Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
60.6 mi
97 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Hamilton, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Little Rock, AR
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to travel from Lake Hamilton to Little Rock, you are in for a straightforward 60.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 12 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it covers a relatively short distance within the Southeast region of Arkansas. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the excursion, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. Because the drive is brief, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your planning. Whether you are heading to the capital for business or leisure, the transit is efficient enough to keep your day manageable and stress-free.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 70 | 27.4 mi | 31m |
| East Grand Avenue | 18.2 mi | 22m |
| Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway | 6.4 mi | 6m |
| Central Avenue | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| I 30 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Wilbur D. Mills Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Pakis Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| State Capitol | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Hamilton, AR and Little Rock, AR.
Start on AR 7
Turn right onto Pakis Street
Take the exit
Merge onto US 70; US 270
Take the exit onto US 70
Merge onto US 70
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
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.3 miles from Lake Hamilton, 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 4.4 and 60.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
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
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto State Capitol
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.15 one way
$18.30 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.05 | $20.09 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.88 | $21.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.38 | $26.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lake Hamilton on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Little Rock on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
78°F
Kentucky, AR
30 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 highway-focused drive that keeps you moving efficiently toward your destination. You will navigate via US 70, East Grand Avenue, and the Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior Expressway, with highways accounting for 61% of your total time on the road. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 27.4-mile stretch along US 70, which provides a consistent pace for the majority of your transit. As you transition from the Lake Hamilton area into Little Rock, the road conditions remain steady and predictable. It is a functional, no-nonsense route designed to get you from point A to point B without unnecessary complications or technical driving challenges.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 70 and East Grand Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 4.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.5 miles (US 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 56.4 miles (I 30; US 67): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 12m. Total distance: 60.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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