New Caledonia to Rector is 300.4 miles and takes about 5h 52m via I 57 and US 167, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region of the state. The majority of the drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward transit. If you're looking for a direct connection between these two areas with minimal fuss, this route should fit the bill. It's designed for efficient travel, so plan for a fairly focused drive.
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
150.2 miles from New Caledonia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
122.8 mi
2h 7m
US 167
51.3 mi
1h 1m
Lee Street
35.7 mi
43m
US 412
24.5 mi
30m
Sheridan Bypass
17.9 mi
20m
Junction City Highway
15 mi
16m
US 49
11.5 mi
17m
Calion Highway
9.8 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 122.8 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Caledonia, AR and Rector, 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 right at fork onto US 67; US 167
1.6 mi·2 min·US 67; US 167
Exit 143BToward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167
28 mi·29 min·I 57; US 167
Toward Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167
94 mi·1 hr 38 min·I 57; US 64; US 167
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
0.5 mi·1 min·US 412
Toward US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
15
Turn right onto US 412
24 mi·28 min·US 412
16
Turn left onto US 49Y
0.4 mi·37 sec·West Court Street
17
Turn left onto US 49; AR 1
1.7 mi·2 min·US 49; AR 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 49; AR 1
6.6 mi·9 min·US 49; AR 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 49; AR 1
3.1 mi·4 min·US 49; AR 1
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Enter roundabout onto US 49; AR 1
85 ft·1 sec·East Franklin Street
21
Continue on US 49; AR 1
7.4 mi·11 min·East Franklin Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto AR 90
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Main Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto Front Street
51 ft·2 sec·Front Street
24
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under six hours, this route is easily completed in a single day, so you can leave whenever is most convenient. A good departure time would be mid-morning to allow for a relaxed start and still arrive with plenty of daylight. Given the longest stretch is over 120 miles, plan for one stop to refuel and stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from I 57 to US 167, as services might be more spaced out on the latter.
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 150.2 miles from New Caledonia, AR, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.8 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 66 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.2 miles or 3h 1m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rector, 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 300.4 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 57 for about 122.8 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 117.2 and 300.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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 67; US 167
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
Exit 143B
Toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Ja...
7
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|I 57; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167 toward Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Saint Louis
6
256.3 mi into trip|~4h 52m in|US 412
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412 toward US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
6
300.1 mi into trip|~5h 51m in|AR 90 / South Main Street
Turn left onto AR 90 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.76 one way
$93.53 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.55
$103.11
premium
$4.71
$55.72
$111.43
diesel
$6.18
$73.08
$146.16
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: 105.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.1
1
$31.54
$14.42
Efficient EV
75.1
0
$26.29
$12.02
EV Truck/SUV
120.2
1
$42.06
$19.23
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% 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
Morning
in New Caledonia on Monday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rector, AR
Morning
in Rector on Monday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
E 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
4 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
5h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 70% of your 300.4 miles on highways, primarily I 57. The longest continuous stretch on these faster roads is 122.8 miles on I 57. After that, expect to transition to surface roads like US 167 and Lee Street for the remainder of your trip. You'll notice the change from high-speed cruising to a more local road feel as you approach your destination.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.8 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 117.2 miles in near US 167.
Driving Effort7/10
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 300.4 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 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; at 133.5 miles (I 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
362 ft176 ft
Total Climb
285 ft
Total Descent
182 ft
Highest Point
362 ft
~278.9 mi in
Elevation Range
186 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 Rector, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock, Memphis, Saint Louis and Walnut Ridge.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 52m. Total distance: 300.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 122.8 miles on I 57. 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 Rector, 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 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; at 133.5 miles (I 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rector, AR before the return drive.
