Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 58m
Distance
275.2 mi
443 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paragould, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Van Buren, AR
Tomás Asurmendi
Paragould, AR to Van Buren, AR is 275.2 miles and takes about 4h 58m via I 40 and US 64, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. The majority of the drive is on well-maintained highways, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. You'll find it's a practical choice if you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points in the state. Consider this route for its directness and ease of navigation.
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
137.6 miles from Paragould, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 118.6 mi | 1h 58m |
| US 412 | 94.7 mi | 1h 38m |
| US 64 | 33 mi | 42m |
| West Kings Highway | 24.5 mi | 29m |
| Alma Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| US 71 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West Court Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Paragould, AR and Van Buren, AR.
Start on Winchester
At end of road, turn right onto Hayes Place
Turn left onto West Hunt Street
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
Turn left onto US 49; AR 1
Turn right onto US 49Y
Turn right onto US 412B
Take the exit onto US 412
Take the exit onto US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
Take the exit
Merge onto I 40; US 65
Take the exit onto US 71
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 64; US 71B
Continue on US 64; US 71B
Continue on East Main Street
Arrive at destination
For this 4h 58m drive, leaving Paragould in the morning is recommended to allow ample time for the 275.2-mile trip. While it's a single-day drive, planning for one stop around the halfway point could make the journey more comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 118.6-mile stretch on I 40, as services might be spaced out. The $40 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra. Since this is primarily highway travel, you can afford to be flexible with your timing and any spontaneous short breaks.
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.
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 61 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.6 miles or 2h 33m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Van Buren, AR than in the middle of the route.
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 275.2 miles and 4h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 137.6 miles from Paragould, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 120.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto Hayes Place
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn left onto West Hunt Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
Navigation decision point
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
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 toward US 64 West: Conway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$40.32 one way
$80.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $44.76 | $89.52 |
| premium | $4.49 | $48.60 | $97.21 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $60.66 | $121.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.6 | 1 | $28.90 | $13.21 |
| Efficient EV | 68.8 | 0 | $24.08 | $11.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.1 | 1 | $38.53 | $17.61 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Paragould on Friday
Local time
4:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 28 at 3:12PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Afternoon in Van Buren on Friday
Local time
4:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Sunny
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 28 at 3:12PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
75°F
Jacksonville, AR
138 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 90% of the 275.2 miles on major roads like I 40. You'll encounter a stretch of 118.6 miles on I 40 without needing to exit, which means you can maintain a consistent speed for a significant portion of the trip. The remaining 10% of the drive, approximately 27.5 miles, will be on US 64 and US 412, likely involving more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits as you approach your destination. Expect a cruising feel on the interstate with occasional transitions to surface roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 58m drive. You will face about 12 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
440 ft
Total Descent
321 ft
Highest Point
507 ft
~235.9 mi in
Elevation Range
283 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Paragould, AR to Van Buren, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Conway along the way.
Conway
Founded 1883
Top landmarks
Founded 1831
Van Buren is a city in the River Valley region of Arkansas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 58m. Total distance: 275.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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