Trip from Jacksonville, AR to Magnolia, AR

Drive Time

3h 5m

Distance

153.1 mi

246 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 54m ★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Jacksonville, AR, AR

Jacksonville, AR

Mike Jones

Downtown Magnolia, AR, AR

Magnolia, AR

Christina & Peter

Trip Overview

Traveling from Jacksonville to Magnolia, Arkansas, covers a 153.1-mile stretch that typically takes about 3 hours and 5 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively straightforward drive through the state’s Southeast region, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $23 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for your itinerary. The route relies primarily on a combination of I-30, US 278, and US 371 to get you to your destination efficiently. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, this drive offers a reliable path across the Arkansas landscape.

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

76.5 miles from Jacksonville, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-30, which accounts for a 91.7-mile stretch of the journey. Expect a steady, high-speed pace for the majority of the drive as you navigate these primary arteries. Transitioning from the interstate onto US 278 and US 371 will shift the driving experience from a wide-lane grind to a more standard regional highway feel. While the interstate portion allows for consistent cruising, remain attentive as the road transitions through the final segments of the route.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 91.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and US 278. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Hickory Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 5m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Hickory Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Hickory Street

Turn left onto West Hickory Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North 2nd Street

Turn left onto North 2nd Street

Navigation decision point

5
11.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 167

Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US...
8
16 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 30; US 67

Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67 toward Texarkana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 138 Toward Texarkana
7
152.9 mi into trip | ~3h 4m in | East Main Street

Enter roundabout onto East Main Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Jacksonville, AR to Magnolia, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.

Texarkana

16 mi in | ~21m | via I 30; US 67

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 30 91.7 mi 1h 34m
US 278 17.9 mi 26m
US 371 17 mi 25m
I 57 8.8 mi 9m
East McKissack 7.2 mi 10m
US 167 4.9 mi 6m
Delight Highway 2.4 mi 4m
West Main Street 1.1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 30 — 91.7 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jacksonville, AR and Magnolia, AR.

1

Start on AR 161

188 ft · 7 sec · North 1st Street
2

Turn left onto West Hickory Street

333 ft · 20 sec · West Hickory Street
3

Turn left onto North 2nd Street

362 ft · 20 sec · North 2nd Street
4

Turn right onto West Main Street

1.0 mi · 3 min · West Main Street
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
6

Merge onto I 57; US 167

8.8 mi · 9 min · I 57; US 167
7

Merge onto I 40; US 167

0.9 mi · 1 min · I 40; US 167
8

Take the exit onto US 167

4.9 mi · 6 min · US 167
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67

24 mi · 26 min · I 30; US 67
Exit 138 Toward Texarkana Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 30; US 70

68 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 30; US 70
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward AR 19: Prescott
12

Turn left onto AR 19

2.4 mi · 4 min · Delight Highway
13

Turn right onto US 67; US 371

0.4 mi · 39 sec · West 1st Street South
14

Turn right onto US 371

17 mi · 25 min · US 371
15

At end of road, turn left onto US 278; US 371

18 mi · 26 min · US 278; US 371
16

Turn left onto US 371

7.2 mi · 10 min · East McKissack
17

Turn left onto West Main Street

0.1 mi · 12 sec · West Main Street
18

Enter roundabout onto East Main Street

443 ft · 10 sec · East Main Street
19

Continue on East Main Street

326 ft · 9 sec · East Main Street
20

Turn right onto US 79B; AR 19

10 ft · 0 sec · Jackson Street
21

Arrive at destination

US 79B; AR 19

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 3-hour journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since this is a manageable drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid any potential peak traffic on the interstate segments. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the final leg on US 371, as services may become less frequent compared to the I-30 corridor. Having your $23 fuel budget set aside before you start will keep your travel logistics simple. Use the longest stretch on I-30 to settle into a comfortable rhythm, but stay alert for the transition onto the secondary highways as you approach Magnolia.

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 76.5 miles from Jacksonville, AR, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.7 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 76.5 miles or 1h 25m 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 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Magnolia, AR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, AR

This is one driving day of about 153.1 miles and 3h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jacksonville, 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 30 for about 91.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 76.5 mi from Jacksonville, AR · 1h 25m into the drive

Downtown Texarkana, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Texarkana, TX

77 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Texarkana, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Texarkana, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 76.5 miles from Jacksonville, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91.7 miles.

Arriving in Magnolia, AR

The final approach into Magnolia, AR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Magnolia, AR.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.41 one way

$46.81 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $25.67 $51.34
premium $4.61 $27.79 $55.57
diesel $5.64 $34.01 $68.03

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 53.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 45.9 0 $16.08 $7.35
Efficient EV 38.3 0 $13.40 $6.12
EV Truck/SUV 61.2 0 $21.43 $9.80

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Jacksonville, AR

Evening in Jacksonville on Sunday

Local time

6:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Magnolia, AR

Evening in Magnolia on Sunday

Local time

6:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°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

3h 5m 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 Jacksonville, AR to Magnolia, AR covers 153.1 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 30, US 278, US 371. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.5 miles from Jacksonville, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.41 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 5m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Hickory Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Jacksonville, AR to Magnolia, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Texarkana along the way.

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