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Trip from Malvern, AR to Jonesboro, AR

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

3h 8m

Distance

173 mi

278 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Hot Spring County, Arkansas, United States

Malvern, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 173-mile drive from Malvern, Arkansas, to Jonesboro, Arkansas, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in a single day. You'll be on the road for approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes, primarily utilizing I-57 and I-30, with a short segment on US 270. With 93% of the trip on highways, it's a route focused on efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. Budget around $26 for fuel, and plan for just one stop along the way. Since both the origin and destination are in the Southeast region of Arkansas, you won't experience significant regional shifts, making this a familiar drive for many Arkansans.

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

86.5 miles from Malvern, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 173-mile trip, with 93% of your travel time spent on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 102.7 miles on I-57, allowing for a good pace. While primarily interstate, there's a brief transition onto US 270, offering a slight change of scenery before rejoining the main highways. This route is designed for steady progress, minimizing detours and maximizing forward momentum.

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 57 is the longest continuous segment at about 102.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and I 30. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 173 miles you will encounter 11 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 270B / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.2 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 270B / South Main Street

Turn left onto US 270B / South Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
42.2 mi into trip | ~47m in | I 30; US 67

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

7
47.1 mi into trip | ~53m in | US 67; US 167

Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167 toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 143B Toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Ja...
7
48.7 mi into trip | ~55m in | I 57; US 167

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167 toward Saint Louis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward Saint Louis

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Malvern, AR and Jonesboro, AR, road signs point toward Memphis and Saint Louis.

Memphis

47.1 mi in | ~53m | via US 67; US 167

Saint Louis

48.7 mi in | ~55m | via I 57; US 167

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 57 102.7 mi 1h 46m
I 30 28.5 mi 32m
US 270 16 mi 16m
US 78 12.1 mi 13m
Southwest Drive 7.4 mi 9m
South Main Street 2 mi 3m
US 67 1.6 mi 2m
Martin Luther King Boulevard 1.3 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 57 — 102.7 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Malvern, AR and Jonesboro, AR.

1

Start on this road

206 ft · 17 sec · this road
2

Turn right

79 ft · 11 sec
3

Turn left onto US 270B

0.6 mi · 53 sec · South Main Street
4

Continue on US 270B

1.3 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Boulevard
5

Continue on US 270B

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Oliver Lancaster Boulevard
6

Continue on US 270B

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Martin Luther King Road
7

Take the ramp onto US 270

16 mi · 16 min · US 270
8

Continue on I 30; US 67; US 70

24 mi · 26 min · I 30; US 67; US 70
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67

0.7 mi · 49 sec · I 30; US 67
10

Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167

4.2 mi · 5 min · I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
11

Keep slight right at fork onto US 67; US 167

1.6 mi · 2 min · US 67; US 167
Exit 143B Toward I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167

28 mi · 29 min · I 57; US 167
Toward Saint Louis Use the slight left lane.
13

Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167

74 mi · 1 hr 16 min · I 57; US 64; US 167
14

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward AR 226: Jonesboro
15

Keep slight right at fork

346 ft · 8 sec
16

Merge onto US 78; AR 226

12 mi · 13 min · US 78; AR 226
17

Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78

7.4 mi · 9 min · Southwest Drive
18

Continue on South Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
19

Turn right onto Cate Avenue

207 ft · 14 sec · Cate Avenue
20

Turn left

75 ft · 5 sec
21

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

This 3-hour, 8-minute drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, offering flexibility in your departure time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $26, it's an efficient trip. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. The longest stretch without a break is over 100 miles on I-57, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained driving. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the longer highway segments, to avoid any unnecessary delays.

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 86.5 miles from Malvern, AR, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 86.5 miles or 1h 34m 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 31m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Malvern, 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 Malvern, AR

This is one driving day of about 173 miles and 3h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Malvern, 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 57 for about 102.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 86.5 mi from Malvern, AR · 1h 34m into the drive

Downtown Conway, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Conway, AR

87 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.

Popular next leg

Conway, AR to Jonesboro, AR

130.5 mi · 2h 29m

Pacing Suggestions

Conway, AR

Fuel and coffee

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

Conway, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86.5 miles from Malvern, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 57 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.7 miles.

Arriving in Jonesboro, AR

The final approach into Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, AR.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park

National Park

Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.13 one way

$52.25 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $28.68 $57.36
premium $4.56 $31.05 $62.10
diesel $5.61 $38.20 $76.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.9 0 $18.17 $8.30
Efficient EV 43.3 0 $15.14 $6.92
EV Truck/SUV 69.2 0 $24.22 $11.07

Gas CO2

61 kg

EV CO2

20 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 32 minutes ago

Origin

Malvern, AR

Late night in Malvern on Wednesday

Local time

12:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jonesboro, AR

Late night in Jonesboro on Wednesday

Local time

12:36 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

1 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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Malvern, AR to Jonesboro, AR covers 173 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 I 57, I 30, US 270. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.5 miles from Malvern, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.13 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 173 miles you will encounter 11 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 270B / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.2 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Malvern, AR and Jonesboro, AR, road signs point toward Memphis and Saint Louis.

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