Chicago to Little Rock road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The distance from Chicago to Little Rock by car is 653 miles, with a 9h27m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Chicago to Little Rock drive are Giant City State Park, Blytheville AR and Memphis TN.
Planning a Chicago to Little Rock road trip itinerary
A Chicago to Little Rock road trip takes you from the biggest city in Illinois to the capital of Arkansas.
Our favourite thing to do in Chicago
The Chicago architecture cruise has a phenomenal wow factor, with the boat gliding between some of the world’s most legendary skyscrapers.
We found the commentary matches the views, too. Expect a fascinating run-down of the city’s history – and plenty of surprising detail about the buildings you’re seeing.
Chicago’s skyscrapers, music scene and massive collection of cultural attractions make it arguably the most exciting city in the US to visit.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a gangsters and ghosts tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods. It’s also worth paying a visit to the Field Museum, the 360 Chicago observation deck at the Hancock Tower and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas, and the closest thing the state has to a metropolis.
Key experiences in Little Rock include the Museum of Discovery and the William J Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. The latter, as with most presidential libraries, acts as a fascinating insight not just into the president, but the era he was in charge for.
Of Little Rock’s hotels, the Capital Hotel provides most historic glamour and the Residence Inn Little Rock Downtown is great value.
Chicago to Little Rock distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Little Rock is 653 miles. That makes for a driving time of around nine hours and 27 minutes. The quickest route is usually down the I-57, I-55 and I-40.
The best stops on a Chicago to Little Rock road trip itinerary are Giant City State Park, Blytheville AR and Memphis TN.
Chicago to Memphis drive: Giant City State Park, Illinois
Giant City State Park is in the Shawnee National Forest. But it’s the massive 12,000-year-old sandstone bluffs you come to see. This southern Illinois state park has plenty of hiking trails, while rock-climbing and rappelling are allowed in two locations.
Visitors can also tackle the Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour, which involves a series of ziplines flying through the forest, plus three suspension bridges.
Best stops between Chicago and Little Rock: Blytheville AR
The Blytheville Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, has an exhibition about the base’s history. But plans are underfoot to transform it into something bigger – the National Cold War Center.
Blytheville is also home to the Delta Gateway Museum, which tells the tale of the surrounding region. It’s one of the most fertile agricultural areas in the states, but the museum also includes the timber industry, earthquakes and Native American culture.
Chicago to Little Rock road trip attractions: Memphis TN
Memphis, Tennessee, is a pilgrimage site for Elvis fans. The King’s Graceland mansion is one of the top tourist sites in the US. But the cultural heritage extends beyond music, as you’ll discover on an African-American history tour.
Also try the Rock and Soul Museum, plus the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and the 19th century Woodruff-Fontaine House.
Ways of seeing the city include ghost walks, Downtown food tours and musical bus tours. There are also guided walks down music central, Beale Street, and city tours that take you inside the legendary Sun Studios.
More Chicago road trips
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More Little Rock road trips
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