Salem, AR to Jonesboro, AR is 90.8 miles and takes about 2 hours via US 62 and US 63, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward journey from one Arkansas town to another. You'll find it's a practical, highway-focused trip, making it ideal for a quick day trip or an easy segment of a larger journey. With a recommended one-day duration and a manageable distance, this route is all about efficient travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.4 miles from Salem, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 62
45.1 mi
1h 2m
Morning Side Lane
17.1 mi
19m
US 63
12 mi
14m
T & C Boulevard
10.1 mi
11m
US 63 BUS
3 mi
5m
West Washington Avenue
2.7 mi
5m
South Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 62
— 45.1 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, AR and Jonesboro, AR.
1
Start on AR 9
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 62; US 412
17 mi·19 min·Morning Side Lane
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 62; US 412
10 mi·11 min·T & C Boulevard
4
Turn right onto US 63 BUS
3.0 mi·5 min·US 63 BUS
5
Continue on US 62; US 63; US 412
45 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 62; US 63; US 412
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 63; AR 228
12 mi·14 min·US 63; AR 228
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
101 ft·7 sec
9
Turn left onto West Washington Avenue
2.7 mi·5 min·West Washington Avenue
10
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Main Street
11
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
207 ft·14 sec·Cate Avenue
12
Turn left
75 ft·5 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour duration, you have plenty of flexibility with this route. Leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Jonesboro, AR, with daylight to spare, and you can easily complete this 90.8-mile trip in one day. The longest stretch without significant breaks is over 45 miles on US 62, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping in mind the estimated $14 fuel cost. You might consider a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs before continuing on US 63.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.4 miles from Salem, AR, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.1 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.4 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jonesboro, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salem, 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 Salem, AR
This is one driving day of about 90.8 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Salem, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 62 for about 45.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.3 and 90.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
17.3 mi into trip|~20m in|US 62; US 412 / T & C Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto US 62; US 412 / T & C Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|West Washington Avenue
Turn left onto West Washington Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
90.5 mi into trip|~2h in|South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
90.8 mi into trip|~2h in|Cate Avenue
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.71 one way
$27.43 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.05
$30.11
premium
$4.56
$16.30
$32.60
diesel
$5.61
$20.05
$40.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.2
0
$9.53
$4.36
Efficient EV
22.7
0
$7.94
$3.63
EV Truck/SUV
36.3
0
$12.71
$5.81
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Salem, AR
Morning
in Salem on Sunday
Local time
9:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jonesboro, AR
Morning
in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
9:57 AM
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with about 66% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time on US 62, including a longest stretch of 45.1 miles without major interruptions. While US 63 plays a role, the overall feel is one of consistent progress on main arteries. Expect a steady pace for most of the 90.8 miles, with minimal complexity as you transition between roads.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.1 mi on US 62.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 62 and Morning Side Lane. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 17.3 miles in near US 62; US 412 / T & C Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.3 miles (US 62; US 412 / T & C Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 87.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 87.8 miles (West Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 90.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 45.1 miles on US 62. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 17.3 miles (US 62; US 412 / T & C Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 87.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 87.8 miles (West Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jonesboro, AR before heading back.
