Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
133.9 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
The drive from Mena, AR to Little Rock, AR covers 133.9 miles and takes about 2h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Church Avenue, Mena Street, Pickering for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.19 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
66.9 miles from Mena, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 34m drive with frequent turns across 133.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Church Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mena Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pickering | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 88 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Grand Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 630 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wilbur D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dr Martin Luther King Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Mena, AR and Little Rock, AR.
Start on DeQueen Street
Turn left onto Church Avenue
Turn right onto Mena Street
Turn left onto Pickering
Turn right
Keep slight left to continue on Highway 88
At the end of the road, turn right
Take the exit straight
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight left onto East Grand Avenue
Keep slight left
Keep slight left
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 630
Continue on Wilbur D. Mills Freeway
Take the exit slight right
Turn right onto Dr Martin Luther King Drive
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Turn right onto State Capitol
Turn slight right
Arrive at your 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.9 miles or 1h 17m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Little Rock, AR than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Mena, 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 Mena, AR
This is one driving day of about 133.9 miles and 2h 34m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.9 mi from Mena, AR · 1h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 66.9 miles from Mena, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$18.19 one way
$36.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $20.30 | $40.59 |
| premium | $4.15 | $21.88 | $43.75 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $19.77 | $39.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.2 | 0 | $14.06 | $6.43 |
| Efficient EV | 33.5 | 0 | $11.72 | $5.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.6 | 0 | $18.75 | $8.57 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Mena on Saturday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Little Rock on Saturday
Local time
5:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Texarkana, TX
67 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
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.
Explore more options from Mena, AR or browse trips ending in Little Rock, AR.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AR road trips.
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