North Little Rock, AR to Fairfield Bay, AR is 84.1 miles and takes about 1h 57m via I 40 and US Highway 65, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast. Expect a straightforward drive that’s mostly on major highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick escape. It's designed for a single day, so you can easily fit it into a weekend itinerary without needing to plan for an overnight stay. The route offers a simple transition between two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42 miles from North Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
27.2 mi
28m
US Highway 65
23.1 mi
31m
South Broadview Street
11.8 mi
16m
AR 9
9.6 mi
16m
AR 16
4.6 mi
8m
Dave Creek Parkway
3 mi
7m
Skyline Drive
1.3 mi
2m
South Broadway
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 27.2 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Little Rock, AR and Fairfield Bay, 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
27 mi·28 min·I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 65
0.4 mi·50 sec·US 65
Toward US 65 North, US 65B South
8
Merge onto US 65
1.3 mi·2 min·Skyline Drive
9
Continue on US 65
3.2 mi·4 min·US Highway 65
10
Continue on US 65
12 mi·16 min·South Broadview Street
11
Continue on US 65
1.5 mi·1 min·US Highway 65
12
Continue on US 65
0.7 mi·56 sec·North Broadview Street
13
Continue on US 65
1.1 mi·1 min·South Broadway
14
Continue on US 65; Hwy 124
18 mi·25 min·US Highway 65
15
Continue on US 65; AR 9; AR 16
0.1 mi·15 sec·US 65; AR 9; AR 16
16
Continue on AR 9; AR 16
9.6 mi·16 min·AR 9; AR 16
17
Turn right onto AR 16
4.6 mi·8 min·AR 16
18
Turn right onto Dave Creek Parkway
3.0 mi·7 min·Dave Creek Parkway
19
Arrive at destination
Dave Creek Parkway
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time. Leaving mid-morning allows for a relaxed start and still gets you to Fairfield Bay with ample daylight. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps for fuel or a quick stretch. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 27.2 miles on I 40, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before entering this segment. This is a simple, direct trip, so focus on a smooth and efficient journey, and you'll arrive with ease.
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 42 miles from North Little Rock, AR, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.2 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 19 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 50m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield Bay, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Little Rock, AR
This is one driving day of about 84.1 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 27.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 28.8 — 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
28.4 mi into trip|~30m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 65 North, US 65B South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 65 North, US 65B South
4
28.8 mi into trip|~31m in|US 65 / Skyline Drive
Merge onto US 65 / Skyline Drive
Merge point - match speed before joining
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.70 one way
$25.40 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.94
$27.89
premium
$4.56
$15.09
$30.19
diesel
$5.61
$18.57
$37.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.36
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Night
in North Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairfield Bay, AR
Night
in Fairfield Bay on Saturday
Local time
11:48 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
1h 57m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 81% of the journey on major roads. You'll encounter an 81% highway share, including a continuous stretch of 27.2 miles on I 40. The initial part of your drive will likely involve familiar interstate travel before transitioning to US Highway 65. While not a particularly winding or technically challenging route, the consistent highway pace means you can maintain steady speeds for much of the trip. Expect a relatively smooth experience behind the wheel, with limited deviations from major thoroughfares.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US Highway 65. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 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 27.2 miles on I 40. 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 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 Fairfield Bay, AR before heading back.
