How far is Little Rock, AR from Salem, AR?

The driving distance from Little Rock, AR to Salem, AR is about 148.9 miles (239.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 115.3 miles (185.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 18m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
148.91 mi
03h 09m
Flight
115.28 mi
185.53 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Little Rock.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
115.28 mi
Kilometers
185.53 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
148.91 mi
Kilometers
239.64 km
Drive Time
03h 09m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salem
Sat, Apr 18, 9:12 AM CDT
Return by in Little Rock
Sat, Apr 18, 12:21 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Little Rock
2026-04-18T06:03
Arrive Salem
Sat, Apr 18, 9:12 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:09 AM to 11:09 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Little Rock
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Pleasant Plains
AR

City in Independence County, Arkansas, United States of America

From Little Rock
74.5 mi
01h 34m
To Salem
74.4 mi
01h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph W
Destination
69°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Little Rock and Salem.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Little Rock and Salem.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    117 m · 36 sec

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left onto State Capitol

    110 m · 17 sec · State Capitol

  3. 3

    Continue on State Capitol

    528 ft · 24 sec · State Capitol

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Capitol Mall

    35 m · 7 sec · Capitol Mall

  5. 5

    Turn right onto State Capitol

    118 m · 22 sec · State Capitol

  6. 6

    Turn left onto West 7th Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · West 7th Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Broadway Street

    2550 ft · 53 sec · Broadway Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Broadway Bridge

    2506 ft · 44 sec · Broadway Bridge

  9. 9

    Continue on North Broadway Street

    1511 ft · 30 sec · North Broadway Street

  10. 10

    Continue on West 7th Street

    3038 ft · 1 min · West 7th Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto North Locust Street

    14 m · 1 sec · North Locust Street

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight left

    633 ft · 16 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    1.3 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, US 67 North, US 167 North: Jacksonville, Memphis

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Saint Louis

    28.4 mi · 29 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    26.6 mi · 27 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64 East, US 67 North: Bald Knob, Batesville

    1533 ft · 46 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left

    33 mi · 44 min

  19. 19

    Continue on South Saint Louis Street

    14.4 mi · 22 min · South Saint Louis Street

  20. 20

    Continue on South Main Street

    11.6 mi · 17 min · South Main Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Ash Flat Drive

    11.9 mi · 18 min · Ash Flat Drive

  22. 22

    Turn left onto T & C Boulevard

    17.1 mi · 19 min · T & C Boulevard

  23. 23

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    1250 ft · 25 sec · South Main Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Little Rock and Salem.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Saint Louis
55 mi · 37%
T & C Boulevard
17.1 mi · 11%
South Saint Louis Street
14.4 mi · 10%
Ash Flat Drive
11.9 mi · 8%
South Main Street
11.8 mi · 8%
I 40 East
1.59 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn left

33 mi · 00h 44m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.6 mi
115.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pleasant Plains
01h 34m from Little Rock
Leave By
10:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Little Rock and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Salem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Little Rock to Salem?

The road trip is about 148.9 miles (239.6 km) and usually takes 03h 09m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Pleasant Plains is a useful midpoint, sitting about 74.5 miles from Little Rock and 74.4 miles from Salem.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 115.3 miles (185.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.88 one way or $39.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 46.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Little Rock and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Pleasant Plains

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Pleasant Plains, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Pleasant Plains.

RAIL

Walnut Ridge

83 mi away
109 Southwest Front Street
RAIL

Little Rock Union Station

107 mi away
1400 West Markham Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Little Rock and Salem. Straight-line distance: 115.28 mi (185.53 km).

Little Rock

#1 Little Rock

The capital of Arkansas.

Population197,866
Coordinates34.7464800, -92.2895900
Altitude102
CountryUnited States
Salem

#2 Salem

City in Arkansas, United States

Population1,655
Coordinates36.3711800, -91.8226500
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Start: Little Rock (-92.28959, 34.74648)
End: Salem (-91.82265, 36.37118)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 240 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.25 gal
19.89 L · about $19.88
Round trip
$39.76
10.5 gal · 39.78 L
Estimated CO2
46.7 kg one way
Round trip: 93.3 kg / 206 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $19.88 $39.76
Mid-grade $4.26 $22.36 $44.72
Premium $4.63 $24.28 $48.56
Diesel $5.42 $28.43 $56.86

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Arkansas · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Little Rock and Salem. The current time is 06:03:18.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.