Origin
Austin, AR
Evening in Austin on Tuesday
Local time
8:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Austin, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 35m
Distance
159 mi
256 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 25m
★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Austin, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 159 miles and takes about 2h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on AR 89, West Main Street, Highway 89 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.5 miles from Austin, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 35m drive with frequent turns across 159 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
AR 89 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Austin, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 2h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| AR 89 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 89 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tates Mill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 107 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Vilonia Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 64 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Oak Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
AR 89
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on the route
220 ft
·
18 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn right
82 ft
·
2 sec
3
Turn left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
4
Take the ramp left
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
5
Merge slight left
3.0 mi
·
2 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward AR 89: Cabot
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
AR 89: Cabot
7
Keep slight left
200 ft
·
10 sec
8
Turn left onto West Main Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
9
Continue on State Highway 89
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 89
10
Continue on Tates Mill Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Tates Mill Road
11
Turn right onto State Highway 107
7.9 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 107
12
Turn left onto Vilonia Bypass
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Vilonia Bypass
13
Continue on State Highway 64
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 64
14
Continue on East Oak Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East Oak Street
15
Take the exit straight
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
16
Merge slight left
119 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
18
Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Grand Avenue
19
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.5 miles from Austin, AR, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.5 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Smith, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Austin, 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 Austin, AR
This is one driving day of about 159 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Austin, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.5 mi from Austin, AR · 1h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.5 miles from Austin, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Smith, AR
The final approach into Fort Smith, 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 Fort Smith, AR.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.01 one way
$48.03 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $26.36 | $52.72 |
| premium | $4.56 | $28.54 | $57.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.11 | $70.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.7 | 0 | $16.69 | $7.63 |
| Efficient EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.91 | $6.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.6 | 0 | $22.26 | $10.18 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Fort Smith, AR
Evening in Fort Smith on Tuesday
Local time
8:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
24 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
2h 35m 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 Austin, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 159 miles and takes about 2h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are AR 89, West Main Street, Highway 89. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.5 miles from Austin, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.01 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Austin, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 2h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Austin, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Austin, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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