Origin
Monticello, AR
Night in Monticello on Thursday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monticello, AR to Little Rock, AR
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
89.4 mi
144 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 35m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Little Rock, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 89.4-mile drive from Monticello, AR, to Little Rock, AR, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 42 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a fuel cost estimated around $14. As you travel from the Southeast region of Arkansas to the same region, you'll find this route to be primarily highway-focused. It's a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively quick and direct journey between these two Arkansas cities, with no overnight stays typically required.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.7 miles from Monticello, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 89.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 67% of the journey taking place on major roads like Highway 530 and I-530. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.9 miles on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway before merging onto the faster interstates. The character of the road is largely consistent, offering a straightforward driving experience for the majority of the 89.4 miles. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather an efficient path designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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.
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 26.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway and Highway 530. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 83 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 89.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (AR 83 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 278 / North Hyatt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 83 / North Main Street
Turn left onto AR 83 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue
Turn left onto US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 278 / North Hyatt Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 278 / North Hyatt Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
41.6 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 530 North, US 65 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
89.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
West 7th Street
Turn left onto West 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wiley A Branton Sr Highway | 26.9 mi | 28m |
| Highway 530 | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| I 530 | 16.8 mi | 16m |
| US 425 | 15.7 mi | 20m |
| Highway 11 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Wilbur D. Mills Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| I 30 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| West Gaines Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
— 26.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, AR and Little Rock, AR.
1
Start on US 278; Hwy 83
23 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Gaines Avenue
2
Turn left onto AR 83
213 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 278; Hwy 83
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
West McCloy Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 278
146 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Hyatt Street
5
Turn slight right onto US 278
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
West Gaines Avenue
6
Take the ramp
219 ft
·
5 sec
7
Merge onto US 425
16 mi
·
20 min
·
US 425
8
Turn left onto AR 11
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 11
9
Turn right onto AR 530
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Highway 530
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
11
Merge onto I 530; US 63; US 65; US 79
27 mi
·
28 min
·
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
12
Continue on I 530; US 65
17 mi
·
16 min
·
I 530; US 65
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
Given the short 1-hour and 42-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility with this 89.4-mile route. Consider departing in the mid-morning to avoid any potential early rush hour in Little Rock. With no designated stops, you can easily pull over for a quick break whenever needed, perhaps after that 26.9-mile stretch on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. The estimated fuel cost of $14 is quite manageable, so you shouldn't need to worry about excessive refueling stops. Keep an eye out for the transition onto I-530 as it’s a key point in the drive.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.7 miles from Monticello, AR, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.9 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.7 miles or 53m 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 26m
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 Monticello, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Monticello, AR
This is one driving day of about 89.4 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Monticello, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Wiley A Branton Sr Highway for about 26.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.7 mi from Monticello, AR · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.7 miles from Monticello, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.50 one way
$27.00 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $14.82 | $29.64 |
| premium | $4.56 | $16.05 | $32.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.74 | $39.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.39 | $4.29 |
| Efficient EV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.82 | $3.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.8 | 0 | $12.52 | $5.72 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Night in Little Rock on Thursday
Local time
11:39 PM
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
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
1h 42m 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 Monticello, AR to Little Rock, AR covers 89.4 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wiley A Branton Sr Highway, Highway 530, I 530. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.7 miles from Monticello, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.50 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89.4 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 83 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 278; Hwy 83 / West McCloy Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 278 / North Hyatt Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
The route from Monticello, AR to Little Rock, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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