Connecting Gentry to Little Rock, this 219.8-mile journey across Arkansas typically takes about 3 hours and 54 minutes of driving time. Because the vast majority of the trek is highway-focused, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $34 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Southeast, you will find this route serves as a direct, efficient link between the two Arkansas cities. It is a straightforward transit option for those prioritizing speed and reliability over backroad exploration.
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
109.9 miles from Gentry, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
139.2 mi
2h 19m
I 49
51.4 mi
52m
US 412
17.8 mi
23m
AR 59
4.4 mi
6m
Pike Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
South Gentry Boulevard
1.2 mi
2m
West 3rd Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Collins Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 139.2 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gentry, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on AR 59B
67 ft·6 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto AR 59B
0.5 mi·1 min·South Collins Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto AR 59
1.2 mi·2 min·South Gentry Boulevard
4
Continue on AR 59
4.3 mi·6 min·AR 59
5
Continue on AR 59
421 ft·14 sec·AR 59
Use the straight lane.
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 412
18 mi·23 min·US 412
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 49; US 62; US 71
51 mi·52 min·I 49; US 62; US 71
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
10
Merge onto I 40; US 71
139 mi·2 hr 19 min·I 40; US 71
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward AR 365
12
Turn straight onto AR 365
0.4 mi·36 sec·Mac Arthur Drive
13
Continue on AR 365
1.5 mi·2 min·Pike Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto AR 365
289 ft·5 sec·West Broadway Street
15
Continue on AR 365
0.4 mi·48 sec·West Broadway Street
16
Turn right onto US 70
0.5 mi·42 sec·Broadway Bridge
17
Continue on US 70
0.2 mi·24 sec·Broadway Street
18
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street
19
Turn left onto State Capitol
314 ft·13 sec·State Capitol
20
Continue on State Capitol
440 ft·20 sec·State Capitol
21
Continue on State Capitol
415 ft·25 sec·State Capitol
22
Turn sharp left
260 ft·19 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip is simple since it only requires one primary stop to break up the nearly four-hour drive. Leaving early in the morning helps you avoid potential congestion on the main interstates, especially during peak traffic hours near your destination. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that long 139.2-mile stretch on I-40, as services can be spaced out. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure to suit your personal schedule. Prioritize your single planned stop midway to ensure you stay refreshed for the final leg of your journey into Little Rock.
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 109.9 miles from Gentry, AR, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.2 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.9 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
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 Gentry, 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 Gentry, AR
This is one driving day of about 219.8 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Gentry, 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 40 for about 139.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 219.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.2 mi into trip|~9m in|US 412
At end of road, turn left onto US 412
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
24 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
24.3 mi into trip|~33m in|I 49; US 62; US 71
Merge onto I 49; US 62; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
6
219.7 mi into trip|~3h 54m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.19 one way
$66.39 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$36.44
$72.88
premium
$4.56
$39.45
$78.90
diesel
$5.61
$48.53
$97.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.9
0
$23.08
$10.55
Efficient EV
55
0
$19.23
$8.79
EV Truck/SUV
87.9
1
$30.77
$14.07
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Gentry, AR
Late night
in Gentry on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Late night
in Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Delaware, AR
110 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
5 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
3h 54m 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?
Prepare for a high-speed experience, as 97 percent of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-49, US-412, and I-40, which provide a consistent, fast-paced rhythm behind the wheel. The most significant portion of your travel involves a 139.2-mile stretch on I-40, where you can settle into a steady cruise. While the journey is largely utilitarian rather than scenic, the transition between these major arteries keeps the drive moving quickly. Expect a predictable experience that relies on major infrastructure rather than technical local roads.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in near US 412.
Driving Effort5/10
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 219.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 6.2 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.3 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 219.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.2 miles on I 40. 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.
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 6.2 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.3 miles (I 49; US 62; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Little Rock, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
