Ola, AR to Little Rock, AR is 94.1 miles and takes about 1h 44m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward, same-day trip keeps you within Arkansas as you travel from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Primarily a highway-focused drive, it's a quick connection between two points. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it an efficient way to get where you're going. Consider this route when you need a reliable and uncomplicated journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47 miles from Ola, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
67.5 mi
1h 8m
4th Street
14.4 mi
16m
Union Street
4.9 mi
5m
East Main Street
2.3 mi
3m
Pike Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
West 3rd Street
0.8 mi
1m
West Broadway Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Broadway Bridge
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 67.5 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ola, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on East Pennington Street
67 ft·4 sec·East Pennington Street
2
Turn right onto AR 7
14 mi·16 min·4th Street
3
Continue on AR 7
0.2 mi·15 sec·North State Highway 7
4
Continue on AR 22
374 ft·9 sec·AR 22
5
Turn right onto AR 7
4.9 mi·5 min·Union Street
6
Turn right onto US 64
2.3 mi·3 min·East Main Street
7
Turn left onto AR 331
0.3 mi·28 sec·AR 331
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 84Toward I-40
9
Merge onto I 40
68 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 40
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward AR 365
11
Turn straight onto AR 365
0.4 mi·36 sec·Mac Arthur Drive
12
Continue on AR 365
1.5 mi·2 min·Pike Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Enter roundabout onto AR 365
289 ft·5 sec·West Broadway Street
14
Continue on AR 365
0.4 mi·48 sec·West Broadway Street
15
Turn right onto US 70
0.5 mi·42 sec·Broadway Bridge
16
Continue on US 70
0.2 mi·24 sec·Broadway Street
17
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street
18
Turn left onto State Capitol
314 ft·13 sec·State Capitol
19
Continue on State Capitol
440 ft·20 sec·State Capitol
20
Continue on State Capitol
415 ft·25 sec·State Capitol
21
Turn sharp left
260 ft·19 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes, this is a trip best suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive, so you can leave when it's most convenient. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 67.5 miles on I 40, as services might be more spaced out on the interstate compared to local roads.
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 47 miles from Ola, AR, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.5 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47 miles or 52m 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 Little Rock, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ola, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ola, AR
This is one driving day of about 94.1 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ola, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 67.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 94 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AR 7 / 4th Street
Turn right onto AR 7 / 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
14.6 mi into trip|~17m in|AR 7 / Union Street
Turn right onto AR 7 / Union Street
Navigation decision point
6
21.8 mi into trip|~26m in|AR 331
Turn left onto AR 331
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
22 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 84
Toward I-40
6
94 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.21 one way
$28.42 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.60
$31.20
premium
$4.56
$16.89
$33.78
diesel
$5.61
$20.78
$41.55
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: 32.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.2
0
$9.88
$4.52
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.23
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.17
$6.02
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Ola, AR
Late night
in Ola on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Late night
in Little Rock on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
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 44m 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 72% of the journey on major interstates like I 40. You'll experience a long stretch of 67.5 miles on I 40 without significant breaks, offering a consistent pace. The route transitions from smaller roads like 4th Street and Union Street into the faster-paced interstate environment. Expect a smooth, predictable drive primarily on well-maintained highways, allowing for steady progress towards your destination.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and 4th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 7 / 4th Street.
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 44m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 7 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles (AR 7 / Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.8 miles (AR 331): Lane positioning matters here.
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the state of Arkansas. Little Rock is a cultural, economic, government, and transportation center within Arkansas and the American South. Several cultural institutions are in Little Rock, along with hiking, boating, and other outdoor recreational opportunities. Little Rock's history is available through history museums, historic districts or neighborhoods.
The longest stretch is about 67.5 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: near the start (AR 7 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles (AR 7 / Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.8 miles (AR 331): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Little Rock, AR before heading back.
