Jonesboro to North Little Rock is 127.1 miles and takes about 2h 17m via I 57 and US 78, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward drive, largely on interstates, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points. Expect a predominantly highway experience, suitable for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.6 miles from Jonesboro, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 45m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
I 40
1.2 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Union Street
0.6 mi
1m
John F Kennedy Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, AR and North Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on this road
75 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
458 ft·25 sec·Cate Avenue
3
Turn left onto Union Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Union Street
4
Turn left onto West Oak Avenue
257 ft·9 sec·West Oak Avenue
5
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.9 mi·1 min·South Main Street
6
Continue on AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
7
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
9
Merge onto I 57
103 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 57
10
Merge onto I 40; US 167
1.2 mi·1 min·I 40; US 167
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
12
Turn straight onto Calvary Road
0.2 mi·18 sec·Calvary Road
13
Turn left onto AR 107
0.3 mi·34 sec·John F Kennedy Boulevard
14
Continue on North Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short trip of just over two hours, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush hour traffic in either city, allowing you to arrive in the afternoon. With only 127.1 miles, you won't need many fuel stops, but it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially since the longest stretch on I 57 is over 100 miles. Plan for one brief stop for a stretch or restroom break midway, perhaps around the halfway point where you transition roads.
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 63.6 miles from Jonesboro, AR, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.6 miles or 1h 10m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Little Rock, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jonesboro, 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 Jonesboro, AR
This is one driving day of about 127.1 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Jonesboro, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 102.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.5 — 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|Cate Avenue
Turn right onto Cate Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Union Street
Turn left onto Union Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|West Oak Avenue
Turn left onto West Oak Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.5 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.20 one way
$38.39 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$21.07
$42.14
premium
$4.56
$22.81
$45.63
diesel
$5.61
$28.06
$56.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.1
0
$13.35
$6.10
Efficient EV
31.8
0
$11.12
$5.08
EV Truck/SUV
50.8
0
$17.79
$8.13
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 18, 2026
Origin
Jonesboro, AR
Late night
in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
5:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph78% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 12:36AM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 17 at 11:54PM CDT until April 18 at 2:00AM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK
Destination
North Little Rock, AR
Late night
in North Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
5:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph47% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 12:36AM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 17 at 11:54PM CDT until April 18 at 2:00AM CDT by NWS Tulsa OK
79°F
Augusta, AR
64 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 17m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 92% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 57 and US 78. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 102.7 miles on I 57, meaning extended periods of consistent speed and minimal traffic interruptions. The profile suggests a highway-focused drive, so anticipate a predictable and efficient journey primarily featuring high-speed travel, with only brief transitions onto local roads like Southwest Drive.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and US 78. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cate Avenue.
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 17m drive. You will face about 9 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 (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (West Oak Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on I 57. 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 (Cate Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (West Oak Avenue): 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.
