Traveling from Marianna to North Little Rock covers 95.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 56 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $15 on fuel for the journey, making it a very budget-friendly excursion. You will primarily navigate through the Southeast region of Arkansas, transitioning from the Marianna area toward the urban center of North Little Rock. This highway-focused drive is straightforward and efficient, serving as a practical connection between these two points in the state. It is an ideal route for travelers who value speed and simplicity over winding backroads.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.9 miles from Marianna, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
67.4 mi
1h 8m
State Highway 78
14.9 mi
26m
US 79
8.9 mi
13m
East Chestnut Street
2.9 mi
4m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
John F Kennedy Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Calvary Road
0.2 mi
<1m
North Poplar Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 67.4 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marianna, AR and North Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on North Poplar Street
295 ft·13 sec·North Poplar Street
2
Turn left onto East Chestnut Street
2.9 mi·4 min·East Chestnut Street
3
Continue on US 79
8.9 mi·13 min·US 79
4
Turn right onto AR 78
4.9 mi·8 min·State Highway 78
5
Continue on AR 78
10 mi·17 min·State Highway 78
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
67 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
9
Turn straight onto Calvary Road
0.2 mi·18 sec·Calvary Road
10
Turn left onto AR 107
0.3 mi·34 sec·John F Kennedy Boulevard
11
Continue on North Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours in North Little Rock is always a wise strategy. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily manage the 95.9-mile distance without needing a formal break, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer I-40 stretch. Budgeting $15 for gas is a safe estimate, but filling up in Marianna before you head out ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station once you hit the interstate. Take advantage of the trip's brevity to enjoy a relaxed morning start, as you will reach your destination well before the afternoon if you leave early.
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 47.9 miles from Marianna, AR, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 21 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.9 miles or 1h 6m 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 37m
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 Marianna, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Marianna, AR
This is one driving day of about 95.9 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Marianna, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 67.4 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 94.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Chestnut Street
Turn left onto East Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
3
11.9 mi into trip|~18m in|AR 78 / State Highway 78
Turn right onto AR 78 / State Highway 78
Navigation decision point
4
26.8 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
27.1 mi into trip|~45m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
94.5 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.48 one way
$28.97 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.90
$31.80
premium
$4.56
$17.21
$34.43
diesel
$5.61
$21.17
$42.35
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: 33.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.8
0
$10.07
$4.60
Efficient EV
24
0
$8.39
$3.84
EV Truck/SUV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Marianna, AR
Night
in Marianna on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Little Rock, AR
Night
in North Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
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 56m 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 route is heavily dominated by major thoroughfares, with 95% of the drive spent on highways. You will find yourself navigating a mix of State Highway 78, US 79, and the primary arterial route, I-40. The journey features a significant 67.4-mile uninterrupted stretch on I-40, which allows for consistent speeds and a predictable driving experience. While the road starts with local highway connections, the transition onto the interstate shifts the character of the trip toward a standard highway-focused cruise. Expect a functional, direct drive that prioritizes reaching your destination efficiently rather than providing a technical or slow-paced driving experience.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 78. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Chestnut Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Marianna, AR to North Little Rock, AR is easy. At 1h 56m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles (AR 78 / State Highway 78): Navigation decision point; at 26.8 miles: 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 67.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (East Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.9 miles (AR 78 / State Highway 78): Navigation decision point; at 26.8 miles: 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.
