Salem, AR to North Little Rock, AR is 145.8 miles and takes about 3h 1m via US 167, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a mixed drive with about 39% on highways, offering a blend of faster travel and more local road experiences. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points without a significant time commitment.
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
72.9 miles from Salem, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 167
55.2 mi
56m
Batesville Boulevard
32.9 mi
43m
Morning Side Lane
17.1 mi
19m
North Saint Louis Street
14.4 mi
22m
Ash Flat Drive
11.9 mi
17m
Evening Shade Drive
9.5 mi
14m
North Main Street
3 mi
4m
I 40
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 167
— 55.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, AR and North Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on AR 9
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 62; US 412
17 mi·19 min·Morning Side Lane
3
Turn right onto US 167
12 mi·17 min·Ash Flat Drive
4
Continue on US 167
9.5 mi·14 min·Evening Shade Drive
5
Continue on US 167; AR 58
2.1 mi·3 min·North Main Street
6
Continue on US 167
14 mi·22 min·North Saint Louis Street
7
Continue on US 167; AR 25
33 mi·43 min·Batesville Boulevard
8
Take the exit onto US 167
55 mi·56 min·US 167
9
Merge onto I 40; US 167
1.2 mi·1 min·I 40; US 167
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
11
Turn straight onto Calvary Road
0.2 mi·18 sec·Calvary Road
12
Turn left onto AR 107
0.3 mi·34 sec·John F Kennedy Boulevard
13
Continue on North Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive of just over 3 hours, flexibility is key. You can depart anytime that suits your schedule. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you can easily complete this trip in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you cover the 55.2-mile stretch on US 167, as services might be spaced out. Aim to leave in the morning to enjoy the full day and arrive in North Little Rock with plenty of daylight remaining.
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 72.9 miles from Salem, AR, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.2 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.9 miles or 1h 40m 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 33m
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 Salem, 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 Salem, AR
This is one driving day of about 145.8 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Salem, 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 US 167 for about 55.2 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 144.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 62; US 412 / Morning Side Lane
Turn left onto US 62; US 412 / Morning Side Lane
Navigation decision point
4
88 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 167
Take the exit onto US 167
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
143.2 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|I 40; US 167
Merge onto I 40; US 167
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
144.4 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward John F Kennedy Boulevard
3
144.8 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|AR 107 / John F Kennedy Boulevard
Turn left onto AR 107 / John F Kennedy Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.02 one way
$44.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$24.17
$48.34
premium
$4.56
$26.17
$52.34
diesel
$5.61
$32.19
$64.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.7
0
$15.31
$7.00
Efficient EV
36.5
0
$12.76
$5.83
EV Truck/SUV
58.3
0
$20.41
$9.33
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Salem, AR
Night
in Salem on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Little Rock, AR
Night
in North Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
11:51 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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 1m 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 offers a mixed drive experience, with 39% of the journey utilizing highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 167, Batesville Boulevard, and Morning Side Lane, indicating a variety of road types. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 55.2 miles on US 167, suggesting a significant portion where you can settle into a steady pace. The drive transitions between faster highway segments and potentially more winding or local road sections as you approach your destination.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.2 mi on US 167.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 62; US 412 / Morning Side Lane.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Salem, AR to North Little Rock, AR is easy. At 3h 1m with 39% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 62; US 412 / Morning Side Lane): Navigation decision point; at 88 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 143.2 miles (I 40; US 167): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 55.2 miles on US 167. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (US 62; US 412 / Morning Side Lane): Navigation decision point; at 88 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 143.2 miles (I 40; US 167): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at North Little Rock, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
