This 116.2-mile drive from Hughes to Little Rock, Arkansas, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 2 hours and 16 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I-40, making it a highway-focused experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region of Arkansas. This straightforward journey offers a practical way to travel between these two points without needing an overnight stop, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.1 miles from Hughes, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
93.1 mi
1h 34m
Main Street
11.9 mi
20m
AR 50
4.2 mi
7m
North Jefferson Street
2.5 mi
4m
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
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 93.1 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hughes, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on Jeff Davis Street
123 ft·7 sec·Jeff Davis Street
2
Turn right onto Cowan Street North
335 ft·15 sec·Cowan Street North
3
Turn right onto AR 38
12 mi·20 min·Main Street
4
Turn left onto AR 50
4.2 mi·7 min·AR 50
5
Turn right onto AR 50
2.5 mi·4 min·North Jefferson Street
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
93 mi·1 hr 34 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
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing you to depart at your convenience. You can easily complete the 116.2 miles without needing to split the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch on I-40 is over 93 miles, and plan a brief stop if needed. The $18 fuel cost is an estimate, so factoring in a little extra is always wise. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops along the way if something catches your eye.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.1 miles from Hughes, AR, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.1 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 26 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.1 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 51m
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 Hughes, 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 Hughes, AR
This is one driving day of about 116.2 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Hughes, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 93.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 116.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Cowan Street North
Turn right onto Cowan Street North
Navigation decision point
4
12 mi into trip|~21m in|AR 50
Turn left onto AR 50
Navigation decision point
5
19 mi into trip|~33m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
112.1 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US...
6
116.2 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.55 one way
$35.10 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.26
$38.53
premium
$4.56
$20.86
$41.71
diesel
$5.61
$25.66
$51.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.9
0
$12.20
$5.58
Efficient EV
29.1
0
$10.17
$4.65
EV Truck/SUV
46.5
0
$16.27
$7.44
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Hughes, AR
Night
in Hughes on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Night
in Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 16m 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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey on major roadways like I-40. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 93.1 miles on I-40, which means consistent speeds and minimal distractions. While the bulk of the trip is on the interstate, you'll also navigate local roads such as Main Street and AR 50, offering a slight change of pace before merging back onto faster routes. This blend provides a predictable driving experience with brief moments on smaller roads.
85% 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: 93.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cowan Street North.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 16m drive. You will face about 12 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 (Cowan Street North): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (AR 50): Navigation decision point; at 19 miles (I 40): 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.
The longest stretch is about 93.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Cowan Street North): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (AR 50): Navigation decision point; at 19 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Little Rock, AR before heading back.
