Origin
Barling, AR
Late night in Barling on Wednesday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Barling, AR to Little Rock, AR
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 49m
Distance
161 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 38m
★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 57m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 10m
8 PM
2h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Barling, AR
Andrea Piacquadio
Little Rock, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Barling, AR to Little Rock, AR covers 161 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 71, I 540, Rogers Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 144.6 miles on US 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
80.5 miles from Barling, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 2h 49m highway drive covering 161 miles, with most of the trip on US 71 and I 540. The longest continuous stretch is about 144.6 miles on US 71.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 144.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 540. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 49m 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 4.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
4.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 540 North, US 71 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 71
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
4
156.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward AR 365
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward AR 365
4
158.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
|
AR 365 / West Broadway Street
Enter roundabout onto AR 365 / West Broadway Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
161 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Barling, AR to Little Rock, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
12.1 mi in
|
~15m
|
via US 71
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 144.6 mi | 2h 25m |
| I 540 | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Rogers Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Fort Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 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:
US 71
— 144.6 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Barling, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on AR 22
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fort Street
2
Continue on AR 22
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Rogers Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
4
Merge onto I 540; US 71
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
I 540; US 71
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71
145 mi
·
2 hr 25 min
·
US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward AR 365
7
Turn straight onto AR 365
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Mac Arthur Drive
8
Continue on AR 365
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Pike Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Enter roundabout onto AR 365
289 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Broadway Street
10
Continue on AR 365
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Broadway Street
11
Turn right onto US 70
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Broadway Bridge
12
Continue on US 70
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Broadway Street
13
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 3rd Street
14
Turn left onto State Capitol
314 ft
·
13 sec
·
State Capitol
15
Continue on State Capitol
440 ft
·
20 sec
·
State Capitol
16
Continue on State Capitol
415 ft
·
25 sec
·
State Capitol
17
Turn sharp left
260 ft
·
19 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.5 miles from Barling, AR, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.6 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 80 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 24m 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 16m
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 Barling, 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 Barling, AR
This is one driving day of about 161 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Barling, 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 71 for about 144.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.5 mi from Barling, AR · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.5 miles from Barling, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 144.6 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.31 one way
$48.63 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $26.69 | $53.38 |
| premium | $4.56 | $28.90 | $57.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.55 | $71.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.90 | $7.73 |
| Efficient EV | 40.3 | 0 | $14.09 | $6.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.54 | $10.30 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Late night in Little Rock on Wednesday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Haskell, AR
81 mi in
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
1 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
2h 49m 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 Barling, AR to Little Rock, AR covers 161 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 71, I 540, Rogers Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.5 miles from Barling, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.31 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 49m 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 4.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.1 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Barling, AR to Little Rock, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
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