New Caledonia, AR to Pottsville, AR is 198.6 miles and takes about 3h 52m via US 65, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region for its entirety. Expect a mixed driving experience, with a significant portion on highways but also opportunities for more local road travel. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll find plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. This route offers a straightforward journey between two points within the state.
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
99.3 miles from New Caledonia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 65
65.2 mi
1h 6m
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
Calion Highway
9.8 mi
12m
Caledonia Road
1.8 mi
6m
US 64
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 65.2 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Caledonia, AR and Pottsville, 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
15 mi·16 min·US 167
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 65
Exit 143AToward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward AR 247: Pottsville
14
Turn left onto AR 363
0.2 mi·24 sec·AR 363
15
Turn right onto US 64
0.8 mi·1 min·US 64
16
Turn left onto AR 331
0.2 mi·29 sec·AR 331
17
Continue on River Road
0.2 mi·25 sec·River Road
18
Arrive at destination
River Road
Trip Plan
Given the short 3h 52m estimated drive time, this is comfortably a one-day trip. You could depart in the morning and arrive well before sunset. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility in where and when you choose to rest or refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 65.2-mile stretch on US 65, to avoid any last-minute scrambles. The estimated fuel cost of $30 suggests this is an economical journey. Enjoy the straightforward nature of this drive and take advantage of the flexibility it offers.
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 99.3 miles from New Caledonia, AR, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.2 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 44 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.3 miles or 2h 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 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pottsville, 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 198.6 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 US 65 for about 65.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 132.1 — 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:...
7
131.9 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65 toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143A
Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Co...
6
132.1 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.52 one way
$61.05 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$33.76
$67.52
premium
$4.65
$36.33
$72.67
diesel
$5.35
$41.83
$83.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.6
0
$20.85
$9.53
Efficient EV
49.7
0
$17.38
$7.94
EV Truck/SUV
79.4
0
$27.80
$12.71
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
New Caledonia, AR
Afternoon
in New Caledonia on Wednesday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 7:33PM CDT until June 8 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Pottsville, AR
Afternoon
in Pottsville on Wednesday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
ENE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 7:33PM CDT until June 8 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
72°F
Orion, AR
99 mi in
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
3h 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 59% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good amount of time on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 65.2 miles on US 65, providing a solid period of consistent travel. The 'Mixed drive' profile suggests a blend of highway cruising and potentially some sections that feel more like local roads, offering variety. As you progress, the landscape will likely shift, moving from the initial setting of New Caledonia to the destination near Pottsville. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that isn't just one monotonous stretch.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.2 mi on US 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 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 Effort5/10
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 198.6 miles you will encounter 11 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
379 ft101 ft
Total Climb
507 ft
Total Descent
315 ft
Highest Point
379 ft
~198.6 mi in
Elevation Range
278 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 Pottsville, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock and Fort Smith.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 198.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.2 miles on US 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas 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 117.2 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Pottsville, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
