The drive from Highland, AR to New Caledonia, AR covers 132.8 miles and takes about 3h 2m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 82, US 278, South Main Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.2 miles on US 82.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.06 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
66.4 miles from Highland, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 2m. Total distance: 132.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Highland, AR to New Caledonia, AR covers 132.8 miles and takes about 3h 2m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 82 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near AR 27.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 2m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (AR 27): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (US 278; AR 27B): Navigation decision point; at 9.9 miles (US 278): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~4m in|AR 27
At end of road, turn right onto AR 27
Navigation decision point
4
9.8 mi into trip|~19m in|US 278; AR 27B
Turn left onto US 278; AR 27B
Navigation decision point
4
9.9 mi into trip|~19m in|US 278
At end of road, turn right onto US 278
Navigation decision point
4
36.4 mi into trip|~57m in|US 67; US 278B / West 3rd Street
Turn left onto US 67; US 278B / West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
120.7 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 82
35.2 mi
39m
US 278
26.6 mi
38m
South Main Street
22.8 mi
34m
West Antigo Street
18.8 mi
21m
Junction City Highway
10 mi
11m
AR 27
8.7 mi
15m
US Highway 82
2.6 mi
2m
US 79
2.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 82
— 35.2 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland, AR and New Caledonia, AR.
1
Start on Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road
1.1 mi·4 min·Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto AR 27
8.7 mi·15 min·AR 27
3
Turn left onto US 278; AR 27B
0.1 mi·12 sec·US 278; AR 27B
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 278
26 mi·38 min·US 278
5
Turn left onto US 67; US 278B
0.3 mi·29 sec·West 3rd Street
6
Turn right onto AR 29B
1.5 mi·2 min·South Main Street
7
Turn right onto AR 29
0.4 mi·34 sec·West 23rd Street
8
Continue on AR 29
21 mi·31 min·South Main Street
9
Turn left onto AR 29
359 ft·8 sec·East 6th Street
10
Turn right onto AR 29
0.3 mi·37 sec·Maple Street
11
Turn left onto US 82
1.3 mi·1 min·East 1st Street
12
Continue on US 82
2.6 mi·2 min·US Highway 82
13
Continue on US 82
19 mi·21 min·West Antigo Street
14
Turn right onto US 79; US 82
2.2 mi·2 min·US 79; US 82
15
Turn left onto US 82
31 mi·34 min·US 82
16
Take the exit onto US 82
4.5 mi·5 min·US 82
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork
230 ft·5 sec
19
Merge onto US 63; US 167; AR 7
1.0 mi·1 min·Junction City Highway
20
Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7
0.3 mi·18 sec·Barnett Drive
21
Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7
9.0 mi·10 min·Junction City Highway
22
Turn left onto Caledonia Road
1.8 mi·6 min·Caledonia Road
23
Arrive at destination
Caledonia Road
Trip Plan
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 66.4 miles from Highland, AR, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 29 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.4 miles or 1h 41m 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 29m
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 Highland, 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 Highland, AR
This is one driving day of about 132.8 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Highland, 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 82 for about 35.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.4 mi from Highland, AR
· 1h 41m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.06 one way
$40.11 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.02
$44.03
premium
$4.56
$23.84
$47.67
diesel
$5.61
$29.32
$58.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Exxon Superstation - Tesla Supercharger
Hope, AR
Tesla
16 DCFC
Walmart 1065 (Hope, AR)
Hope, AR
Electrify America
4 DCFC
Electrify America: 1
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.8
0
$13.94
$6.37
Efficient EV
33.2
0
$11.62
$5.31
EV Truck/SUV
53.1
0
$18.59
$8.50
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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
Highland, AR
Late night
in Highland on Saturday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Caledonia, AR
Late night
in New Caledonia on Saturday
Local time
5:05 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
3 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
3h 2m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Highland, AR to New Caledonia, AR covers 132.8 miles and takes about 3h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 82, US 278, South Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.4 miles from Highland, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.06 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 2m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (AR 27): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (US 278; AR 27B): Navigation decision point; at 9.9 miles (US 278): Navigation decision point.
The route from Highland, AR to New Caledonia, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
