So basically from Baton Rouge there are two routes to Little Rock: 1) I 12 - I 55 - I 40 - 523.8 miles 2) HWY 61 - HWY 65 - I 530 - 367.7 Miles Any advice on which to take? How's the drive on those US Highways?
US-61 /US 65 is a low-traffic highway through cotton country. Nice drive and a lot shorter than the interstate long way around. Stop in Transylvania, Louisiana and buy a T-shirt. You can't miss the bat on the water tower.
They are US highways and not LA Highways so you are okay there. I have driven on both and it's really not a bad drive. It will be much shorter to go route 2.