, it is a relatively affordable trip, though you should plan for at least one stop to break up the drive. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you will experience a more intimate view of the regional landscape. Whether you are heading north for business or a visit, this direct path is straightforward enough to tackle without an overnight stay.
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
133.4 miles from New Caledonia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 57 | 102.7 mi | 1h 46m |
| 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 |
| US 78 | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| Calion Highway | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| Southwest Drive | 7.4 mi | 9m |
Step-by-step road directions between New Caledonia, AR and Brookland, 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
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 78; AR 226
Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78
Turn right onto AR 18
Turn left onto US 49; AR 1
Continue on US 49; AR 1
Turn right onto US 49B
Turn left onto West Hinkley Avenue
Arrive at destination
Since this is a turn-heavy route, try to depart early in the morning to handle the local roads in daylight when visibility is at its best. Although the drive is only 5 hours and 11 minutes, the lack of highway stretches means you should plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Keep your $36 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before you leave New Caledonia to ensure you aren't searching for a station on unfamiliar local roads. Given the nature of the route, stay alert for changing speed limits as you pass through different communities. Embracing the flexibility of a one-day trip allows you to set your own pace, so don't feel rushed to complete the 266.7-mile journey in a single sitting.
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 59 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.4 miles or 2h 44m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookland, 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 266.7 miles and 5h 10m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 133.4 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 102.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · around the midpoint
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+15019047269
Uncle Henry’s BBQ
Sheridan, Arkansas
Yellowjacket Drive-In
Sheridan, Arkansas
Best coffee break · around the midpoint
Hensley, Arkansas
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 6 AM–8 PM
+15018884444
Dark Side Coffee Lounge
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Lady Birds Cafe
Sheridan, Arkansas
Around the midpoint, short detour
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+15019047269
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Sheridan, Arkansas
Hours: 10 AM–3 PM
+18709423937
Around the midpoint, short detour
Sheridan, Arkansas
Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm
+18709422486
Around the midpoint, short detour
Sheridan, Arkansas
Hours: 10:30 AM–8 PM
+18709172121
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Sheridan, Arkansas
Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm
+18709410559
Around the midpoint, short detour
Sheridan, Arkansas
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+18708834848
Around the midpoint, short detour
Sheridan, Arkansas
Hours: 6 AM–2 PM
+18709421345
Around the midpoint, short detour
Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 4–9 PM
+15019024911
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Hensley, Arkansas
Hours: 6 AM–8 PM
+15018884444
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Sheridan, Arkansas
Hours: 10:30 AM–9 PM
+18709424163
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hensley, Arkansas
Hours: 6 am–2 pm
+15018608689
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–2 pm
+15013762900
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 11 AM–9 PM
+15019042133
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 6 AM–2 PM
+15017471456
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 8 AM–8 PM
+15014140423
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~12 min detour
Fordyce, Arkansas
Hours: 3 AM–10 PM
+18703524000
Near the start, ~12 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 258.3 — 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
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
Turn left onto US 49; AR 1 / Red Wolf Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$40.99 one way
$81.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $45.34 | $90.68 |
| premium | $4.65 | $48.79 | $97.59 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $56.18 | $112.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80 | 0 | $28.00 | $12.80 |
| Efficient EV | 66.7 | 0 | $23.34 | $10.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.7 | 1 | $37.34 | $17.07 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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
Afternoon in New Caledonia on Wednesday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Afternoon in Brookland on Wednesday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
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
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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 experience as you navigate this route, which avoids high-speed interstates entirely. Your path primarily utilizes Junction City Highway, Barnett Drive, and US 167 North, resulting in a 0% highway share. This is a local-style drive that requires your full attention on winding roads rather than a monotonous cruise-control experience. Because you are traveling on secondary roads, the pace is more measured and demands constant engagement behind the wheel. The transition between these smaller routes keeps the drive dynamic, requiring you to navigate various turns as you make your way toward Brookland.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 167. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 266.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 117.2 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
236 ft
Total Descent
158 ft
Highest Point
308 ft
~152.4 mi in
Elevation Range
147 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Caledonia, AR and Brookland, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock, Memphis and Saint Louis.
Little Rock
Memphis
Saint Louis
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Searcy, AR
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:30; Sa 09:00-13:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Later in the drive, right off the route
Cuisine: steak_house
Restaurant
Later in the drive, right off the route
Cuisine: barbecue
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: tex-mex
Restaurant
Later in the drive, short detour
Searcy, AR
Cuisine: sushi
Visit websiteRestaurant
Later in the drive, short detour
Searcy, AR
Cuisine: barbecue
Hours: Th-Sa 10:30-21:00, Su 10:30-15:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Later in the drive, short detour
Searcy, AR
Cuisine: breakfast;pancake
Hours: Mo-Th,Su 06:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 06:00-24:00
Visit websitePark
Around the midpoint, short detour
Attraction
Later in the drive, short detour
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
Memorial
Later in the drive, short detour
Memorial
Later in the drive, short detour
Memorial
Later in the drive, short detour
Memorial
Later in the drive, short detour
Artwork
Later in the drive, short detour
Memorial
Later in the drive, short detour
Hotel
Later in the drive, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Absolutely doable as a same-day drive, this 266.7-mile route takes about 5 hours, so you can easily fit it into a weekend without feeling rushed.
Family Friendly
With a 7/10 complexity rating and 5 hours of driving, you'll want to plan for at least one break and some entertainment for the kids on this 266.7-mile journey.
Solo Traveler
This 266.7-mile drive is a solid day trip for a solo traveler, with 5 hours of driving time leaving plenty of room for a break. While mostly highway, the 7/10 complexity suggests you'll still need to pay attention.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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