Tennessee, AR to Bay, AR is 227.3 miles and takes about 4h 11m via I 57 and Wiley A Branton Sr Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The majority of this drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward transit. If you're looking for a quick, efficient route with minimal fuss, this is a solid option for getting from point A to point B within the state.
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
113.7 miles from Tennessee, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 46m
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
26.9 mi
28m
Highway 530
23.4 mi
27m
I 530
16.8 mi
16m
US 425
15.8 mi
20m
US 78
12.1 mi
13m
Joe N Martin Expressway
9.6 mi
10m
Southwest Drive
6.1 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-530
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~852 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,084
Quietest
2 AM
~63 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 23 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tennessee, AR and Bay, AR.
1
Start on Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Tennessee Spur Road
2
Turn right onto US 278
2.7 mi·4 min·US 278
3
Turn left onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
4
Turn left onto AR 11
1.7 mi·1 min·Highway 11
5
Turn right onto AR 530
23 mi·27 min·Highway 530
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·38 sec
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
Merge onto I 530; US 63; US 65; US 79
27 mi·28 min·Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
8
Continue on I 530; US 65
17 mi·16 min·I 530; US 65
9
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
4.2 mi·5 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
10
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
11
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.
12
Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167
74 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57; US 64; US 167
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward AR 226: Jonesboro
14
Keep slight right at fork
346 ft·8 sec
15
Merge onto US 78; AR 226
12 mi·13 min·US 78; AR 226
16
Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78
6.1 mi·7 min·Southwest Drive
17
Take the exit onto US 49; US 78
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 49; US 78
18
Merge onto I 555; US 49; US 78
9.6 mi·10 min·Joe N Martin Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward AR 463: Bay
20
Turn right
126 ft·3 sec
21
Turn right onto AR 463
1.2 mi·2 min·AR 463
22
Turn left onto AR 158
0.2 mi·23 sec·Elder Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto AR 158
0.2 mi·18 sec·North Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
AR 158
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 4h 11m, you can comfortably start this trip anytime in the morning and still arrive well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $33, planning is straightforward. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 102.7-mile stretch on I 57, as services can be spaced out. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time and can adjust your pace as needed.
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 113.7 miles from Tennessee, AR, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.7 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tennessee, 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 Tennessee, AR
This is one driving day of about 227.3 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Tennessee, 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 102.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.9 and 227.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
43.9 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 530 North, US 65 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
92.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
94 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
215.8 mi into trip|~3h 56m in|I 555; US 49; US 78 / Joe N Martin Expressway
Merge onto I 555; US 49; US 78 / Joe N Martin Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
227.2 mi into trip|~4h 11m in|AR 158 / North Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto AR 158 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.79 one way
$69.59 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$38.53
$77.07
premium
$4.65
$41.60
$83.21
diesel
$6.28
$56.16
$112.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.2
0
$23.87
$10.91
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.89
$9.09
EV Truck/SUV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.55
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Tennessee, AR
Morning
in Tennessee on Thursday
Local time
6:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bay, AR
Morning
in Bay on Thursday
Local time
6:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Jacksonville, AR
114 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 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
4h 11m 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?
Expect to spend most of your time on highways, with 84% of the route being on major roads like I 57. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 102.7 miles on I 57 before transitioning to other roads. This means you'll likely notice more frequent exits and potentially heavier traffic as you navigate these primary arteries. The shift away from the highway will bring a change in the surrounding environment and traffic patterns.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.9 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 18 significant decision points across 227.3 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 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.4 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94 miles (I 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
313 ft224 ft
Total Climb
180 ft
Total Descent
190 ft
Highest Point
313 ft
~113.7 mi in
Elevation Range
89 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tennessee, AR and Bay, AR, road signs point toward Memphis and Saint Louis.
Tennessee is a US state in the South known for its rich history, music, and the Appalachian Mountains along its eastern border. Many visitors come to see Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 227.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Bay, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.4 miles (US 67; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94 miles (I 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Bay, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
