Origin
Des Arc, AR
Morning in Des Arc on Tuesday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Arc, AR to Little Rock, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
58.8 mi
95 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Arc, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Little Rock, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Des Arc to Little Rock is a straightforward 58.8-mile journey that takes about 1 hour and 12 minutes to complete. Because the trip is short, it is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via I-40, AR-11, and AR-38, making this an efficient connection between these two Southeast Arkansas locations. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, it is a very budget-friendly transit. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a quick visit, this route offers a reliable, no-nonsense path that keeps you on the road for less than an hour and a half.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 39.3 mi | 40m |
| AR 11 | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| AR 38 | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| US 167 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West 3rd Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broadway Bridge | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East 7th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 39.3 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Arc, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on North 3rd
36 ft
·
3 sec
·
North 3rd
2
Turn right onto AR 323
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto North 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
North 5th Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 38
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
AR 38
5
Continue on AR 11
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
AR 11
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
39 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 167
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
US 167
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 70 East
10
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
East 7th Street
11
Turn straight onto West 7th Street
175 ft
·
3 sec
·
West 7th Street
12
Continue on North Broadway Street
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Broadway Street
13
Continue on US 70
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Broadway Bridge
14
Continue on US 70
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Broadway Street
15
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 3rd Street
16
Turn left onto State Capitol
314 ft
·
13 sec
·
State Capitol
17
Continue on State Capitol
440 ft
·
20 sec
·
State Capitol
18
Continue on State Capitol
415 ft
·
25 sec
·
State Capitol
19
Turn sharp left
260 ft
·
19 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.4 miles from Des Arc, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 323 / Main Street
Turn right onto AR 323 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 5th Street
Turn right onto North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
AR 38
At end of road, turn left onto AR 38
Navigation decision point
5
15.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.88 one way
$17.76 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.75 | $19.50 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.55 | $21.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.98 | $25.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
| Efficient EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.23 | $3.76 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Morning in Little Rock on Tuesday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Jacksonville, AR
29 mi in
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
1h 12m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of your time spent on high-speed routes. You can expect a consistent pace, particularly during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 39.3 miles along I-40. The transition from the rural feel of Des Arc into the busier environment of Little Rock happens quickly as you merge onto the interstate. While the initial segments involve AR-11 and AR-38, the majority of your experience behind the wheel will be characterized by the steady flow of interstate traffic. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and AR 11. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 323 / Main Street.
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 1h 12m drive. You will face about 11 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 (AR 323 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AR 38): Navigation decision point.
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 1h 12m. Total distance: 58.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.3 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 323 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (AR 38): Navigation decision point.
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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