If you are planning a trip from North Little Rock to Blytheville, expect a straightforward journey covering 183.6 miles across Arkansas. The drive typically takes about 3 hours and 10 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via I-40, the Blues Highway, and South Division Street. Budgeting roughly $28 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the trip. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, the landscape remains consistent throughout your transit. This route is efficient for those looking to reach their destination without the need for an overnight stay.
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
91.8 miles from North Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
123.1 mi
2h 5m
Blues Highway
55.5 mi
56m
South Division Street
2.8 mi
4m
East 19th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
I-30 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Main Street
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 123.1 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Little Rock, AR and Blytheville, AR.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto East 19th Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·East 19th Street
3
Turn left onto I-30 Frontage Road
0.3 mi·32 sec·I-30 Frontage Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
1.1 mi·1 min·I 40
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
122 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 40
Toward MemphisUse the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
8
Continue on I 55; US 78
55 mi·56 min·Blues Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward US 61: Blytheville
10
Turn left onto US 61
2.8 mi·4 min·South Division Street
11
Turn left onto US 78; AR 18
46 ft·0 sec·West Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 78; AR 18
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable three-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop during your 183.6-mile journey to stretch your legs and refresh, especially since the vast majority of your time will be spent on the highway. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 123.1-mile stretch on I-40, as services may be spaced out. Taking advantage of the single planned stop will help you stay alert before you transition off the interstate and onto South Division Street. Because the route is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without feeling rushed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 91.8 miles from North Little Rock, AR, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.1 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 40 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.8 miles or 1h 34m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blytheville, 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 183.6 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 123.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 180.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East 19th Street
Turn right onto East 19th Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|I-30 Frontage Road
Turn left onto I-30 Frontage Road
Navigation decision point
7
2.2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Memphis
5
124.2 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
4
180.4 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 61: Blytheville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 61: Blytheville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.73 one way
$55.46 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.44
$60.88
premium
$4.56
$32.95
$65.91
diesel
$5.61
$40.54
$81.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.1
0
$19.28
$8.81
Efficient EV
45.9
0
$16.06
$7.34
EV Truck/SUV
73.4
0
$25.70
$11.75
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
North Little Rock, AR
Evening
in North Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blytheville, AR
Evening
in Blytheville on Saturday
Local time
8:31 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
3h 10m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 67% of your travel time spent on major routes. You will settle into a long, steady rhythm early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 123.1 miles along I-40. Expect the driving environment to shift from the busier interstate corridors to the more localized flow of the Blues Highway and South Division Street as you approach Blytheville. While the interstate segments provide consistent speed, the transition to local roads requires a slight shift in pace. Behind the wheel, you will find a predictable experience that favors miles over technical navigation.
67% 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: 123.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Blues Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East 19th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 10m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East 19th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (I-30 Frontage Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 North Little Rock, AR to Blytheville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Saint Louis along the way.
Saint Louis
124.2 mi in|~2h 7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 183.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 123.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 0.2 miles (East 19th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (I-30 Frontage Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Blytheville, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
