Spanning 159.4 miles across Arkansas, this trip from North Little Rock to Barling is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily complete this as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $24 for fuel to cover the distance, making it an affordable option for travelers. The route stays entirely within the Southeast region, moving between two points in Arkansas. Expect a trip that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed interstate travel, so plan your schedule to account for slower-paced driving conditions.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.7 miles from North Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
144.9 mi
2h 25m
US 71
8.5 mi
10m
Rogers Avenue
2.8 mi
4m
Fort Street
1.6 mi
2m
North Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
John F Kennedy Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 144.9 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Little Rock, AR and Barling, AR.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
2
Continue on John F Kennedy Boulevard
0.3 mi·31 sec·John F Kennedy Boulevard
3
Turn left
105 ft·8 sec
4
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·North Main Street
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
6
Merge onto I 40; US 65
145 mi·2 hr 25 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 71
8.5 mi·10 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Rogers Avenue East
9
Turn straight onto AR 22
2.8 mi·4 min·Rogers Avenue
10
Continue on AR 22
1.6 mi·2 min·Fort Street
11
Arrive at destination
AR 22
Trip Plan
Since this is a 159.4-mile trip with just one planned stop, you have plenty of flexibility to structure your day according to your own pace. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure you move efficiently through the local roads that make up the bulk of your journey. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the turn-heavy nature of the route means you will be making frequent adjustments to your path. Because your fuel costs are estimated at $24, filling up before you leave North Little Rock will help you avoid unnecessary stops. Use the single recommended stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the technical nature of the driving can be more mentally taxing than cruising on an interstate.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.7 miles from North Little Rock, AR, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.9 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 35 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.7 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barling, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North 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 North Little Rock, AR
This is one driving day of about 159.4 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from North Little Rock, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 144.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 154.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m 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
146.1 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
4
154.7 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward Rogers Avenue East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Rogers Avenue East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.07 one way
$48.15 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.43
$52.85
premium
$4.56
$28.61
$57.22
diesel
$5.61
$35.19
$70.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.8
0
$16.74
$7.65
Efficient EV
39.9
0
$13.95
$6.38
EV Truck/SUV
63.8
0
$22.32
$10.20
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
North Little Rock, AR
Late night
in North Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Barling, AR
Late night
in Barling on Sunday
Local time
3:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Delaware, AR
80 mi in
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
1 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 45m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features zero highway usage. You will navigate through North Little Rock via John F Kennedy Boulevard and North Main Street before transitioning onto I 540 South. Because this is a local-focused drive, the pace is dictated by turns and urban or suburban traffic patterns rather than open, high-speed stretches. You won't find long, uninterrupted highway segments here, so stay alert as the road requires your full attention through various turns. The character of the drive remains consistent, favoring local connectivity over long-distance highway efficiency.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 71. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from North Little Rock, AR to Barling, AR is easy. At 2h 45m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 40; US 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 144.9 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 40; US 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Barling, AR before heading back.
