The drive from Jonesboro, AR to Alma, AR covers 244 miles and takes about 4h 23m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 57, US 64 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 112.8 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.85 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
122 miles from Jonesboro, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 244 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 23m highway drive covering 244 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 57. The longest continuous stretch is about 112.8 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 112.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 57. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cate Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 244 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.4 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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|Cate Avenue
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
21.5 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
96.4 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|US 64
Take the exit onto US 64 toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe,...
5
96.8 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 toward US 64 West: Conway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 64 West: Conway
5
243.5 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|Fayetteville Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto Fayetteville Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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 Jonesboro, AR to Alma, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Conway along the way.
Conway
96.4 mi in|~1h 44m|via US 64
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
112.8 mi
1h 52m
I 57
74.5 mi
1h 16m
US 64
33 mi
42m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
South Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
Union Street
0.6 mi
1m
Fayetteville Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 112.8 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, AR and Alma, AR.
1
Start on this road
75 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
458 ft·25 sec·Cate Avenue
3
Turn left onto Union Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Union Street
4
Turn left onto West Oak Avenue
257 ft·9 sec·West Oak Avenue
5
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
6
Continue on AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
7
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
9
Merge onto I 57
75 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57
10
Take the exit onto US 64
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 64
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
33 mi·41 min·US 64
Toward US 64 West: Conway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
13
Merge onto I 40; US 65
113 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 40; US 65
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward US 71: Alma
15
Turn left onto US 71
0.5 mi·50 sec·US Highway 71 North
16
Continue on Fayetteville Avenue
448 ft·12 sec·Fayetteville Avenue
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Fayetteville Avenue
0.3 mi·40 sec·Fayetteville Avenue
18
Continue on Fayetteville Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·Fayetteville Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Fayetteville Avenue
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 122 miles from Jonesboro, AR, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.8 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 54 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alma, 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 244 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 I 40 for about 112.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 122 mi from Jonesboro, AR
· 2h 17m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.85 one way
$73.70 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$40.45
$80.90
premium
$4.56
$43.80
$87.59
diesel
$5.61
$53.87
$107.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.2
0
$25.62
$11.71
Efficient EV
61
0
$21.35
$9.76
EV Truck/SUV
97.6
1
$34.16
$15.62
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Jonesboro, AR
Morning
in Jonesboro on Saturday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alma, AR
Morning
in Alma on Saturday
Local time
9:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
1 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
4h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jonesboro, AR to Alma, AR covers 244 miles and takes about 4h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 57, US 64. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122 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 $36.85 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 244 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 96.4 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Jonesboro, AR to Alma, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Conway along the way.
