North Little Rock to Earle is 119.3 miles and takes about 2 hours 11 minutes via I 40 and AR 149, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. With almost all of your driving on major highways, this is a straightforward trip. It's a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in a single day, making it a good option for a quick transit or a casual day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.6 miles from North Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
106.4 mi
1h 47m
AR 149
9.9 mi
17m
2nd Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Barton Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East 19th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
I-30 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Arkansas Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Cross Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 106.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Little Rock, AR and Earle, 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
105 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward MemphisUse the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward AR 149: Earle
8
Keep slight right at fork
129 ft·3 sec
9
Turn straight onto AR 149
9.9 mi·17 min·AR 149
10
Turn left onto AR 149
461 ft·9 sec·Arkansas Street
11
Continue on AR 149
0.3 mi·29 sec·Arkansas Avenue
12
Turn right onto AR 149
0.2 mi·24 sec·Cross Street
13
Continue on AR 149
0.1 mi·17 sec·Park Street
14
Turn left onto US 64B
0.4 mi·49 sec·2nd Street
15
Turn right onto AR 149
0.3 mi·38 sec·Barton Street
16
Turn right onto US 64
0.1 mi·10 sec·US 64
17
Arrive at destination
US 64
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour drive time, starting your trip in North Little Rock any time in the morning should allow you to reach Earle with plenty of daylight remaining. There are no recommended stops, so you can decide on breaks based on your comfort. The $18 fuel estimate suggests a single fill-up might be sufficient, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Since this is a short drive, you have flexibility in your departure time and can adjust your pace as needed. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 40 to AR 149, as this is where the driving environment will change significantly.
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 59.6 miles from North Little Rock, AR, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.4 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 26 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.6 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Earle, 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 119.3 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from North Little Rock, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 106.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 118 — 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
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
4
107.5 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward AR 149: Earle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AR 149: Earle
5
107.7 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
118 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|AR 149 / Cross Street
Turn right onto AR 149 / Cross Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.02 one way
$36.03 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.78
$39.56
premium
$4.56
$21.41
$42.83
diesel
$5.61
$26.34
$52.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.8
0
$12.53
$5.73
Efficient EV
29.8
0
$10.44
$4.77
EV Truck/SUV
47.7
0
$16.70
$7.64
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
North Little Rock, AR
Late night
in North Little Rock on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Earle, AR
Late night
in Earle on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
3 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 11m 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?
You'll be on highways for 98% of this 119.3-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch of highway cruising is 106.4 miles, primarily on I 40. Expect to transition from the interstate to surface roads like AR 149 and 2nd Street as you approach Earle. The dense exit activity on I 40 will likely be a notable feature until you turn off.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and AR 149. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East 19th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 119.3 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.2 miles (East 19th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 119.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 2.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.5 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 Earle, AR before heading back.
