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Trip from Lake Hamilton, AR to New Caledonia, AR

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 43m

Distance

122.4 mi

197 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 33m ★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 4m
8 PM
2h 37m

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

census-designated place in Garland County, Arkansas

Lake Hamilton, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown New Caledonia, AR, AR

New Caledonia, AR

Dominik Ruhl

Trip Overview

The drive from Lake Hamilton, AR to New Caledonia, AR covers 122.4 miles and takes about 2h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on AR 7, Dr Martin Luther King Expressway, Central Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.3 miles on AR 7. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.49 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

61.2 miles from Lake Hamilton, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 122.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

The drive from Lake Hamilton, AR to New Caledonia, AR covers 122.4 miles and takes about 2h 43m, 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 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
AR 7 is the longest continuous segment at about 33.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 28.3 miles in near US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51 / Caddo Street.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Lake Hamilton, AR to New Caledonia, AR is easy. At 2h 43m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 28.3 miles (US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51 / Caddo Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles (AR 7): Navigation decision point; at 75 miles (US 79B; AR 7 / Van Buren Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

4
28.3 mi into trip | ~34m in | US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51 / Caddo Street

Turn left onto US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51 / Caddo Street

Navigation decision point

3
50.8 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | AR 7

Turn right onto AR 7

Navigation decision point

3
75 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | US 79B; AR 7 / Van Buren Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 79B; AR 7 / Van Buren Street

Navigation decision point

4
76.9 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | AR 7 / North Adams Avenue

Turn left onto AR 7 / North Adams Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
120.6 mi into trip | ~2h 36m in | Caledonia Road

Turn left onto Caledonia Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
AR 7 33.3 mi 49m
Dr Martin Luther King Expressway 32.9 mi 37m
Central Avenue 24.5 mi 28m
Caddo Street 13.4 mi 19m
Junction City Highway 9 mi 10m
North 10th Street 3.8 mi 5m
Van Buren Street 1.9 mi 3m
Caledonia Road 1.8 mi 6m
Longest stretch: AR 7 — 33.3 mi, about 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Hamilton, AR and New Caledonia, AR.

1

Start on AR 7

4.9 mi · 5 min · Central Avenue
2

Continue on AR 7

20 mi · 22 min · Central Avenue
3

Continue on US 67; AR 7

3.8 mi · 5 min · North 10th Street
4

Turn left onto US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51

13 mi · 19 min · Caddo Street
5

Turn slight right onto AR 7; AR 8

9.0 mi · 13 min · AR 7; AR 8
6

Turn right onto AR 7

24 mi · 36 min · AR 7
7

At end of road, turn right onto US 79B; AR 7

1.9 mi · 3 min · Van Buren Street
8

Turn left onto AR 7

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Adams Avenue
9

Continue on AR 7

33 mi · 37 min · Dr Martin Luther King Expressway
10

Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Barnett Drive
11

Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7

9.0 mi · 10 min · Junction City Highway
12

Turn left onto Caledonia Road

1.8 mi · 6 min · Caledonia Road
13

Arrive at destination

Caledonia Road

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.2 miles from Lake Hamilton, AR, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.3 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 27 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 61.2 miles or 1h 22m 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 13m

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 Lake Hamilton, 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 Lake Hamilton, AR

This is one driving day of about 122.4 miles and 2h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Lake Hamilton, 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 AR 7 for about 33.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 61.2 mi from Lake Hamilton, AR · 1h 22m into the drive

city in Clark County, Arkansas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Arkadelphia, AR

61 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

Arkadelphia, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Camden, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61.2 miles from Lake Hamilton, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in New Caledonia, AR

The final approach into New Caledonia, 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 New Caledonia, 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

$18.49 one way

$36.97 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $20.29 $40.58
premium $4.56 $21.97 $43.94
diesel $5.61 $27.02 $54.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.7 0 $12.85 $5.88
Efficient EV 30.6 0 $10.71 $4.90
EV Truck/SUV 49 0 $17.14 $7.83

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lake Hamilton, AR

Morning in Lake Hamilton on Friday

Local time

10:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Caledonia, AR

Morning in New Caledonia on Friday

Local time

10:02 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

2h 43m 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 Lake Hamilton, AR to New Caledonia, AR covers 122.4 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are AR 7, Dr Martin Luther King Expressway, Central Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 61.2 miles from Lake Hamilton, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Lake Hamilton, AR to New Caledonia, AR is easy. At 2h 43m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 28.3 miles (US 67; AR 7; AR 8; AR 51 / Caddo Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles (AR 7): Navigation decision point; at 75 miles (US 79B; AR 7 / Van Buren Street): Navigation decision point.

The route from Lake Hamilton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

New Caledonia, AR to Lake Hamilton, AR

Plan the drive back the other way.

122.4 mi 2h 43m

Explore more options from Lake Hamilton, AR or browse trips ending in New Caledonia, AR.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AR road trips.