Origin
Bella Vista, AR
Late night in Bella Vista on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bella Vista, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
91.3 mi
147 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bella Vista, AR
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Trip Overview
The drive from Bella Vista, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 91.3 miles and takes about 1h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 71, Bella Vista Way, I 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.5 miles on US 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.79 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Bella Vista, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 43m highway drive covering 91.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 71 and Bella Vista Way. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.5 miles on US 71.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and Bella Vista Way. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Billingsley Drive.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 43m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Billingsley Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Cooper Road): Navigation decision point; at 78.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Billingsley Drive
Turn right onto Billingsley Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cooper Road
Turn right onto Cooper Road
Navigation decision point
6
78.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
5
82.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
5
89.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 78.5 mi | 1h 23m |
| Bella Vista Way | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| I 40 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Cooper Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Lancashire Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| On Ramp Bella Vista Way | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Hartsfield Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 78.5 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bella Vista, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on Hartsfield Lane
305 ft
·
14 sec
·
Hartsfield Lane
2
Turn right onto Billingsley Drive
205 ft
·
12 sec
·
Billingsley Drive
3
Turn right onto Cooper Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Cooper Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 340
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Lancashire Boulevard
5
Turn right onto On Ramp Bella Vista Way
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
On Ramp Bella Vista Way
6
Turn straight onto US 71
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Bella Vista Way
7
Take the ramp onto US 71
72 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
US 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
9
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 40; US 71
10
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
12
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.7 miles from Bella Vista, AR, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.5 miles.
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 52m 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 23m
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 Bella Vista, 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 Bella Vista, AR
This is one driving day of about 91.3 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bella Vista, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 71 for about 78.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.7 mi from Bella Vista, AR · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 45.7 miles from Bella Vista, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.5 miles.
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
$13.79 one way
$27.58 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $15.14 | $30.27 |
| premium | $4.56 | $16.39 | $32.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.16 | $40.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.59 | $4.38 |
| Efficient EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.5 | 0 | $12.78 | $5.84 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Late night in Fort Smith on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 43m 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 Bella Vista, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 91.3 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 71, Bella Vista Way, I 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.7 miles from Bella Vista, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.79 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 43m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Billingsley Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Cooper Road): Navigation decision point; at 78.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Bella Vista, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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