If you are planning a trip from Newark to Little Rock, you are looking at a straightforward 104.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 59 minutes. This Arkansas drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach the state capital without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Because the route is highly efficient, it serves as a practical connection rather than a multi-day expedition. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the simplicity of this trip makes it an easy addition to your calendar.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.1 miles from Newark, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
82.3 mi
1h 24m
Point Ferry Road
12.9 mi
19m
North Locust Street
1.5 mi
2m
US 167
1.4 mi
2m
Malcolm Avenue
1 mi
1m
I 40
0.9 mi
1m
West 3rd Street
0.8 mi
1m
South State Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 82.3 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newark, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on AR 122
1.5 mi·2 min·North Locust Street
2
Turn left onto AR 69
13 mi·19 min·Point Ferry Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto AR 14
1.0 mi·1 min·Malcolm Avenue
4
Turn right onto AR 14
0.7 mi·1 min·South State Street
5
Turn left onto AR 17
0.6 mi·51 sec·AR 17
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
7
Merge onto I 57
82 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 57
8
Merge onto I 40; US 167
0.9 mi·1 min·I 40; US 167
9
Take the exit onto US 167
1.4 mi·2 min·US 167
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 70 East
11
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.5 mi·54 sec·East 7th Street
12
Turn straight onto West 7th Street
175 ft·3 sec·West 7th Street
13
Continue on North Broadway Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·North Broadway Street
14
Continue on US 70
0.5 mi·42 sec·Broadway Bridge
15
Continue on US 70
0.2 mi·24 sec·Broadway Street
16
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street
17
Turn left onto State Capitol
314 ft·13 sec·State Capitol
18
Continue on State Capitol
440 ft·20 sec·State Capitol
19
Continue on State Capitol
415 ft·25 sec·State Capitol
20
Turn sharp left
260 ft·19 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 104.2-mile stretch without needing scheduled stops, though taking a break after the long I-57 segment can help keep you fresh before entering Little Rock. Because there are no mandatory stops built into this route, feel free to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions or personal preference. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto I-57 to ensure you have enough to cover the longest stretch of the drive comfortably. This route is all about convenience, so use that to your advantage when planning your departure.
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 52.1 miles from Newark, AR, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.3 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 23 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.1 miles or 1h 1m 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 36m
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 Newark, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Newark, AR
This is one driving day of about 104.2 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Newark, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 57 for about 82.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.4 and 104.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
14.4 mi into trip|~21m in|AR 14 / Malcolm Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto AR 14 / Malcolm Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
100.1 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US...
4
101.5 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward US 70 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 70 East
4
101.7 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|East 7th Street
Turn right onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
6
104.2 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.74 one way
$31.47 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$17.28
$34.55
premium
$4.56
$18.70
$37.41
diesel
$5.61
$23.01
$46.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.3
0
$10.94
$5.00
Efficient EV
26.1
0
$9.12
$4.17
EV Truck/SUV
41.7
0
$14.59
$6.67
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 14, 2026
Origin
Newark, AR
Late night
in Newark on Tuesday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Late night
in Little Rock on Tuesday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph7% chanceLive 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
11 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 59m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 82% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of local roads like Point Ferry Road and North Locust Street before settling into the primary transit portion of the drive. The most significant segment is an 82.3-mile stretch on I-57, which defines the rhythm of your time behind the wheel. While the local roads offer a brief transition at the start, the majority of your travel will be spent maintaining steady speeds on the interstate. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
82% 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: 82.3 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and Point Ferry Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 14.4 miles in near AR 14 / Malcolm Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 59m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.4 miles (AR 14 / Malcolm Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 100.1 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
The longest stretch is about 82.3 miles on I 57. 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 14.4 miles (AR 14 / Malcolm Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 100.1 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Little Rock, AR before heading back.
