The Purple Cow Restaurant (North Little Rock)
Around the midpoint, short 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 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
129.6 mi
209 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southside, AR
WoodysMedia
Pine Bluff, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Southside, AR to Pine Bluff, AR is 129.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 25 minutes via US 167 and I-530, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, primarily in Arkansas, offering a straightforward journey. Expect a drive focused on highway travel, making it a convenient option for a quick relocation or a direct trip between these two points. With a single recommended day, you can easily complete this drive without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
64.8 miles from Southside, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 129.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the journey utilizing major highways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 60.1 miles on US 167, which should feel like a steady cruise. The primary roads include US 167 and I-530, suggesting a predominantly high-speed driving experience. While the highway share is high, the inclusion of Batesville Boulevard indicates potential for some brief local road transitions, though the overall character remains efficient and direct.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 167 and I 530. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.9 miles in near US 167.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.9 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 84 miles (US 167): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.9 miles (I 530; US 65; US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit onto US 167
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit onto US 167 toward I 30 West, US 65 South, US 67 South, US 167 South: Little Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto West Barraque Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 167 | 60.1 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 530 | 35 mi | 35m |
| Batesville Boulevard | 27.9 mi | 35m |
| US 65B | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| I 40 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Barraque Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Pine Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Southside, AR and Pine Bluff, AR.
Start on US 167
Take the exit onto US 167
Merge onto I 40; US 167
Take the exit onto US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto I 530; US 65; US 167
Take the exit onto US 65B
Turn right onto North Pine Street
Turn left onto West Barraque Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 2 hour 25 minute duration, this is a perfect same-day trip. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Pine Bluff with daylight to spare. The longest stretch without a significant town is over 60 miles, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment of US 167. While there are no specified stops, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition onto I-530, to manage your estimated $20 fuel cost effectively.
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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.8 miles or 1h 13m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pine Bluff, AR than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Southside, 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 Southside, AR
This is one driving day of about 129.6 miles and 2h 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.8 mi from Southside, AR · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 64.8 miles from Southside, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 167 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.1 miles.
The final approach into Pine Bluff, 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 Pine Bluff, 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.
Top Restaurant
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+15019047269
Around the midpoint, short detour
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+15019047269
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–2 pm
+18708793150
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Batesville, Arkansas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Regular Gas
$19.57 one way
$39.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $21.49 | $42.97 |
| premium | $4.56 | $23.26 | $46.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.61 | $57.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.61 | $6.22 |
| Efficient EV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.34 | $5.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.14 | $8.29 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Evening in Southside on Friday
Local time
6:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Pine Bluff on Friday
Local time
6:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
77°F
Jacksonville, AR
65 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.
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 EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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