If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Ola and North Little Rock, this 91.5-mile journey is a manageable day trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes. Since the drive is quite short, you can easily complete the entire route in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel, making this an economical excursion within Arkansas. Because both cities are located in the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographic setting throughout your travel. This route is ideal for those who prefer efficiency over winding backroads, as it relies heavily on major thoroughfares to get you to your destination quickly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.8 miles from Ola, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
68.3 mi
1h 9m
4th Street
14.4 mi
16m
Union Street
4.9 mi
5m
East Main Street
2.3 mi
3m
North Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
AR 331
0.3 mi
<1m
North State Highway 7
0.2 mi
<1m
AR 22
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 68.3 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ola, AR and North 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 9 min·I 40
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Use the right lane.
11
Turn slight right
93 ft·4 sec
12
Turn slight right onto North Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively quick trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours near North Little Rock is always a wise move. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the 91.5-mile distance is easily handled in one go. Keep in mind that since the majority of your time is spent on I-40, your fuel efficiency will likely remain steady throughout the journey. Be sure to check your fuel levels before leaving Ola, as the $14 estimate assumes you are starting with a full tank or close to it. Taking advantage of the lack of mandatory stops allows you to reach your destination efficiently and with minimal stress.
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 45.8 miles from Ola, AR, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.3 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.8 miles or 51m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North 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 91.5 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 68.3 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 90.6 — 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
5
90.6 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.82 one way
$27.64 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.17
$30.34
premium
$4.56
$16.42
$32.85
diesel
$5.61
$20.20
$40.40
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 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
27.5
0
$9.61
$4.39
Efficient EV
22.9
0
$8.01
$3.66
EV Truck/SUV
36.6
0
$12.81
$5.86
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 14, 2026
Origin
Ola, AR
Late night
in Ola on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
North Little Rock, AR
Late night
in North Little Rock on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph11% chanceLive 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
2 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
1h 38m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 is a highway-focused drive, with about 75% of your travel occurring on major roads like I-40. You will spend the bulk of your time on the interstate, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 68.3 miles that allows for steady cruising. As you move away from the local roads of Ola, the transition onto the interstate shifts the pace significantly. The route eventually tapers off with segments on 4th Street and Union Street as you navigate into North Little Rock. Expect a functional, direct experience behind the wheel rather than a winding, technical drive.
75% 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: 68.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and 4th Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 7 / 4th Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ola, AR to North Little Rock, AR is easy. At 1h 38m with 75% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
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 68.3 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 North Little Rock, AR before heading back.
