Trip from Atkins, AR to Little Rock, AR

Drive Time

1h 8m

Distance

62.7 mi

101 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 3m ★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Atkins, AR, AR

Atkins, AR

Tima Miroshnichenko

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition from Atkins to Little Rock, this 62.7-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Arkansas. Plan for about 1 hour and 8 minutes of travel time, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-40 before transitioning into the city via Pike Avenue and West 3rd Street. Budget roughly $10 for fuel, which keeps this short-haul excursion very budget-friendly. Because the entire route stays within the Southeast region, you won't experience any major shifts in landscape or climate. It is a highly practical drive for those needing to connect between these two points efficiently.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

31.4 miles from Atkins, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a classic interstate-focused drive, as 92% of your journey is conducted on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on a 57.8-mile stretch of I-40, which allows for consistent, uninterrupted travel. This portion of the trip is designed for speed and directness rather than winding, technical roads. As you near your destination, the character of the drive shifts from high-speed highway cruising to the more localized flow of Pike Avenue and West 3rd Street. It is a functional, no-nonsense route that prioritizes getting you to Little Rock with minimal fuss.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Pike Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near I 40.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 8m 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 0.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 60.5 miles (AR 365 / West Broadway Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
4
58.5 mi into trip | ~59m in

Take the exit toward AR 365

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward AR 365
4
60.5 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | AR 365 / West Broadway Street

Enter roundabout onto AR 365 / West Broadway Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
61.7 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | West 3rd Street

Turn right onto West 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

6
62.7 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Turn sharp left

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 57.8 mi 58m
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
Mac Arthur Drive 0.4 mi <1m
North Church Street 0.3 mi <1m
State Capitol 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 57.8 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Atkins, AR and Little Rock, AR.

1

Start on Northeast 4th Street

281 ft · 14 sec · Northeast 4th Street
2

Turn right onto AR 105

0.3 mi · 36 sec · North Church Street
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
4

Merge onto I 40

58 mi · 58 min · I 40
Use the none lane.
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward AR 365
6

Turn straight onto AR 365

0.4 mi · 36 sec · Mac Arthur Drive
7

Continue on AR 365

1.5 mi · 2 min · Pike Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Enter roundabout onto AR 365

289 ft · 5 sec · West Broadway Street
9

Continue on AR 365

0.4 mi · 48 sec · West Broadway Street
10

Turn right onto US 70

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Broadway Bridge
11

Continue on US 70

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Broadway Street
12

Turn right onto West 3rd Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 3rd Street
13

Turn left onto State Capitol

314 ft · 13 sec · State Capitol
14

Continue on State Capitol

440 ft · 20 sec · State Capitol
15

Continue on State Capitol

415 ft · 25 sec · State Capitol
16

Turn sharp left

260 ft · 19 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You won't need to worry about complex refueling strategies or mid-way rest stops, as the entire trip can be completed in just over an hour. Keep in mind that since there are no designated stops on this route, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Atkins to avoid any unnecessary detours. Monitor traffic patterns as you approach the city center, as the transition from I-40 to the local streets of Little Rock can be busier than the open highway. Use the short duration to your advantage by hitting the road early to maximize your time once you arrive.

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 31.4 miles from Atkins, AR, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.8 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 62.7 miles or 1h 8m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 31.4 miles or 32m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 54m

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 Atkins, 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 Atkins, AR

This is one driving day of about 62.7 miles and 1h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Atkins, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 57.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.4 mi from Atkins, AR · 32m into the drive

Downtown Texarkana, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Texarkana, TX

31 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Haskell, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Texarkana, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Atkins, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Little Rock, AR

The final approach into Little Rock, AR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Little Rock, AR.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.59 one way

$19.17 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $10.51 $21.03
premium $4.61 $11.38 $22.76
diesel $5.64 $13.93 $27.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.8 0 $6.58 $3.01
Efficient EV 15.7 0 $5.49 $2.51
EV Truck/SUV 25.1 0 $8.78 $4.01

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Atkins, AR

Evening in Atkins on Sunday

Local time

8:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Little Rock, AR

Evening in Little Rock on Sunday

Local time

8:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°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

18 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 8m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Atkins, AR to Little Rock, AR covers 62.7 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Pike Avenue, West 3rd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.4 miles from Atkins, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.59 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 8m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 60.5 miles (AR 365 / West Broadway Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Atkins, AR to Little Rock, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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