Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
55.2 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hot Springs, AR
Jimmy Liao
Little Rock, AR
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick transition between Hot Springs and Little Rock, this 55.2-mile journey is an ideal day trip. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 7 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate from the heart of the Southeast region. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, it is an incredibly cost-effective way to move between these two Arkansas hubs. Since the entire trip is easily manageable in a single day, you do not need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. This route offers a straightforward, practical link between the cities that suits travelers needing efficiency over a lengthy expedition.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 70 | 26.9 mi | 30m |
| West Grand Avenue | 24.2 mi | 30m |
| I 30 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Wilbur D. Mills Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| State Capitol | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Dr Martin Luther King Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hot Springs, AR and Little Rock, AR.
Start on US 70B; US 270B
Continue on US 70B; US 270B
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
Take the exit
Continue on I 630
Take the exit
Turn right onto Dr Martin Luther King Drive
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Turn right onto State Capitol
Turn slight right
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Hot Springs, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.2 and 55.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward I 630
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto State Capitol
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$8.34 one way
$16.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.15 | $18.30 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.91 | $19.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.19 | $24.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Hot Springs on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
76°F
Haskell, AR
28 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from local roads onto the interstate. You will begin by navigating West Grand Avenue before spending a significant portion of the trip on US 70, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.9 miles. With a 55% highway share, the drive balances rural road segments with the faster pace of I-30. The personality of the road shifts from regional surface streets to the more uniform rhythm of the interstate as you approach your destination. It is a functional drive that requires steady attention as you move through these varying infrastructure types.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 24.2 miles in near US 70.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.2 miles (US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.1 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 53 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
559 ft
Total Descent
813 ft
Highest Point
689 ft
~11.5 mi in
Elevation Range
443 ft
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 55.2 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 (55%). Straightforward navigation.
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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