Origin
Little Rock, AR
Night in Little Rock on Friday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Little Rock, AR to Fairfield Bay, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
86.6 mi
139 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 21m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Little Rock, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Fairfield Bay, AR
Kelly
Trip Overview
Little Rock to Fairfield Bay is 86.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 3 minutes via I 40 and US Highway 65, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, traversing the Southeast region both departing and arriving. Expect a primarily highway drive that should be straightforward for most drivers. With no planned stops and a short duration, this route is ideal for a quick getaway or an easy day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.3 miles from Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 26.1 mi | 26m |
| US Highway 65 | 23.1 mi | 31m |
| South Broadview Street | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| AR 9 | 9.6 mi | 16m |
| AR 16 | 4.6 mi | 8m |
| Dave Creek Parkway | 3 mi | 7m |
| Pike Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Skyline Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 26.1 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little Rock, AR and Fairfield Bay, 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
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 65; AR 9; AR 16
24
Continue on AR 9; AR 16
9.6 mi
·
16 min
·
AR 9; AR 16
25
Turn right onto AR 16
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
AR 16
26
Turn right onto Dave Creek Parkway
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Dave Creek Parkway
27
Arrive at destination
Dave Creek Parkway
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour drive, you have flexibility in when you depart Little Rock. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Fairfield Bay with plenty of daylight. Plan for your fuel needs, as the estimated cost is around $13, and there are no recommended stops on this route. While the drive is short, it's always wise to take a quick break if you feel the need, perhaps around the halfway point. Pay attention as you transition from the highway to local roads near Fairfield Bay.
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 43.3 miles from Little Rock, AR, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.1 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.3 miles or 55m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield Bay, 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 86.6 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Little Rock, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 26.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.3 miles from Little Rock, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31 — 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
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Capitol Mall
Turn left onto Capitol Mall
Navigation decision point
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.69 one way
$25.37 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $14.08 | $28.17 |
| premium | $4.49 | $15.29 | $30.59 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $19.09 | $38.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26 | 0 | $9.09 | $4.16 |
| Efficient EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.58 | $3.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.12 | $5.54 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Fairfield Bay, AR
Night in Fairfield Bay on Friday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
26 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
2h 3m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 77% of the route on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 26.1 miles on I 40 before transitioning to surface streets like South Broadview Street. The majority of the drive will feel like typical highway cruising, with fewer exits than you'd find in a major metropolitan area.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US Highway 65. You will hit about 14 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 Effort
5/10
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 86.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (Capitol Mall): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
879 ft
268 ft
Total Climb
1,095 ft
Total Descent
552 ft
Highest Point
879 ft
~86.6 mi in
Elevation Range
611 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Little Rock, AR
Full guide →Founded 1821
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.
Top landmarks
- • Arkansas State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Arkansas
- • Clinton Presidential Center — Presidential library and museum for U.S. President Bill Clinton, located in Litt...
- • Little Rock Central High School — historic school in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Arriving in Fairfield Bay, AR
Full guide →Fairfield Bay is a resort town in the Ozarks Region of Arkansas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 86.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.1 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: at 0.1 miles (State Capitol): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Capitol Mall): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fairfield Bay, AR before heading back.
How this page is built
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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