Pine Bluff, AR to Melbourne, AR is 165 miles and takes about 3 hours 21 minutes via I-57 and US-64, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Arkansas, traveling from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly on major roadways, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. If you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated way to get from Pine Bluff to Melbourne, this is a solid choice.
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
82.6 miles from Pine Bluff, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m 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 Central Avenue
15.8 mi
23m
State Highway 69
13.3 mi
19m
Martha Mitchell Expressway
4.6 mi
7m
I 30
4.2 mi
5m
US 67
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 55 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pine Bluff, AR and Melbourne, 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 143BToward 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 LouisUse 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
0.5 mi·1 min·South Saint Louis Street
14
Turn left onto AR 69B
0.5 mi·56 sec·Harrison Street
15
Continue on AR 69B
0.2 mi·19 sec·East Boswell Street
16
Turn right onto AR 69B
16 mi·23 min·South Central Avenue
17
Continue on AR 69
13 mi·19 min·State Highway 69
18
Continue on AR 9
440 ft·10 sec·Main Street
19
Turn right onto Locus Street
99 ft·4 sec·Locus Street
20
Arrive at destination
Locus Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour drive time, leaving Pine Bluff in the morning allows ample time to reach Melbourne with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $25, you have a lot of flexibility. Focus on enjoying the drive without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from the interstate to US-64, as services might be less frequent on the latter part of the route.
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 82.6 miles from Pine Bluff, AR, or about 1h 30m 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 36 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.6 miles or 1h 30m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Melbourne, 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 165.2 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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.
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 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
$24.95 one way
$49.90 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.39
$54.78
premium
$4.56
$29.65
$59.30
diesel
$5.61
$36.47
$72.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.6
0
$17.35
$7.93
Efficient EV
41.3
0
$14.45
$6.61
EV Truck/SUV
66.1
0
$23.13
$10.57
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 20, 2026
Origin
Pine Bluff, AR
Morning
in Pine Bluff on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Melbourne, AR
Morning
in Melbourne on Tuesday
Local time
7:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
0 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
34 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 21m 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 89% of the 165 miles on major roads like I-57 and I-530. You'll encounter the longest stretch without needing to exit on I-57 for about 55 miles. Surface roads will appear after the highway portion concludes, offering a change of pace as you approach your destination. You’ll notice the density of exits on the interstate sections, typical for highway travel.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 11 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 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 165.2 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: 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 Melbourne, AR, road signs point toward Memphis, Saint Louis and Batesville.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 165.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). 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.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Melbourne, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
