If you are planning a trip from North Little Rock to Tennessee, Arkansas, expect a journey covering 92.7 miles that typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. This route is best suited as a day trip, as it is short enough to drive there and back without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting around $13 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. You will navigate primarily via East 15th Street, North Cypress Street, and AR 530 South. Because this path remains entirely within the Southeast region of Arkansas, you won't experience significant regional transitions, but you will get a focused look at the local landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.2 miles from North Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 530
43.9 mi
45m
Highway 530
22.9 mi
26m
US 425
15.7 mi
20m
I 30
3.7 mi
4m
West Gaines Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
Highway 11
2 mi
2m
Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi
1m
East 15th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 530
— 43.9 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Little Rock, AR and Tennessee, 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
44 mi·45 min·I 530; US 65; US 167
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·52 sec
Exit 44Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
8
Continue on AR 530
23 mi·26 min·Highway 530
9
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11
2.0 mi·2 min·Highway 11
10
Turn right onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
11
Take the exit
226 ft·6 sec
12
Turn slight right onto US 278
2.6 mi·4 min·West Gaines Avenue
13
Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Tennessee Spur Road
14
Arrive at destination
Tennessee Spur Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 30 minute excursion, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. With no mandatory stops built into the 92.7-mile journey, you can easily pace the trip according to your personal schedule. Keep in mind that because the route relies on local roads, your travel time may fluctuate based on local traffic patterns, so check your navigation app before pulling out of North Little Rock. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, prioritize comfort and ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent steering adjustments. Setting aside $13 for fuel is a solid baseline, but carrying a little extra is always a smart move for local road travel.
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 46.2 miles from North Little Rock, AR, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.9 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 20 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.2 miles or 49m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tennessee, 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 92.5 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 530 for about 43.9 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 0.1 and 71.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East 15th Street
Turn left onto East 15th Street
Navigation decision point
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.
6
48.1 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 44
Toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
5
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|AR 11 / Highway 11
At end of road, turn left onto AR 11 / Highway 11
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.97 one way
$27.94 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.34
$30.67
premium
$4.56
$16.60
$33.21
diesel
$5.61
$20.42
$40.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.71
$4.44
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.09
$3.70
EV Truck/SUV
37
0
$12.95
$5.92
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
11:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tennessee, AR
Night
in Tennessee on Saturday
Local time
11:44 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 46m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since the highway share for this 92.7-mile trip is 0%, you should anticipate constant maneuvering through local roads rather than high-speed highway stretches. The longest uninterrupted section is 0 miles on East 15th Street, emphasizing that this is a technical, winding drive requiring your full attention. You will spend the duration of your 1 hour and 30 minutes navigating changes in direction and local infrastructure. It is a hands-on driving experience that demands alertness compared to a standard highway haul.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.9 mi on I 530.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 530 and Highway 530. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 15th 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 1h 46m 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 0.1 miles (East 15th Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Tennessee, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello 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 43.9 miles on I 530. 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 0.1 miles (East 15th Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tennessee, AR before heading back.
