North Little Rock to Leachville is 157.7 miles and takes about 3 hours via I 57 and US 78, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. You'll find it's a practical choice if you're looking for an easy-to-navigate route without significant complexity.
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
78.8 miles from North Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 57
102.7 mi
1h 46m
East Highland Drive
29.4 mi
40m
US 78
12.1 mi
13m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
9m
South Main Street
3.3 mi
5m
I 40
1.1 mi
1m
East 19th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
I-30 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 57
— 102.7 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Little Rock, AR and Leachville, 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 left at fork onto I 57; US 167
28 mi·29 min·I 57; US 167
Toward Saint LouisUse the slight left lane.
7
Continue on I 57; US 64; US 167
74 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57; US 64; US 167
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward AR 226: Jonesboro
9
Keep slight right at fork
346 ft·8 sec
10
Merge onto US 78; AR 226
12 mi·13 min·US 78; AR 226
11
Continue on US 49; US 63; US 78
7.4 mi·9 min·Southwest Drive
12
Turn right onto AR 18
29 mi·40 min·East Highland Drive
13
Turn left onto AR 119
3.3 mi·5 min·South Main Street
14
Turn right onto AR 77
64 ft·1 sec·East 3rd Street
15
Arrive at destination
AR 77
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of flexibility for stops along the way. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 100 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping the $24 budget in mind. Since it's a relatively short drive, you can be spontaneous with your timing and arrival.
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 78.8 miles from North Little Rock, AR, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.7 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.8 miles or 1h 22m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leachville, 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 157.7 miles and 3h.
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 57 for about 102.7 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 0.2 and 154.4 — 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
7
2.2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 57; US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 57; US 167 toward Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Saint Louis
4
104.9 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward AR 226: Jonesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AR 226: Jonesboro
4
105.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
154.4 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|AR 119 / South Main Street
Turn left onto AR 119 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.82 one way
$47.63 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.14
$52.29
premium
$4.56
$28.31
$56.61
diesel
$5.61
$34.82
$69.64
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: 55.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.3
0
$16.56
$7.57
Efficient EV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
EV Truck/SUV
63.1
0
$22.08
$10.09
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Morning
in North Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
6:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Leachville, AR
Morning
in Leachville on Sunday
Local time
6:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Bono, AR
79 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
16 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
3h 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 route is primarily highway driving, with 74% of the total mileage on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 102.7 miles on I 57 before transitioning to other roads. Expect a consistent, mostly highway feel for the majority of your travel time, with fewer surface street transitions until you get closer to your destination.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.7 mi on I 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 57 and East Highland Drive. You will hit about 11 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 157.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.9 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 3h. Total distance: 157.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.7 miles on I 57. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 57; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 104.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Leachville, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
