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Trip from Pine Bluff, AR to Ash Flat, AR

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 30m

Distance

171.7 mi

276 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 18m ★
6 AM
3h 30m
8 AM
3h 55m
10 AM
3h 39m
12 PM
3h 36m
3 PM
3h 40m
5 PM
3h 54m
8 PM
3h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States

Pine Bluff, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ash Flat, AR, AR

Ash Flat, AR

Atlantic Ambience

Trip Overview

Pine Bluff, AR to Ash Flat, AR is 171.7 miles and takes about 3h 30m via I 57 and I 530, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Arkansas, transitioning from the Southeast region towards the northern part of the state. It’s a straightforward, highway-focused trip that’s perfect for a single day of travel. Expect a practical journey with minimal detours, making it an efficient way to cover the distance.

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

85.8 miles from Pine Bluff, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 57 55 mi 56m
I 530 35 mi 35m
US 64 33.3 mi 45m
South Saint Louis Street 14.4 mi 22m
South Main Street 11.6 mi 17m
Ash Flat Drive 10.9 mi 16m
Martha Mitchell Expressway 4.6 mi 7m
I 30 4.2 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 57 — 55 mi, about 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pine Bluff, AR and Ash Flat, AR.

1

Start on South Main Street

46 ft · 4 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn right onto West 2nd Avenue

0.2 mi · 44 sec · West 2nd Avenue
3

Turn right onto South Walnut Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · South Walnut Street
4

Turn left onto US 65B

4.6 mi · 7 min · Martha Mitchell Expressway
5

Keep slight left at fork onto US 65B

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 65B
6

Merge onto I 530; US 65

35 mi · 35 min · I 530; US 65
7

Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167

4.2 mi · 5 min · I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
8

Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167

1.6 mi · 2 min · US 67; US 167
Exit 143B Toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167

28 mi · 29 min · I 57; US 167
Toward Saint Louis Use the slight left lane.
10

Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167

27 mi · 26 min · I 57; US 64; US 167
11

Take the exit onto US 64; US 167

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 64; US 167
Toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Batesville
12

Turn left onto US 64; US 167

33 mi · 44 min · US 64; US 167
13

Continue on US 167; AR 25

14 mi · 22 min · South Saint Louis Street
14

Continue on US 167

12 mi · 17 min · South Main Street
15

Continue on US 167

11 mi · 16 min · Ash Flat Drive
16

Turn right onto AR 354

28 ft · 0 sec · AR 354
17

Arrive at destination

AR 354

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short 3h 30m duration, you have plenty of flexibility for when to depart. Starting in the morning allows you to arrive with ample daylight, and the single stop recommended on this route shouldn't significantly impact your timeline. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, plan your fill-ups accordingly, though the longest stretch of 55 miles on I 57 means you won't be constantly searching for a gas station. Consider leaving Pine Bluff mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and settle into the drive.

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 85.8 miles from Pine Bluff, AR, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 38 miles or 42m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 85.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ash Flat, AR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Pine Bluff, 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 Pine Bluff, AR

This is one driving day of about 171.7 miles and 3h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Pine Bluff, 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 55 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Independence County, Arkansas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Batesville, AR

86 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Little Rock, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Searcy, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 85.8 miles from Pine Bluff, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 101.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 2nd Avenue

Turn right onto West 2nd Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Walnut Street

Turn right onto South Walnut Street

Navigation decision point

7
44.9 mi into trip | ~50m 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
46.5 mi into trip | ~53m 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
5
101.5 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in | US 64; US 167

Take the exit onto US 64; US 167 toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Batesville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Bate...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.93 one way

$51.86 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $28.47 $56.93
premium $4.56 $30.82 $61.64
diesel $5.61 $37.91 $75.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.5 0 $18.03 $8.24
Efficient EV 42.9 0 $15.02 $6.87
EV Truck/SUV 68.7 0 $24.04 $10.99

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Pine Bluff, AR

Night in Pine Bluff on Saturday

Local time

11:15 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ash Flat, AR

Night in Ash Flat on Saturday

Local time

11:15 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live 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

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 30m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the journey utilizing major interstates. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed on roads like I 57, including one segment that lasts for 55 miles without significant interruption. While primarily interstate, the transition onto US 64 will offer a slightly different driving rhythm. The overall feel is one of steady progress, with the majority of your time spent on well-maintained, high-speed roadways.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55 mi on I 57.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 530. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 2nd Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 171.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (West 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.9 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Pine Bluff, AR and Ash Flat, AR, road signs point toward Memphis, Saint Louis and Batesville.

Memphis

44.9 mi in | ~50m | via US 67; US 167

Saint Louis

46.5 mi in | ~53m | via I 57; US 167

Batesville

101.5 mi in | ~1h 49m | via US 64; US 167

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 171.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 55 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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: near the start (West 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.9 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Ash Flat, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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