Origin
Des Arc, AR
Late night in Des Arc on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Arc, AR to North 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 7m
Distance
56.2 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Arc, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Des Arc to North Little Rock, you are looking at a straightforward 56.2-mile trek across Arkansas. With a travel time of approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes, this journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You will primarily utilize I-40, AR-11, and AR-38 to complete the connection between these two Southeast locations. Budgeting about $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for the drive. Since the entire trip takes just over an hour, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated logistics. It is a practical, efficient route that gets you from point A to point B without any unnecessary fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 39.6 mi | 41m |
| AR 11 | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| AR 38 | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| John F Kennedy Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Calvary Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 39.6 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Arc, AR and North 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
40 mi
·
41 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
9
Turn straight onto Calvary Road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Calvary Road
10
Turn left onto AR 107
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
John F Kennedy Boulevard
11
Continue on North Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.1 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 54.9 — 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.
4
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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
$8.49 one way
$16.98 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.32 | $18.63 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.09 | $20.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.90 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
North Little Rock, AR
Late night in North Little Rock on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 7m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads. With 96% of the route consisting of highway travel, you will spend the vast majority of your time cruising at higher speeds. The most significant portion of the trip is a 39.6-mile stretch on I-40, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you transition from the local state routes of AR-11 and AR-38 onto the interstate, the character of the drive shifts from regional road travel to a more standard high-speed highway experience. It is a functional, consistent drive that allows you to maintain a steady pace for nearly the entire distance.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and AR 11. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 323 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Des Arc, AR to North Little Rock, AR is easy. At 1h 7m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
270 ft
202 ft
Total Climb
100 ft
Total Descent
32 ft
Highest Point
270 ft
~56.2 mi in
Elevation Range
68 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in North Little Rock, AR
Full guide →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.
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 7m. Total distance: 56.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.6 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 North 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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