If you are planning to travel from West Memphis to Paragould, you are looking at a manageable 78.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-555, East Johnson Avenue, and US 49 to navigate between these two Southeast Arkansas locations. With an estimated fuel cost of just $11, it is a very budget-friendly route for a quick commute or visit. Because the drive is straightforward and relatively short, it offers a practical way to connect these two points within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from West Memphis, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 555
39.1 mi
39m
East Johnson Avenue
9.7 mi
14m
US 49
5.7 mi
8m
Kathleen Street
2.3 mi
5m
North Missouri Street
1.4 mi
2m
Craighead 901 Rd
1.2 mi
2m
Industrial Drive
0.6 mi
1m
North Service Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 555
— 39.1 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Memphis, AR and Paragould, AR.
1
Start on this road
21 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 70
88 ft·5 sec·East Broadway Boulevard
3
Turn right onto AR 77
1.4 mi·2 min·North Missouri Street
4
Turn right onto AR 77
276 ft·9 sec·East Service Road
5
Turn slight left onto AR 77
0.2 mi·30 sec·AR 77
6
Keep slight right at fork onto North Service Road
0.4 mi·37 sec·North Service Road
7
Take the ramp
16 mi·16 min
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 555, AR 77, US 63: Turrell, Marked Tree, Jonesboro
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 555, US 63: Marked Tree, Jonesboro
10
Merge onto I 555
39 mi·39 min·I 555
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
114 ft·8 sec
13
Turn left onto AR 463
0.3 mi·29 sec·East Nettleton Avenue
14
Turn right onto AR 351
0.6 mi·1 min·Industrial Drive
15
Continue on Kathleen Street
2.3 mi·5 min·Kathleen Street
16
Continue on CR 901
1.2 mi·2 min·Craighead 901 Rd
17
Turn left onto CR 912
0.2 mi·29 sec·Craighead 912 Rd
18
Turn right onto US 49; AR 1
9.7 mi·14 min·East Johnson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 49; AR 1
5.7 mi·8 min·US 49; AR 1
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
251 ft·10 sec·West Hunt Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto North 14th Street
51 ft·1 sec·North 14th Street
22
Turn right onto West Hunt Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·West Hunt Street
23
Turn right onto Hayes Place
237 ft·15 sec·Hayes Place
24
Turn left onto Winchester
0.2 mi·42 sec·Winchester
25
Arrive at destination
Winchester
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 78.7 miles without needing to schedule specific stops, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always a good practice even with the low $11 cost estimate. Because there are no mandatory stops required for a drive of this duration, you can comfortably make the trip in one go. If you are sensitive to traffic, try to avoid peak commuting hours when navigating the transition onto East Johnson Avenue. A helpful tip for this route is to ensure your navigation is set early, as the transition between I-555 and the local roads requires attention to signage.
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 39.4 miles from West Memphis, AR, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.1 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 17 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 43m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paragould, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Memphis, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Memphis, AR
This is one driving day of about 78.7 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from West Memphis, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 555 for about 39.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard
Turn left onto US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
17.6 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 555, AR 77, US 63: Turrell, Marked Tree, Jonesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 555, AR 77, US 63: Turrell, Marked Tre...
6
18.1 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 555, US 63: Marked Tree, Jonesboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 555, US 63: Marked Tree, Jonesboro
5
58.1 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|AR 463 / East Nettleton Avenue
Turn left onto AR 463 / East Nettleton Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.89 one way
$23.77 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.05
$26.09
premium
$4.56
$14.13
$28.25
diesel
$5.61
$17.38
$34.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.26
$3.78
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.89
$3.15
EV Truck/SUV
31.5
0
$11.02
$5.04
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
West Memphis, AR
Late night
in West Memphis on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paragould, AR
Late night
in Paragould on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
2 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
1h 39m 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 trip offers a mixed driving experience, balancing high-speed interstate travel with local navigation. You will spend roughly 57% of your time on highways, providing a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. The most significant portion of your drive involves a 39.1-mile stretch on I-555, which serves as the primary artery for the journey. As you transition from the interstate onto local roads like East Johnson Avenue and US 49, the character of the drive shifts from a fast-paced highway run to a more standard road experience. Expect a functional, direct drive that gets you to your destination efficiently.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.1 mi on I 555.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 (US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.1 miles: 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 West Memphis, AR and Paragould, AR, road signs point toward Marked Tree and Jonesboro.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 78.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.1 miles on I 555. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Paragould, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 70 / East Broadway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Paragould, AR before heading back.
