Origin
Jonesboro, AR
Afternoon in Jonesboro on Saturday
Local time
3:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jonesboro, AR to Bull Shoals, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
141.7 mi
228 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 57m
★
6 AM
3h 9m
8 AM
3h 32m
10 AM
3h 17m
12 PM
3h 15m
3 PM
3h 18m
5 PM
3h 31m
8 PM
3h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bull Shoals, AR
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
Jonesboro to Bull Shoals is 141.7 miles and takes about 3h 8m via US 63 and US 62, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, single-day drive that should be manageable for most drivers. You'll spend a good portion of your time on highways, making for relatively quick progress.
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
70.8 miles from Jonesboro, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 63 | 56.6 mi | 1h 16m |
| T & C Boulevard | 49.9 mi | 56m |
| US 62 | 11.9 mi | 14m |
| AR 178 | 9.3 mi | 16m |
| AR 5 | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| US 62B | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Dan Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| West Johnson Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 56.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, AR and Bull Shoals, AR.
1
Start on this road
75 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
207 ft
·
11 sec
·
Cate Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Turn left onto AR 91
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Johnson Avenue
5
Continue on AR 91
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Gee Street
6
Continue on AR 91
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Dan Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
8
Merge onto US 63
57 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
US 63
9
Turn right onto US 62; US 412
436 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 62; US 412
10
Continue on US 62; US 63; US 412
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 62; US 63; US 412
11
Continue on US 62; US 412
413 ft
·
13 sec
·
US 62; US 412
12
Continue on US 62; US 412; US 63 Business
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 62; US 412; US 63 Business
13
Take the exit
365 ft
·
10 sec
14
Merge onto US 62; US 412; AR 175
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 62; US 412; AR 175
15
Continue on US 62; US 412
50 mi
·
56 min
·
T & C Boulevard
16
Continue on US 62B
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 62B
17
Turn right onto AR 5
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
AR 5
18
Turn left onto AR 178
9.3 mi
·
16 min
·
AR 178
19
Turn right onto Broadway Avenue
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broadway Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Broadway Avenue
Trip Plan
With a driving time of just over 3 hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Consider leaving mid-morning to allow for a relaxed start and arrive with plenty of daylight. You'll have one recommended stop, but given the short duration, you can be flexible with when and where you take breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $21, and plan your last fill-up before heading out from Jonesboro.
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 70.8 miles from Jonesboro, AR, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 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 31 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.8 miles or 1h 37m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bull Shoals, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, AR
This is one driving day of about 141.7 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Jonesboro, 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 63 for about 56.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.8 miles from Jonesboro, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 141.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cate Avenue
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 91 / West Johnson Avenue
Turn left onto AR 91 / West Johnson Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
141.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 8m in
|
Broadway Avenue
Turn right onto Broadway Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.40 one way
$42.80 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $23.49 | $46.98 |
| premium | $4.56 | $25.43 | $50.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.29 | $62.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.88 | $6.80 |
| Efficient EV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.40 | $5.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.84 | $9.07 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Bull Shoals, AR
Afternoon in Bull Shoals on Saturday
Local time
3:08 PM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 8m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 61% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 56.6 miles on US 63 before transitioning to other roads. Expect to see more developed exits and merges on the highway segments, followed by more open cruising as you move onto other routes like T & C Boulevard and US 62.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 63 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and T & C Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cate Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 8m drive. You will face about 11 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 (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (AR 91 / West Johnson Avenue): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Bull Shoals, AR
Full guide →Bull Shoals is in the Ozarks region of Arkansas. Located on the shore of Bull Shoals Lake, it's a resort town with a lot to offer.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 141.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jonesboro, AR to Bull Shoals, AR covers 141.7 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 63, T & C Boulevard, US 62. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.8 miles from Jonesboro, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.40 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 8m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (AR 91 / West Johnson Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Jonesboro, AR to Bull Shoals, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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