Van Buren, AR to Jacksonville, AR is 160.1 miles and takes about 2h 46m via US 71 and I-57, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, passing through the Southeast region. You'll be on the road for under three hours, making it a straightforward, mostly highway excursion. It's ideal if you're looking for a quick, efficient trip between these two points without needing an overnight stay.
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
80 miles from Van Buren, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
147.4 mi
2h 29m
I 57
8.4 mi
9m
Alma Highway
1.2 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
South Redmond Road
0.6 mi
1m
South 1st Street
0.5 mi
1m
South James Street
0.4 mi
1m
I 540
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 147.4 mi, about 2h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Van Buren, AR and Jacksonville, AR.
1
Start on AR 59
0.6 mi·1 min·East Main Street
2
Continue on US 64; US 71B
0.9 mi·1 min·Alma Highway
3
Continue on US 64; US 71B
0.3 mi·25 sec·Alma Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock
5
Merge onto I 540; US 71
0.4 mi·26 sec·I 540; US 71
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
147 mi·2 hr 29 min·US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, MemphisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167
8.4 mi·9 min·I 57; US 167
Toward Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward Redmond Road
9
Turn right onto South Redmond Road
0.6 mi·1 min·South Redmond Road
10
Turn left onto South James Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South James Street
11
Turn right onto Stone Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Stone Street
12
Turn slight left onto AR 161
0.5 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
13
Arrive at destination
AR 161
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 46 minutes, you can leave anytime in the morning or afternoon and still comfortably reach your destination before dark. With only one recommended stop, you have a lot of flexibility on when and where you might want to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 147.4-mile mark on US 71, as this is the longest stretch without significant transitions. The estimated fuel cost of $24 is based on typical gas prices, so factor that into your budget.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80 miles from Van Buren, AR, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.4 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 35 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80 miles or 1h 22m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Van Buren, 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 Van Buren, AR
This is one driving day of about 160.1 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Van Buren, 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 US 71 for about 147.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 159 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 North: Oklahoma City, Little Rock
8
2.5 mi into trip|~3m in|US 71
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
7
149.8 mi into trip|~2h 33m 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
4
158.3 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward Redmond Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Redmond Road
4
159 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|South James Street
Turn left onto South James Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.18 one way
$48.36 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.54
$53.09
premium
$4.56
$28.74
$57.47
diesel
$5.61
$35.35
$70.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48
0
$16.81
$7.68
Efficient EV
40
0
$14.01
$6.40
EV Truck/SUV
64
0
$22.41
$10.25
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 20, 2026
Origin
Van Buren, AR
Late night
in Van Buren on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jacksonville, AR
Late night
in Jacksonville on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 46m 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 almost entirely highway driving, with a 98% highway share. You'll encounter a long stretch of 147.4 miles on US 71 before transitioning to other roads. Expect a consistent cruising experience with minimal interruptions from surface streets for the vast majority of your travel. The transition away from the main highway will likely involve a noticeable decrease in exit frequency.
98% 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: 147.4 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 57. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
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 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.8 miles (I 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Van Buren, AR to Jacksonville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Louis along the way.
The longest stretch is about 147.4 miles on US 71. 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 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.8 miles (I 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksonville, AR before heading back.
