Traveling from Greenland to Little Rock covers 185.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 50 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach the capital without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of I-40 East, AR 365, and Mac Arthur Drive to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $28 for fuel will cover the transit between these two Southeast Arkansas locations. Since both the origin and destination are within the same state and region, you can expect a familiar, consistent atmosphere throughout your time on the road.
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
91.7 miles from Greenland, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
139.2 mi
2h 19m
I 49
37.8 mi
37m
Pike Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
West Wilson Street
1.3 mi
2m
West 3rd Street
0.8 mi
1m
West Broadway Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Broadway Bridge
0.5 mi
<1m
Mac Arthur Drive
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 139.2 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenland, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on West Wilson Street
1.3 mi·2 min·West Wilson Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·21 sec
3
Merge onto I 49
38 mi·37 min·I 49
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward I 40 East: Alma, Little Rock
5
Merge onto I 40; US 71
139 mi·2 hr 19 min·I 40; US 71
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward AR 365
7
Turn straight onto AR 365
0.4 mi·36 sec·Mac Arthur Drive
8
Continue on AR 365
1.5 mi·2 min·Pike Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Enter roundabout onto AR 365
289 ft·5 sec·West Broadway Street
10
Continue on AR 365
0.4 mi·48 sec·West Broadway Street
11
Turn right onto US 70
0.5 mi·42 sec·Broadway Bridge
12
Continue on US 70
0.2 mi·24 sec·Broadway Street
13
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street
14
Turn left onto State Capitol
314 ft·13 sec·State Capitol
15
Continue on State Capitol
440 ft·20 sec·State Capitol
16
Continue on State Capitol
415 ft·25 sec·State Capitol
17
Turn sharp left
260 ft·19 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2-hour and 50-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Plan for one designated stop to stretch your legs and ensure you have enough fuel, given the $28 estimate for the full distance. Because this is a turn-heavy route, keep your GPS accessible to navigate the switch between I-40, AR 365, and Mac Arthur Drive smoothly. Taking this drive in a single push is manageable, but keep an eye on local traffic patterns when entering Little Rock to avoid unnecessary delays at the end of your journey.
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 91.7 miles from Greenland, AR, or about 1h 33m 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 40 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.7 miles or 1h 33m 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 32m
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 Greenland, 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 Greenland, AR
This is one driving day of about 183.5 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Greenland, 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 183.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip|~2m in|I 49
Merge onto I 49
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
39.4 mi into trip|~40m 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
4
179.2 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward AR 365
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AR 365
6
183.4 mi into trip|~3h 9m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.71 one way
$55.43 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.42
$60.84
premium
$4.56
$32.94
$65.87
diesel
$5.61
$40.51
$81.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.1
0
$19.27
$8.81
Efficient EV
45.9
0
$16.06
$7.34
EV Truck/SUV
73.4
0
$25.69
$11.74
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 20, 2026
Origin
Greenland, AR
Late night
in Greenland on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Late night
in Little Rock on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Delaware, AR
92 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 9m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While the route utilizes major thoroughfares like I-40 East, the transition onto AR 365 and Mac Arthur Drive shifts the pace significantly. You will find that this is not a high-speed highway-dominated trek, as the highway share is 0 percent. Instead, the road demands your attention with frequent turns and local navigation. Stay focused as the character of the pavement changes from arterial roads to smaller local connectors as you approach the city center.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 49. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 9m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 49): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
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 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 49): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Little Rock, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
