If you are planning to head from Tennessee to Little Rock, you are looking at a 91.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to manage the distance. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, it is an affordable way to transition from the Southeast region of Arkansas into the state capital. You will navigate via Highway 11, Highway 530, and I-530 North to reach your destination. Because the travel time is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your own needs rather than worrying about mid-trip fatigue.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.8 miles from Tennessee, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
26.9 mi
28m
Highway 530
23.4 mi
27m
I 530
16.8 mi
16m
US 425
15.8 mi
20m
US 278
2.7 mi
4m
Highway 11
1.7 mi
1m
Wilbur D. Mills Freeway
1.4 mi
1m
I 30
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
— 26.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tennessee, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Tennessee Spur Road
2
Turn right onto US 278
2.7 mi·4 min·US 278
3
Turn left onto US 425
16 mi·20 min·US 425
4
Turn left onto AR 11
1.7 mi·1 min·Highway 11
5
Turn right onto AR 530
23 mi·27 min·Highway 530
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·38 sec
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
Merge onto I 530; US 63; US 65; US 79
27 mi·28 min·Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
8
Continue on I 530; US 65
17 mi·16 min·I 530; US 65
9
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
1.2 mi·1 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 630
11
Continue on I 630
1.4 mi·1 min·Wilbur D. Mills Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
13
Turn right onto Dr Martin Luther King Drive
188 ft·13 sec·Dr Martin Luther King Drive
14
Turn left onto West 7th Street
408 ft·13 sec·West 7th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto State Capitol
503 ft·22 sec·State Capitol
16
Turn slight right
260 ft·19 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever it best fits your schedule without needing to worry about mid-route rest stops. Keep in mind that the entire 91.9-mile distance is comprised of local roads, so factor in extra time if you encounter slow-moving traffic or local congestion along the way. Although the fuel cost is estimated at a modest $12, it is always a good idea to check your levels before leaving Tennessee, given the lack of long highway stretches where service stations are frequent. Focus on staying alert through the turn-heavy sections of the route to ensure a smooth arrival in Little Rock.
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 Tennessee, AR, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.9 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.8 miles or 56m 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 27m
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 Tennessee, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tennessee, AR
This is one driving day of about 91.6 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Tennessee, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway for about 26.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 91.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 278
Turn right onto US 278
Navigation decision point
4
18.7 mi into trip|~25m in|AR 11 / Highway 11
Turn left onto AR 11 / Highway 11
Navigation decision point
6
43.9 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 530 North, US 65 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
91.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|West 7th Street
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
91.5 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|State Capitol
Turn right onto State Capitol
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.83 one way
$27.67 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.19
$30.37
premium
$4.56
$16.44
$32.88
diesel
$5.61
$20.22
$40.45
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
$9.62
$4.40
Efficient EV
22.9
0
$8.01
$3.66
EV Truck/SUV
36.6
0
$12.82
$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 15, 2026
Origin
Tennessee, AR
Late night
in Tennessee on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Late night
in Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
3:00 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 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend no time on high-speed limited-access highways, as the route consists entirely of local and secondary roads. Navigating these segments requires your full attention since there is no long-distance, uninterrupted stretch on Highway 11 to simply cruise on autopilot. The road's personality is defined by constant adjustments and local road conditions, making it feel more like a hands-on driving experience. Be prepared for a winding path that demands active steering as you transition through the Arkansas landscape.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.9 mi on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway and Highway 530. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 278.
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 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 278): Navigation decision point; at 18.7 miles (AR 11 / Highway 11): Navigation decision point; at 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Tennessee is a US state in the South known for its rich history, music, and the Appalachian Mountains along its eastern border. Many visitors come to see Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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 26.9 miles on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. 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 0.3 miles (US 278): Navigation decision point; at 18.7 miles (AR 11 / Highway 11): Navigation decision point; at 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Little Rock, AR before heading back.
