The Purple Cow Restaurant (North Little Rock)
Near the start, ~12 min detour
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+15019047269
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
112.8 mi
181 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Little Rock, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Highland, AR
Rámon van Raaij
The drive from Little Rock, AR to Highland, AR covers 112.8 miles and takes about 2h 32m 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, Hollywood Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66.1 miles on I 30. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.32 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 Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 112.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 2h 32m highway drive covering 112.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 30 and AR 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 66.1 miles on I 30.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and AR 26. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near State Capitol.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 112.8 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (State Capitol): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (West 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn sharp left onto State Capitol
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30 West: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67 toward Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 30 | 66.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| AR 26 | 32.7 mi | 57m |
| Hollywood Road | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 26 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Wilbur D. Mills Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East 13th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Little Rock, AR and Highland, AR.
Start on this road
Turn sharp left onto State Capitol
Continue on State Capitol
Turn left onto Capitol Mall
Turn right onto State Capitol
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Turn right onto Dr Martin Luther King Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 630
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
Keep slight right at fork onto I 30; US 67
Continue on I 30; US 70
Take the exit
Turn right onto AR 8; AR 51
Turn left onto AR 51
Turn straight onto AR 26
At end of road, turn left onto AR 19; AR 27
Continue on AR 27
Continue on AR 27
Turn right onto AR 26
Turn left onto Pike County 210 Road/Gyp Mine Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.4 miles or 1h 2m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Highland, AR than in the middle of the route.
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 112.8 miles and 2h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.4 mi from Little Rock, AR · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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.
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 56.4 miles from Little Rock, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.1 miles.
The final approach into Highland, 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 Highland, AR.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the start, ~12 min detour
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+15019047269
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$15.32 one way
$30.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $17.10 | $34.20 |
| premium | $4.15 | $18.43 | $36.86 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $16.65 | $33.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.5 kg one way.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Highland on Saturday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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