New Caledonia, AR to Russellville, AR is 204 miles and takes about 3h 57m via US 65, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive that's ideal for a single day, with a mix of highway cruising and surface roads. Plan for about $30 in fuel costs, making it an economical choice for a quick getaway or essential travel.
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
102 miles from New Caledonia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 65
69.1 mi
1h 10m
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
East Main Street
2.3 mi
3m
Caledonia Road
1.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 69.1 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Caledonia, AR and Russellville, 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
69 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 84Toward AR 331, US 64
14
Turn left onto AR 331
0.4 mi·46 sec·AR 331
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 64
2.3 mi·3 min·East Main Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto AR 7
106 ft·2 sec·North Arkansas Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
AR 7
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 57m duration, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads, and utilize the $30 fuel budget as a planning tool. The longest stretch of highway driving is 69.1 miles, so plan your refueling stops accordingly.
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 102 miles from New Caledonia, AR, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.1 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 45 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102 miles or 2h 7m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Russellville, 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 204 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 69.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 117.2 and 201.7 — 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 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.
6
201 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward AR 331, US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 84
Toward AR 331, US 64
7
201.7 mi into trip|~3h 54m in|US 64 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 64 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.35 one way
$62.71 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$34.68
$69.36
premium
$4.65
$37.32
$74.64
diesel
$5.35
$42.97
$85.94
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: 71.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.2
0
$21.42
$9.79
Efficient EV
51
0
$17.85
$8.16
EV Truck/SUV
81.6
1
$28.56
$13.06
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 2, 2026
Origin
New Caledonia, AR
Afternoon
in New Caledonia on Wednesday
Local time
2:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 6:49PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 1 at 6:47PM CDT until June 1 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Russellville, AR
Afternoon
in Russellville on Wednesday
Local time
2:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance T-storms
0 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 6:49PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 1 at 6:47PM CDT until June 1 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
72°F
Orion, AR
102 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
1 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 57m 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 204-mile trip has 59% highway driving, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving is 69.1 miles on US 65. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Expect periods of both efficient highway travel and more local road conditions.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.1 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 117.2 miles in near US 167.
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 204 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 117.2 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.1 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
384 ft101 ft
Total Climb
522 ft
Total Descent
361 ft
Highest Point
384 ft
~160.3 mi in
Elevation Range
284 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 Russellville, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock and Fort Smith.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 204 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m 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 69.1 miles on US 65. 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 117.2 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.1 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Russellville, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
