New Caledonia, AR to Luxora, AR is 305.4 miles and takes about 5h 43m via I 40 and US 167, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. The route offers a mixed highway and surface road experience, making it a solid option for a single day of travel. With only one recommended stop, it's designed for efficiency, covering a significant distance without requiring 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
152.7 miles from New Caledonia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
117.2 mi
1h 58m
US 167
46.7 mi
55m
Blues Highway
45.3 mi
45m
Lee Street
35.7 mi
43m
Sheridan Bypass
17.9 mi
20m
Junction City Highway
15 mi
16m
Calion Highway
9.8 mi
12m
East Belt Freeway
9 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 117.2 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Caledonia, AR and Luxora, 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
36 mi·44 min·US 167
9
Continue on US 167
18 mi·20 min·Sheridan Bypass
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
10 mi·10 min·US 167
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 440 East: Memphis, St Louis, Airport
12
Merge onto I 440
9.0 mi·10 min·East Belt Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Memphis
15
Merge onto I 40
117 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 40
16
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
17
Continue on I 55; US 78
45 mi·45 min·Blues Highway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward AR 158: Victoria, Luxora
19
Turn right onto AR 158
4.4 mi·8 min·AR 158
20
Turn left onto AR 158
81 ft·2 sec·North Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
AR 158
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 43m estimated drive time, leaving New Caledonia in the morning should allow you to reach Luxora before dark. Plan for your single recommended stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point of your longest highway stretch on I 40. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 117.2-mile segment on I 40, as services can be spread out. The $45 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting, but it's always wise to have a little extra set aside.
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 152.7 miles from New Caledonia, AR, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.2 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 67 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.7 miles or 3h 4m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Luxora, 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 305.4 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 I 40 for about 117.2 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 1.8 and 136.7 — 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
117.2 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|US 167
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
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North:...
5
127.2 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 440 East: Memphis, St Louis, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 440 East: Memphis, St Louis, Airport
6
136.7 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.75 one way
$93.50 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$51.77
$103.55
premium
$4.65
$55.90
$111.80
diesel
$6.28
$75.46
$150.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.6
1
$32.07
$14.66
Efficient EV
76.4
0
$26.72
$12.22
EV Truck/SUV
122.2
1
$42.76
$19.55
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% 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 19, 2026
Origin
New Caledonia, AR
Night
in New Caledonia on Saturday
Local time
10:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Luxora, AR
Night
in Luxora on Saturday
Local time
10:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
SE 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
1 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 43m 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?
You'll spend about 58% of the 305.4 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 117.2 miles on I 40. Expect a transition from significant highway driving to surface roads, indicating a shift from faster interstate cruising to more local routes. This mix means you'll notice a change in the surrounding environment as you move from major thoroughfares to smaller highways.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 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.
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 305.4 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
339 ft186 ft
Total Climb
266 ft
Total Descent
207 ft
Highest Point
339 ft
~109.1 mi in
Elevation Range
153 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Caledonia, AR and Luxora, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock, St Louis, Airport, Fort Smith and Saint Louis.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 43m. Total distance: 305.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117.2 miles on I 40. 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 Luxora, 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 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Luxora, AR before the return drive.
