Caraway, AR to North Little Rock, AR is 153 miles and takes about 2 hours 56 minutes via I 57 and US 78, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you through the Southeast region of Arkansas, staying within the state for the entirety of your journey. You'll primarily be on highway routes, making for a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for potential detours or a leisurely 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
76.5 miles from Caraway, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 45m
Highway 18
19.4 mi
28m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
East State Street
5.7 mi
10m
AR 135
2.2 mi
3m
I 40
1.2 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caraway, AR and North Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on AR 158
5.7 mi·10 min·East State Street
2
Continue on AR 135
2.2 mi·3 min·AR 135
3
Turn left onto AR 135
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Rogers
4
Turn left onto US 78; AR 18
19 mi·28 min·Highway 18
5
Turn left onto AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
6
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
8
Merge onto I 57
103 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 57
9
Merge onto I 40; US 167
1.2 mi·1 min·I 40; US 167
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
11
Turn straight onto Calvary Road
0.2 mi·18 sec·Calvary Road
12
Turn left onto AR 107
0.3 mi·34 sec·John F Kennedy Boulevard
13
Continue on North Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 3 hours, this route offers excellent flexibility; you can depart in the morning and still have most of your day at your destination. There's one recommended stop, so consider timing it around the halfway point or when you need a break. Given the 153-mile distance, fuel costs are estimated at $23, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Caraway to maximize your driving time. Keep an eye on highway signage for I 57 and US 78 as you navigate between these main arteries.
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 76.5 miles from Caraway, AR, or about 1h 36m 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 34 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.5 miles or 1h 36m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Little Rock, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Caraway, 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 Caraway, AR
This is one driving day of about 153 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Caraway, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.9 and 151.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
7.9 mi into trip|~13m in|AR 135 / West Rogers
Turn left onto AR 135 / West Rogers
Navigation decision point
3
8 mi into trip|~14m in|US 78; AR 18 / Highway 18
Turn left onto US 78; AR 18 / Highway 18
Navigation decision point
3
27.5 mi into trip|~42m in|AR 18 / Southwest Drive
Turn left onto AR 18 / Southwest Drive
Navigation decision point
5
47.4 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
151.6 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.11 one way
$46.21 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.37
$50.73
premium
$4.56
$27.46
$54.92
diesel
$5.61
$33.78
$67.56
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: 53.5 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
$16.06
$7.34
Efficient EV
38.3
0
$13.39
$6.12
EV Truck/SUV
61.2
0
$21.42
$9.79
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Caraway, AR
Night
in Caraway on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Little Rock, AR
Night
in North Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Newark, AR
77 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 56m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 90% of your travel occurring on major roads like I 57 and US 78. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey, particularly during the longest stretch of 102.7 miles on I 57. While primarily highway, the transition onto other main roads will offer slight variations in scenery and traffic flow. The highway share means you'll experience a more direct and efficient travel experience compared to backroads.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Highway 18. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 7.9 miles in near AR 135 / West Rogers.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 56m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.9 miles (AR 135 / West Rogers): Navigation decision point; at 8 miles (US 78; AR 18 / Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 27.5 miles (AR 18 / Southwest Drive): Navigation decision point.
North Little Rock is in the Central region of Arkansas. Previously known as Argenta, it became known as North Little Rock after an unsuccessful annexation attempt by Little Rock.
It's prudent not to go flouting your collection of prized jewelry when roaming the streets of North Little Rock, as the community can be a little sketch.
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on I 57. 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: at 7.9 miles (AR 135 / West Rogers): Navigation decision point; at 8 miles (US 78; AR 18 / Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 27.5 miles (AR 18 / Southwest Drive): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North Little Rock, AR before heading back.
