Origin
New Caledonia, AR
Afternoon in New Caledonia on Sunday
Local time
3:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Caledonia, AR to Charleston, AR
Drive Time
5h 18m
Distance
273.9 mi
441 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 5m
★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 45m
10 AM
5h 28m
12 PM
5h 25m
3 PM
5h 29m
5 PM
5h 44m
8 PM
5h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Caledonia, AR
Dominik Ruhl
Trip Overview
The drive from New Caledonia, AR to Charleston, AR covers 273.9 miles and takes about 5h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 65, US 167, Lee Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 115.9 miles on US 65. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.87 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
137 miles from New Caledonia, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 18m highway drive covering 273.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 65 and US 167. The longest continuous stretch is about 115.9 miles on US 65.
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.
US 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 115.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and US 167. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 273.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 1.8 miles (US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.2 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway
Navigation decision point
5
17.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 North, US 167B South: Fordyce, Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 167 North, US 167B South: Fordyce, Li...
8
117.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
|
US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North:...
7
131.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
|
US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65 toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143A
Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Co...
6
132.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
|
US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between New Caledonia, AR and Charleston, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock and Fort Smith.
Little Rock
17.1 mi in
|
~24m
|
via US 167
Fort Smith
131.9 mi in
|
~2h 41m
|
via US 65
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 65 | 115.9 mi | 1h 57m |
| US 167 | 51.3 mi | 1h 1m |
| Lee Street | 35.7 mi | 43m |
| Sheridan Bypass | 17.9 mi | 20m |
| Junction City Highway | 15 mi | 16m |
| Ozark Bridge | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| West Walnut Street | 10 mi | 14m |
| Calion Highway | 9.8 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 115.9 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Caledonia, AR and Charleston, AR.
1
Start on Caledonia Road
1.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Caledonia Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 63; US 167
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Junction City Highway
3
Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Barnett Drive
4
Continue on US 63; US 167; AR 7
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Junction City Highway
5
Take the exit onto US 167
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 167
Toward US 167 North, US 167B South: Fordyce, Little Rock
6
Continue on US 167
9.8 mi
·
12 min
·
Calion Highway
7
Merge onto US 167
36 mi
·
43 min
·
Lee Street
Use the none lane.
8
Turn left onto US 167
36 mi
·
44 min
·
US 167
9
Continue on US 167
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Sheridan Bypass
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
15 mi
·
16 min
·
US 167
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 65
Exit 143A
Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
116 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
US 65
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward AR 219: Ozark
14
Keep slight left at fork
142 ft
·
5 sec
15
Turn left onto AR 219
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
AR 219
16
Turn right onto US 64
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Commercial Street
17
Turn left onto AR 23
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South 7th Street
18
Continue on AR 23
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Ozark Bridge
19
Turn right onto AR 22
10 mi
·
14 min
·
West Walnut Street
20
Turn left onto South Hancock Street
6 ft
·
0 sec
·
South Hancock Street
21
Arrive at destination
South Hancock Street
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 137 miles from New Caledonia, AR, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.9 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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Caledonia, 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 New Caledonia, AR
This is one driving day of about 273.9 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from New Caledonia, 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 65 for about 115.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137 mi from New Caledonia, AR · 2h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 137 miles from New Caledonia, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 115.9 miles.
Arriving in Charleston, AR
The final approach into Charleston, 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 Charleston, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.87 one way
$83.74 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $45.93 | $91.85 |
| premium | $4.61 | $49.71 | $99.42 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $60.85 | $121.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.2 | 1 | $28.76 | $13.15 |
| Efficient EV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.97 | $10.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.6 | 1 | $38.35 | $17.53 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Charleston, AR
Afternoon in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
3:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Haskell, AR
137 mi in
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
6 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
5h 18m 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 New Caledonia, AR to Charleston, AR covers 273.9 miles and takes about 5h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 65, US 167, Lee Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137 miles from New Caledonia, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.87 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 273.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 1.8 miles (US 63; US 167 / Junction City Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17.1 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.2 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between New Caledonia, AR and Charleston, AR, road signs point toward Little Rock and Fort Smith.
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