Prairie Grove to New Caledonia is 318.6 miles and takes about 5h 58m via I 40, US 167, and I 49, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. With over 96% of the route on highways, expect a relatively straightforward drive. It's a good option if you're looking for a single-day trip that gets you to your destination efficiently without a lot of complex 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
159.3 miles from Prairie Grove, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
140.4 mi
2h 21m
US 167
113.3 mi
2h 14m
I 49
32.7 mi
32m
Hogeye Road
10.1 mi
17m
I 530
10 mi
10m
US 65
4.6 mi
6m
US 79
4.1 mi
6m
Caledonia Road
1.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 140.4 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Grove, AR and New Caledonia, AR.
1
Start on West Mock Drive
117 ft·7 sec·West Mock Drive
2
Turn right onto North Mock Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Mock Street
3
Continue on Hogeye Road
5.9 mi·10 min·Hogeye Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 265
0.1 mi·10 sec·South State Highway 265
5
Turn straight onto AR 156
4.2 mi·7 min·Hogeye Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto AR 170
457 ft·9 sec·Phillips Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·19 sec
8
Merge onto I 49
33 mi·32 min·I 49
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
10
Merge onto I 40; US 71
140 mi·2 hr 21 min·I 40; US 71
11
Take the exit onto US 65
4.6 mi·6 min·US 65
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
10.0 mi·10 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto US 167
56 mi·1 hr 5 min·US 167
Toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El DoradoUse the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto US 79; US 167
4.1 mi·6 min·US 79; US 167
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
42 mi·50 min·US 167
Toward US 167: El Dorado
16
Take the exit onto US 167
16 mi·18 min·US 167
Toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Junction City
17
Turn left onto Caledonia Road
1.8 mi·6 min·Caledonia Road
18
Arrive at destination
Caledonia Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 58m duration, starting your drive in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch without a major break is 140.4 miles on I 40, so be sure to top off your tank before entering that section. The fuel cost is estimated at $48, which is helpful for budgeting. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but keeping an eye on the time will help you avoid driving in the dark.
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 159.3 miles from Prairie Grove, AR, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.4 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 70 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.3 miles or 2h 48m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Caledonia, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Prairie Grove, 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 Prairie Grove, AR
This is one driving day of about 318.6 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Prairie Grove, 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 140.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.8 and 301.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
43.8 mi into trip|~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
6
189.5 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|I 530; US 65; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
199.4 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dora...
5
259.5 mi into trip|~4h 43m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward US 167: El Dorado
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 167: El Dorado
7
301.1 mi into trip|~5h 34m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Junction City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Jun...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.23 one way
$88.46 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$49.48
$98.97
premium
$4.29
$53.80
$107.60
diesel
$4.80
$60.16
$120.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.6
1
$33.45
$15.29
Efficient EV
79.7
0
$27.88
$12.74
EV Truck/SUV
127.4
1
$44.60
$20.39
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Prairie Grove, AR
Evening
in Prairie Grove on Saturday
Local time
8:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New Caledonia, AR
Evening
in New Caledonia on Saturday
Local time
8:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 mph5% 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
6 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 58m 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 almost entirely highway, with 96% of the 318.6 miles on major interstates and US routes. You'll experience a long stretch of 140.4 miles on I 40, which means significant time on high-speed, limited-access roads. Expect a steady pace until you transition to US 167 and I 49, where you might notice a slight increase in exit density as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 167. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.8 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 318.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 43.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.5 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 199.4 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,623 ft176 ft
Total Climb
703 ft
Total Descent
1,683 ft
Highest Point
1,623 ft
~22.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,448 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Prairie Grove, AR and New Caledonia, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock, Fordyce, El Dorado and Junction City.
Little Rock
43.8 mi in|~52m
Fordyce
199.4 mi in|~3h 30m|via US 167
El Dorado
199.4 mi in|~3h 30m|via US 167
Junction City
301.1 mi in|~5h 34m|via US 167
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 318.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at New Caledonia, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 43.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.5 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 199.4 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Caledonia, AR before the return drive.
