If you are planning a trip from Little Rock to Tennessee, Arkansas, expect a straightforward journey covering 91.8 miles. You should budget about 1 hour and 46 minutes of driving time, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Since there are no required stops on this route, you can easily complete the trip without an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel for the round trip. Navigating through the Southeast, you will find this path stays entirely within Arkansas, moving from the state capital region toward a more localized destination. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that lets you reach your destination efficiently without the need for extensive travel logistics.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.9 miles from Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 530
43.9 mi
45m
Highway 530
22.9 mi
26m
US 425
15.7 mi
20m
West Gaines Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Highway 11
2 mi
2m
Wilbur D. Mills Freeway
1.4 mi
1m
I 30
1.2 mi
1m
Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 530
— 43.9 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little Rock, AR and Tennessee, 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
286 ft·13 sec·West 7th Street
7
Turn right onto Dr Martin Luther King Drive
473 ft·21 sec·Dr Martin Luther King Drive
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 630
1.4 mi·1 min·Wilbur D. Mills Freeway
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 139BToward I 30 West: Texarkana
11
Merge onto I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
1.2 mi·1 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
44 mi·45 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·52 sec
Exit 44Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
14
Continue on AR 530
23 mi·26 min·Highway 530
15
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11
2.0 mi·2 min·Highway 11
16
Turn right onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
17
Take the exit
226 ft·6 sec
18
Turn slight right onto US 278
2.6 mi·4 min·West Gaines Avenue
19
Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Tennessee Spur Road
20
Arrive at destination
Tennessee Spur Road
Trip Plan
Because this is a shorter drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert for local traffic patterns as you navigate off the main thoroughfares. Since you will spend about $12 in fuel, filling up before you leave Little Rock is a smart way to avoid hunting for stations once you are on the move. There are no planned stops on this 1-hour and 46-minute trip, so ensure you are comfortable before setting out. Keep a navigation app handy to manage the frequent turns on Capitol Mall and West 7th Street, which are essential for staying on track during this specific localized trek.
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 45.9 miles from Little Rock, AR, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.9 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.9 miles or 50m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tennessee, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Little Rock, AR
This is one driving day of about 91.8 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 530 for about 43.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 47.4 — 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
7
0.5 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30 West: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 139B
Toward I 30 West: Texarkana
6
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in|I 530; US 65; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
47.4 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 44
Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.86 one way
$27.73 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.22
$30.44
premium
$4.56
$16.48
$32.95
diesel
$5.61
$20.27
$40.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.5
0
$9.64
$4.41
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.03
$3.67
EV Truck/SUV
36.7
0
$12.85
$5.88
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Little Rock, AR
Late night
in Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tennessee, AR
Late night
in Tennessee on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
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
1h 46m 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?
This 91.8-mile journey is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature rather than high-speed highway cruising. You will spend 0% of your time on major highways, as the route relies on local infrastructure like State Capitol, Capitol Mall, and West 7th Street. Because of this, the longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on State Capitol, meaning you should be prepared for frequent turns and steady navigation. The road's personality is distinctly urban and local, demanding your full attention at the wheel. Do not expect the monotony of an interstate; instead, anticipate a more hands-on driving experience that requires careful maneuvering through local streets.
95% 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: 43.9 mi on I 530.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 530 and Highway 530. 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 Effort6/10
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 91.8 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Little Rock, AR to Tennessee, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
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.
Tennessee is a US state in the South known for its rich history, music, and the Appalachian Mountains along its eastern border. Many visitors come to see Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 91.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.9 miles on I 530. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tennessee, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (State Capitol): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tennessee, AR before heading back.
