Trip from Salem, AR to New Caledonia, AR

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 43m

Distance

278.2 mi

448 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 30m ★

6 AM

5h 44m

8 AM

6h 10m

10 AM

5h 53m

12 PM

5h 50m

3 PM

5h 54m

5 PM

6h 9m

8 PM

5h 36m

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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Salem, AR

Md Jawadur Rahman

New Caledonia, AR

Dominik Ruhl

Trip Overview

The drive from Salem, AR to New Caledonia, AR covers 278.2 miles and takes about 5h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 167, Batesville Boulevard, Morning Side Lane for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 173.5 miles on US 167. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.01 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

139.1 miles from Salem, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 167	173.5 mi	3h 17m
Batesville Boulevard	32.9 mi	43m
Morning Side Lane	17.1 mi	19m
North Saint Louis Street	14.4 mi	22m
Ash Flat Drive	11.9 mi	17m
I 530	10 mi	10m
Evening Shade Drive	9.5 mi	14m
US 79	4.1 mi	6m

Longest stretch: US 167 — 173.5 mi, about 3h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on AR 9

0.2 mi · 29 sec · North Main Street

Turn left onto US 62; US 412

17 mi · 19 min · Morning Side Lane

Turn right onto US 167

12 mi · 17 min · Ash Flat Drive

Continue on US 167

9.5 mi · 14 min · Evening Shade Drive

Continue on US 167; AR 58

2.1 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

Continue on US 167

14 mi · 22 min · North Saint Louis Street

Continue on US 167; AR 25

33 mi · 43 min · Batesville Boulevard

Take the exit onto US 167

55 mi · 56 min · US 167

Merge onto I 40; US 167

0.9 mi · 1 min · I 40; US 167

Take the exit onto US 167

4.9 mi · 6 min · US 167

Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock

Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167

10.0 mi · 10 min · I 530; US 65; US 167

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 167

56 mi · 1 hr 5 min · US 167

Toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dorado Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto US 79; US 167

4.1 mi · 6 min · US 79; US 167

Keep slight left at fork onto US 167

42 mi · 50 min · US 167

Toward US 167: El Dorado

Take the exit onto US 167

16 mi · 18 min · US 167

Toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Junction City

Turn left onto Caledonia Road

1.8 mi · 6 min · Caledonia Road

Arrive at destination

Caledonia Road

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 139.1 miles from Salem, AR, or about 2h 53m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 173.5 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 61 miles or 1h 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 139.1 miles or 2h 53m 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 39m

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 Salem, 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 Salem, AR

This is one driving day of about 278.2 miles and 5h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Salem, 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 167 for about 173.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cabot, AR

139 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

Cave City, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jacksonville, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.1 miles from Salem, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 167 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 173.5 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sonic Drive-In

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Ash Flat, Arkansas

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 19.9

Hours: 6:30 am–10 pm

+18709943490

Visit website

The Purple Cow Restaurant (North Little Rock)

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

North Little Rock, Arkansas

2.8 mi

Sonic Drive-In

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Salem, Arkansas

Hours: 6:30 am–10 pm

+18708952226

Visit website

Sonic Drive-In

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 19.9

Ash Flat, Arkansas

Hours: 6:30 am–10 pm

+18709943490

Visit website

The Purple Cow Restaurant (North Little Rock)

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 139.1

North Little Rock, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15019047269

Visit website

Town House Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 258.3

El Dorado, Arkansas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+18708634519

Red E Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 59.6

Batesville, Arkansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 19.9

Ash Flat, Arkansas

+19499452000

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 144.2 and 260.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

144.2 mi into trip | ~2h 58m in | US 167

Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US...

149.1 mi into trip | ~3h 5m in | I 530; US 65; US 167

Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

159 mi into trip | ~3h 15m in | US 167

Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dorado

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dora...

219.1 mi into trip | ~4h 27m in | US 167

Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward US 167: El Dorado

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 167: El Dorado

260.7 mi into trip | ~5h 18m in | US 167

Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Junction City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 167 South, AR 7 South: El Dorado, Jun...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.01 one way

$84.03 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$46.12	$92.24
premium	$4.56	$49.93	$99.87
diesel	$5.61	$61.42	$122.85

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: 97.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	83.5	1	$29.21	$13.35
Efficient EV	69.6	0	$24.34	$11.13
EV Truck/SUV	111.3	1	$38.95	$17.80

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Salem, AR

Afternoon in Salem on Saturday

Local time

12:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Caledonia, AR

Afternoon in New Caledonia on Saturday

Local time

12:46 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

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

5h 43m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

278.2 mi in 5h 43m, mostly highway — 173.5 mi of that is on US 167.

68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 173.5 mi on US 167.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 167 and Batesville Boulevard. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 144.2 miles in near US 167.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 278.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 144.2 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.1 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 159 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Salem, AR and New Caledonia, AR, road signs point toward Fordyce, El Dorado and Junction City.

Fordyce

159 mi in | ~3h 15m | via US 167

El Dorado

159 mi in | ~3h 15m | via US 167

Junction City

260.7 mi in | ~5h 18m | via US 167

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 43m. Total distance: 278.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 173.5 miles on US 167. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Caledonia, AR before the return drive.

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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Trip from Salem, AR to New Caledonia, AR

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Sonic Drive-In

Sonic Drive-In

Sonic Drive-In

The Purple Cow Restaurant (North Little Rock)

Town House Restaurant

Red E Charging Station

Red E Charging Station

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Salem, AR

New Caledonia, AR

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 43m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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