Little Rock to Bull Shoals is 144.6 miles and takes about 3h 30m via US 65 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With 86% of the drive on highways, you'll experience mostly efficient travel, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. Expect a relatively quick transit time, allowing for ample time at your destination.
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
72.3 miles from Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 65
26.6 mi
36m
I 40
26.1 mi
26m
State Highway 14
23.5 mi
41m
US Highway 65
23.1 mi
31m
South Broadview Street
11.8 mi
16m
AR 27
10.6 mi
18m
AR 178
10 mi
17m
US 62
4.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 26.6 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little Rock, AR and Bull Shoals, AR.
1
Start on this road
385 ft·35 sec·this road
2
Turn sharp left onto State Capitol
361 ft·16 sec·State Capitol
3
Continue on State Capitol
528 ft·23 sec·State Capitol
4
Turn left onto Capitol Mall
116 ft·7 sec·Capitol Mall
5
Turn right onto State Capitol
387 ft·22 sec·State Capitol
6
Turn left onto West 7th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 7th Street
7
Turn left onto US 70
0.5 mi·53 sec·Broadway Street
8
Continue on US 70
0.5 mi·48 sec·Broadway Bridge
9
Turn left onto AR 365
0.4 mi·46 sec·West Broadway Street
10
Enter roundabout onto Pike Avenue
22 ft·0 sec·Pike Avenue
11
Continue on Pike Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·Pike Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on AR 365
0.7 mi·1 min·Mac Arthur Drive
Use the left lane.
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 40; US 65
26 mi·26 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto US 65
0.4 mi·50 sec·US 65
Toward US 65 North, US 65B South
16
Merge onto US 65
1.3 mi·2 min·Skyline Drive
17
Continue on US 65
3.2 mi·4 min·US Highway 65
18
Continue on US 65
12 mi·16 min·South Broadview Street
19
Continue on US 65
1.5 mi·1 min·US Highway 65
20
Continue on US 65
0.7 mi·56 sec·North Broadview Street
21
Continue on US 65
1.1 mi·1 min·South Broadway
22
Continue on US 65; Hwy 124
18 mi·25 min·US Highway 65
23
Continue on US 65; AR 9; AR 16
26 mi·36 min·US 65; AR 9; AR 16
24
Take the exit
208 ft·5 sec
25
Turn straight onto AR 27
11 mi·18 min·AR 27
26
Continue on AR 14
24 mi·41 min·State Highway 14
27
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 412
4.9 mi·5 min·US 62; US 412
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto AR 178
10 mi·17 min·AR 178
Use the left lane.
29
Turn left onto Broadway Avenue
36 ft·1 sec·Broadway Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Broadway Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 30m estimated drive time, leaving Little Rock in the morning is ideal to maximize your day in Bull Shoals. The $22 fuel cost is a reasonable estimate for this 144.6-mile trip, so ensure your tank is full before you depart to avoid unnecessary stops. Since the route is only 144.6 miles and largely highway, you have flexibility; consider a brief stop for a break around the halfway point if needed. Pay attention to signs for State Highway 14 as you get closer, as this will signal the shift from primary highways to your final approach.
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 72.3 miles from Little Rock, AR, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.6 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 32 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 35m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bull Shoals, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Little Rock, 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 Little Rock, AR
This is one driving day of about 144.6 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Little Rock, 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 US 65 for about 26.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 129.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|State Capitol
Turn sharp left onto State Capitol
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
4.6 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4.8 mi into trip|~10m in|I 40; US 65
Merge onto I 40; US 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
31 mi into trip|~36m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 65 North, US 65B South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 65 North, US 65B South
7
129.7 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|US 62; US 412
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 412
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.84 one way
$43.68 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$23.97
$47.95
premium
$4.56
$25.95
$51.91
diesel
$5.61
$31.93
$63.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.18
$6.94
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.65
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.24
$9.25
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Little Rock, AR
Afternoon
in Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bull Shoals, AR
Afternoon
in Bull Shoals on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Marshall, AR
72 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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 30m 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 predominantly highway driving, with 86% of the 144.6 miles on major roads like US 65 and I 40. You'll encounter a stretch of 26.6 miles on US 65, which is the longest continuous segment on a single highway. Expect to transition from higher-speed highway cruising to more local roads as you approach Bull Shoals, likely noticing a decrease in traffic density after exiting the interstate.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on US 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and I 40. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near State Capitol.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 144.6 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (State Capitol): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (I 40; US 65): 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 144.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on US 65. 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 0.1 miles (State Capitol): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (I 40; US 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Bull Shoals, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
