Paragould to Greenwood is 280.3 miles and takes about 5h 2m via I 40, US 412, and US 64, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting the Southeast region from start to finish. Expect a straightforward drive that's primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. If you're looking for a no-fuss route across the state, this one fits the bill, offering a direct path with minimal complexity.
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
140.1 miles from Paragould, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
125.6 mi
2h 5m
US 412
94.7 mi
1h 38m
US 64
33 mi
42m
West Kings Highway
24.5 mi
29m
Dora Road
0.8 mi
2m
West Court Street
0.4 mi
<1m
West Hunt Street
0.3 mi
<1m
US 49
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 125.6 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paragould, AR and Greenwood, AR.
1
Start on Winchester
0.2 mi·44 sec·Winchester
2
At end of road, turn right onto Hayes Place
237 ft·15 sec·Hayes Place
3
Turn left onto West Hunt Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Hunt Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
51 ft·2 sec·North 14th Street
5
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
251 ft·13 sec·West Hunt Street
6
Turn left onto US 49; AR 1
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 49; AR 1
7
Turn right onto US 49Y
0.4 mi·41 sec·West Court Street
8
Turn right onto US 412B
25 mi·29 min·West Kings Highway
9
Take the exit onto US 412
95 mi·1 hr 38 min·US 412
10
Take the exit onto US 64
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 64
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
33 mi·41 min·US 64
Toward US 64 West: Conway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
13
Merge onto I 40; US 65
126 mi·2 hr 5 min·I 40; US 65
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Dora, Fort SmithUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto Dora Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Dora Road
16
Arrive at destination
Dora Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, starting in the morning is your best bet for completing this drive in one day. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break up the drive. The fuel cost is estimated at $42, so keep an eye on your gauge, especially before heading into any less populated stretches. Since the majority of this route is highway, be aware of the frequent exits and potential for increased traffic as you approach towns, even if they are just passing through. Ensure you have your chosen navigation method ready before you depart.
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 140.1 miles from Paragould, AR, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.6 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 62 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.1 miles or 2h 36m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenwood, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Paragould, 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 Paragould, AR
This is one driving day of about 280.3 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Paragould, 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 125.6 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 0.2 and 279.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Hayes Place
At end of road, turn right onto Hayes Place
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|West Hunt Street
Turn left onto West Hunt Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|North 14th Street
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
Navigation decision point
5
120.3 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|US 64
Take the exit onto US 64 toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe,...
7
279.3 mi into trip|~5h in
Take the exit toward Dora, Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Dora, Fort Smith
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.08 one way
$86.16 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$47.65
$95.30
premium
$4.65
$51.28
$102.56
diesel
$5.35
$59.04
$118.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.1
1
$29.43
$13.45
Efficient EV
70.1
0
$24.53
$11.21
EV Truck/SUV
112.1
1
$39.24
$17.94
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Paragould, AR
Afternoon
in Paragould on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 11:51AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 10:36AM CDT until June 8 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Greenwood, AR
Afternoon
in Greenwood on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 5 to 10 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 11:51AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 10:36AM CDT until June 8 at 7:00AM 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
8 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 2m 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?
This drive is 90% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for most of the 280.3 miles. The longest continuous stretch on these major roads is 125.6 miles, all on I 40. You'll transition to surface roads for the remaining 10% of the route, which will likely involve more frequent exits and a change in speed. Expect to encounter dense exits along the highway portions.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 412. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Hayes Place.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 2m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Hayes Place): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (West Hunt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North 14th Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
663 ft200 ft
Total Climb
526 ft
Total Descent
322 ft
Highest Point
663 ft
~240.3 mi in
Elevation Range
463 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Paragould, AR to Greenwood, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Conway along the way.
Conway
120.3 mi in|~2h 11m|via US 64
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The longest stretch is about 125.6 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Hayes Place): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (West Hunt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North 14th Street): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Greenwood, AR before the return drive.
