Origin
Ashdown, AR
Late night in Ashdown on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ashdown, AR to Little Rock, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 47m
Distance
153.1 mi
246 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 37m
★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 53m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ashdown, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Little Rock, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ashdown to Little Rock is 153.1 miles and takes about 2h 47m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region for its entirety. Expect a local, turn-heavy experience rather than a high-speed interstate journey. Given its manageable length, it’s a straightforward trip for a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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
76.6 miles from Ashdown, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 130.7 mi | 2h 13m |
| North Constitution Avenue | 11.3 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 108 | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| I 30 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Wilbur D. Mills Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| State Capitol | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Road 2320 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 130.7 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashdown, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on East Main Street
83 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 59; US 71; AR 32B
11 mi
·
15 min
·
North Constitution Avenue
3
Turn left onto County Road 2320
189 ft
·
5 sec
·
County Road 2320
4
Continue on AR 108
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 108
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
6
Merge onto I 30
131 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
I 30; US 67
8
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 630
10
Continue on I 630
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilbur D. Mills Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
12
Turn right onto Dr Martin Luther King Drive
188 ft
·
13 sec
·
Dr Martin Luther King Drive
13
Turn left onto West 7th Street
408 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 7th Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto State Capitol
503 ft
·
22 sec
·
State Capitol
15
Turn slight right
260 ft
·
19 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under three hours and a fuel cost around $23, this trip offers significant flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive in Little Rock with plenty of daylight remaining. There's only one recommended stop, so plan for that strategically along your route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent compared to major interstates. Consider bringing snacks and drinks, as this drive focuses more on the journey between towns.
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 76.6 miles from Ashdown, AR, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.7 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 34 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.6 miles or 1h 27m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Little Rock, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ashdown, 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 Ashdown, AR
This is one driving day of about 153.1 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Ashdown, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 130.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.6 miles from Ashdown, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 153 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue
Turn left onto US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
149 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
|
I 30; US 67
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
150.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 630
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 630
7
152.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 46m in
|
West 7th Street
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
153 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
|
State Capitol
Turn right onto State Capitol
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.12 one way
$46.24 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $25.38 | $50.76 |
| premium | $4.56 | $27.48 | $54.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.80 | $67.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.9 | 0 | $16.08 | $7.35 |
| Efficient EV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.40 | $6.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.2 | 0 | $21.43 | $9.80 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Late night in Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
2h 47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with only about 6% of the journey on highways. The majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads, including stretches on Purple Heart Trail and State Highway 108. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 130.7 miles along Purple Heart Trail. This suggests a driving experience that involves more frequent adjustments in direction and speed, typical of secondary roads connecting smaller communities.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 130.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 47m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 149 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 150.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Arriving in Little Rock, AR
Full guide →Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the state of Arkansas. Little Rock is a cultural, economic, government, and transportation center within Arkansas and the American South. Several cultural institutions are in Little Rock, along with hiking, boating, and other outdoor recreational opportunities. Little Rock's history is available through history museums, historic districts or neighborhoods.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 153.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 130.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 59; US 71; AR 32B / North Constitution Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 149 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 150.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Little Rock, AR before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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