Origin
Little Rock, AR
Afternoon in Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
12:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Little Rock, AR to Bull Shoals, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 30m
Distance
144.6 mi
233 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 18m
★
6 AM
3h 31m
8 AM
3h 55m
10 AM
3h 39m
12 PM
3h 37m
3 PM
3h 40m
5 PM
3h 54m
8 PM
3h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Little Rock, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Bull Shoals, AR
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
The drive from Little Rock, AR to Bull Shoals, AR covers 144.6 miles and takes about 3h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Capitol, Capitol Mall, West 7th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.84 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
72.3 miles from Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Capitol | — | — |
| Capitol Mall | — | — |
| West 7th Street | — | — |
| Broadway Street | — | — |
| Broadway Bridge | — | — |
| West Broadway Street | — | — |
| Pike Avenue | — | — |
| Mac Arthur Drive | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
State Capitol
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little Rock, AR and Bull Shoals, AR.
1
Start on the route
384 ft
·
36 sec
·
the route
2
Turn sharp left onto State Capitol
361 ft
·
17 sec
·
State Capitol
3
Continue on State Capitol
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Capitol
4
Turn left onto Capitol Mall
115 ft
·
7 sec
·
Capitol Mall
5
Turn right onto State Capitol
387 ft
·
22 sec
·
State Capitol
6
Turn left onto West 7th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 7th Street
7
Turn left onto Broadway Street
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Broadway Street
8
Continue on Broadway Bridge
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Broadway Bridge
9
Turn left onto West Broadway Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
West Broadway Street
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Pike Avenue
23 ft
·
Pike Avenue
11
Exit the roundabout onto Pike Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Pike Avenue
12
Continue on Mac Arthur Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Mac Arthur Drive
13
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
14
Merge slight left
26 mi
·
26 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 65 North, US 65B South
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 65 North, US 65B South
16
Merge slight left onto Skyline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Skyline Drive
17
Continue on US Highway 65
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 65
18
Continue on South Broadview Street
12 mi
·
16 min
·
South Broadview Street
19
Continue on US Highway 65
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 65
20
Continue on North Broadview Street
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
North Broadview Street
21
Continue on South Broadway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Broadway
22
Continue on US Highway 65
18 mi
·
25 min
·
US Highway 65
23
Continue straight
26 mi
·
36 min
24
Take the exit slight right
207 ft
·
6 sec
25
Turn straight
11 mi
·
18 min
26
Continue on State Highway 14
24 mi
·
41 min
·
State Highway 14
27
At the end of the road, turn right
4.9 mi
·
5 min
28
Turn left
10 mi
·
17 min
29
Turn left onto Broadway Avenue
36 ft
·
2 sec
·
Broadway Avenue
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 72.3 miles from Little Rock, AR, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 45m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bull Shoals, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Little Rock, 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 Little Rock, AR
This is one driving day of about 144.6 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Little Rock, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72.3 miles from Little Rock, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.84 one way
$43.68 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $23.97 | $47.95 |
| premium | $4.56 | $25.95 | $51.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.93 | $63.85 |
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: 50.6 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 | 43.4 | 0 | $15.18 | $6.94 |
| Efficient EV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.65 | $5.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.8 | 0 | $20.24 | $9.25 |
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.
Destination
Bull Shoals, AR
Afternoon in Bull Shoals on Saturday
Local time
12:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Marshall, AR
72 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 30m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
144.6 mi in 3h 30m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: State Capitol.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Little Rock, AR to Bull Shoals, AR is easy. At 3h 30m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Little Rock, AR to Bull Shoals, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
About the Cities
Arriving in Bull Shoals, AR
Full guide →Bull Shoals is in the Ozarks region of Arkansas. Located on the shore of Bull Shoals Lake, it's a resort town with a lot to offer.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 144.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Little Rock, AR to Bull Shoals, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Bull Shoals, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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