If you are planning to head south from North Little Rock to El Dorado, you are looking at a straightforward 120-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 25 minutes. Because this drive is easily manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have other plans in the area. You can expect to budget roughly $18 for fuel, making this an economical trip across Arkansas. The route is highly efficient, utilizing a combination of I-530, US 79, and US 167 to get you to your destination. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that keeps you moving through the southeastern part of the state without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60 miles from North Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 167
98.5 mi
1h 57m
I 530
10 mi
10m
US 79
4.1 mi
6m
I 30
3.7 mi
4m
North West Avenue
3.1 mi
5m
East 15th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Hillsboro Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 167
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Little Rock, AR and El Dorado, AR.
1
Start on North Main Street
443 ft·14 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto East 15th Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·East 15th Street
3
Turn right onto North Cypress Street
120 ft·2 sec·North Cypress Street
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
5
Merge onto I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
3.7 mi·4 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
10.0 mi·10 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 167
56 mi·1 hr 5 min·US 167
Toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El DoradoUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto US 79; US 167
4.1 mi·6 min·US 79; US 167
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
43 mi·51 min·US 167
Toward US 167: El Dorado
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 167B
3.1 mi·5 min·North West Avenue
11
Turn right onto US 82B
273 ft·6 sec·West Hillsboro Street
12
Turn right onto Barton Street
70 ft·3 sec·Barton Street
13
Arrive at destination
Barton Street
Trip Plan
Since the entire journey takes under two and a half hours, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits your schedule best. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, but it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off before you hit the 98.5-mile stretch on US 167 to avoid any mid-route stress. Budgeting around $18 for fuel should comfortably cover your needs, but keeping a little extra on hand is always a smart move. Because the route is concentrated on highways, stay alert during the transition between I-530 and the US routes. Use the ease of this short, direct drive to your advantage by planning your arrival in El Dorado well before sunset for a stress-free transition into your destination.
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 60 miles from North Little Rock, AR, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60 miles or 1h 9m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Dorado, 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 120 miles and 2h 25m.
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 US 167 for about 98.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 116.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|North Cypress Street
Turn right onto North Cypress Street
Navigation decision point
6
4.2 mi into trip|~5m in|I 530; US 65; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
14.2 mi into trip|~15m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167 toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dorado
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 167 South: Sheridan, Fordyce, El Dora...
5
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward US 167: El Dorado
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 167: El Dorado
5
116.8 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|US 167B / North West Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 167B / North West Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.12 one way
$36.25 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.89
$39.79
premium
$4.56
$21.54
$43.08
diesel
$5.61
$26.49
$52.99
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: 42 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
36
0
$12.60
$5.76
Efficient EV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
EV Truck/SUV
48
0
$16.80
$7.68
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 15, 2026
Origin
North Little Rock, AR
Night
in North Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
11:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
El Dorado, AR
Night
in El Dorado on Saturday
Local time
11:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Sheridan, AR
60 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 25m 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 97% of your time spent on major roads that prioritize speed and directness. You will find that the rhythm of the road is consistent, particularly when you settle into the longest stretch of 98.5 miles on US 167. Expect a transition from the busier interstate corridors near North Little Rock to the more open, highway-heavy landscape that defines the remainder of your travel. The experience behind the wheel is steady and predictable, allowing you to maintain a reliable pace for the duration of the 120-mile transit. Because the route relies so heavily on major thoroughfares, you can anticipate a streamlined drive that minimizes stop-and-go traffic.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on US 167.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 167 and I 530. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North Cypress Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North Cypress Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 El Dorado, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fordyce along the way.
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 98.5 miles on US 167. 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 0.4 miles (North Cypress Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at El Dorado, AR before heading back.
