The drive from Highland, AR to Little Rock, AR covers 112.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 30, AR 26, Highway 26 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66.3 miles on I 30.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.04 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
56.4 miles from Highland, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 112.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 31m highway drive covering 112.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 30 and AR 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 66.3 miles on I 30.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 66.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and AR 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 26 / State Highway 26.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 31m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 26 / State Highway 26): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (AR 27): Navigation decision point; at 44 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|AR 26 / State Highway 26
Turn right onto AR 26 / State Highway 26
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in|AR 27
At end of road, turn left onto AR 27
Navigation decision point
6
44 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the ramp toward AR 8, AR 26, AR 51: Arkadelphia
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 8, AR 26, AR 51: Arkadelphia
7
112.6 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|West 7th Street
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
112.7 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|State Capitol
Turn right onto State Capitol
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 30
66.3 mi
1h 9m
AR 26
21 mi
36m
Highway 26
9.9 mi
17m
AR 27
4.9 mi
8m
Hollywood Road
4.7 mi
8m
State Highway 26
1.5 mi
2m
Wilbur D. Mills Freeway
1.4 mi
1m
State Highway 19/State Highway 26/13th Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 30
— 66.3 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Highland, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road
29 ft·6 sec·Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road
2
Turn right onto AR 26
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 26
3
At end of road, turn left onto AR 27
4.9 mi·8 min·AR 27
4
Turn right onto AR 19; AR 26
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 19/State Highway 26/13th Street
5
Continue on AR 19; AR 26
9.9 mi·17 min·Highway 26
6
Continue on AR 19; AR 26
0.9 mi·1 min·Antioch Street
7
Turn slight left onto AR 26
21 mi·36 min·AR 26
8
Continue on AR 51
4.7 mi·8 min·Hollywood Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto AR 8; AR 51
0.3 mi·31 sec·Pine Street
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·29 sec
Toward AR 8, AR 26, AR 51: Arkadelphia
11
Merge onto I 30
64 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 30
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
0.7 mi·49 sec·I 30; US 67
13
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
1.2 mi·1 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 630
15
Continue on I 630
1.4 mi·1 min·Wilbur D. Mills Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
17
Turn right onto Dr Martin Luther King Drive
188 ft·13 sec·Dr Martin Luther King Drive
18
Turn left onto West 7th Street
408 ft·13 sec·West 7th Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto State Capitol
503 ft·22 sec·State Capitol
20
Turn slight right
260 ft·19 sec
21
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 56.4 miles from Highland, AR, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.3 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 25 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.4 miles or 1h 30m 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 8m
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 Highland, 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 Highland, AR
This is one driving day of about 112.8 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Highland, 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 I 30 for about 66.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.4 mi from Highland, AR
· 1h 30m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hot Springs National Park
National Park
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 62.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.04 one way
$34.07 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.70
$37.40
premium
$4.56
$20.25
$40.49
diesel
$5.61
$24.90
$49.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.8
0
$11.84
$5.41
Efficient EV
28.2
0
$9.87
$4.51
EV Truck/SUV
45.1
0
$15.79
$7.22
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Highland, AR
Morning
in Highland on Saturday
Local time
6:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Morning
in Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
6:45 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
4 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 31m 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 Highland, AR to Little Rock, AR covers 112.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 30, AR 26, Highway 26. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.4 miles from Highland, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.04 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 31m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 26 / State Highway 26): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (AR 27): Navigation decision point; at 44 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Highland, AR to Little Rock, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hot Springs National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
