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Trip from Monticello, AR to Little Rock, AR

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 42m

Distance

89.4 mi

144 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 35m ★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Drew County, Arkansas, United States

Monticello, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Little Rock, AR, AR

Little Rock, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 89.4-mile drive from Monticello, AR, to Little Rock, AR, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 42 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a fuel cost estimated around $14. As you travel from the Southeast region of Arkansas to the same region, you'll find this route to be primarily highway-focused. It's a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively quick and direct journey between these two Arkansas cities, with no overnight stays typically required.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

44.7 miles from Monticello, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway 26.9 mi 28m
Highway 530 23.4 mi 27m
I 530 16.8 mi 16m
US 425 15.7 mi 20m
Highway 11 1.7 mi 1m
Wilbur D. Mills Freeway 1.4 mi 1m
I 30 1.2 mi 1m
West Gaines Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Wiley A Branton Sr Highway — 26.9 mi, about 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, AR and Little Rock, AR.

1

Start on US 278; Hwy 83

23 ft · 6 sec · West Gaines Avenue
2

Turn left onto AR 83

213 ft · 9 sec · North Main Street
3

Turn left onto US 278; Hwy 83

0.3 mi · 31 sec · West McCloy Avenue
4

At end of road, turn left onto US 278

146 ft · 2 sec · North Hyatt Street
5

Turn slight right onto US 278

0.4 mi · 31 sec · West Gaines Avenue
6

Take the ramp

219 ft · 5 sec
7

Merge onto US 425

16 mi · 20 min · US 425
8

Turn left onto AR 11

1.7 mi · 1 min · Highway 11
9

Turn right onto AR 530

23 mi · 27 min · Highway 530
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
11

Merge onto I 530; US 63; US 65; US 79

27 mi · 28 min · Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
12

Continue on I 530; US 65

17 mi · 16 min · I 530; US 65
13

Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 630
15

Continue on I 630

1.4 mi · 1 min · Wilbur D. Mills Freeway
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
17

Turn right onto Dr Martin Luther King Drive

188 ft · 13 sec · Dr Martin Luther King Drive
18

Turn left onto West 7th Street

408 ft · 13 sec · West 7th Street
Use the left lane.
19

Turn right onto State Capitol

503 ft · 22 sec · State Capitol
20

Turn slight right

260 ft · 19 sec
21

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the short 1-hour and 42-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility with this 89.4-mile route. Consider departing in the mid-morning to avoid any potential early rush hour in Little Rock. With no designated stops, you can easily pull over for a quick break whenever needed, perhaps after that 26.9-mile stretch on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. The estimated fuel cost of $14 is quite manageable, so you shouldn't need to worry about excessive refueling stops. Keep an eye out for the transition onto I-530 as it’s a key point in the drive.

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 44.7 miles from Monticello, AR, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.9 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 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 44.7 miles or 53m 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 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Little Rock, AR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Monticello, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Monticello, AR

This is one driving day of about 89.4 miles and 1h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Monticello, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway for about 26.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Arkansas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

White Hall, AR

45 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

Tennessee, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pine Bluff, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44.7 miles from Monticello, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Leon's Catfish & Shrimp Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 44.7

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+18708793150

Visit website

Leon's Catfish & Shrimp Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 44.7

Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+18708793150

Visit website

Grider Field Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 38.3

Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+18705364293

Visit website

The Purple Cow Restaurant (North Little Rock)

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 89.4

North Little Rock, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15019047269

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 89.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | AR 83 / North Main Street

Turn left onto AR 83 / North Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue

Turn left onto US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 278 / North Hyatt Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 278 / North Hyatt Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

6
41.6 mi into trip | ~50m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 530 North, US 65 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
89.2 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | West 7th Street

Turn left onto West 7th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.50 one way

$27.00 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $14.82 $29.64
premium $4.56 $16.05 $32.09
diesel $5.61 $19.74 $39.48

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: 31.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26.8 0 $9.39 $4.29
Efficient EV 22.4 0 $7.82 $3.58
EV Truck/SUV 35.8 0 $12.52 $5.72

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 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 17, 2026

Origin

Monticello, AR

Night in Monticello on Saturday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Little Rock, AR

Night in Little Rock on Saturday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Partly Cloudy

0 mph 12% chance 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

13 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

1h 42m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 67% of the journey taking place on major roads like Highway 530 and I-530. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.9 miles on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway before merging onto the faster interstates. The character of the road is largely consistent, offering a straightforward driving experience for the majority of the 89.4 miles. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather an efficient path designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.9 mi on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway and Highway 530. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 83 / North Main Street.

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 89.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (AR 83 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 278 / North Hyatt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.

About the Cities

Arriving in Little Rock, AR

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 89.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 26.9 miles on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. 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: near the start (AR 83 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 278 / North Hyatt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Little Rock, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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