Origin
De Queen, AR
Afternoon in De Queen on Thursday
Local time
4:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from De Queen, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 36m
Distance
128.2 mi
206 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 26m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
De Queen, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from De Queen, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 128.2 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 71, North Lakeside Drive, Old Greenwood Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 71.5 miles on US 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.36 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
64.1 miles from De Queen, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 128.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from De Queen, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 128.2 miles and takes about 2h 36m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 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 71.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,132 ft
421 ft
Total Climb
901 ft
Total Descent
887 ft
Highest Point
1,132 ft
~45.8 mi in
Elevation Range
710 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 4th Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from De Queen, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 2h 36m with 56% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 59; US 71 / North Lakeside Drive): Navigation decision point; at 122.2 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 4th Street
Turn right onto North 4th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 59; US 71 / North Lakeside Drive
Turn left onto US 59; US 71 / North Lakeside Drive
Navigation decision point
4
122.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
|
US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward 540 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward 540 North
4
123.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward Greenwood Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Greenwood Road
4
124.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
|
AR 45 / Old Greenwood Road
Turn left onto AR 45 / Old Greenwood Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 71.5 mi | 1h 25m |
| North Lakeside Drive | 51.2 mi | 59m |
| Old Greenwood Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| North Greenwood Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Collin Raye Drive | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| North 4th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South 31st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Rogers Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 71.5 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between De Queen, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on West Dequeen Avenue
53 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Dequeen Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 4th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 4th Street
3
Turn right onto US 70
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Collin Raye Drive
4
Turn left onto US 59; US 71
51 mi
·
59 min
·
North Lakeside Drive
5
Continue on US 71; US 270
70 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
US 71; US 270
6
Take the exit onto US 71
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 71
Toward 540 North
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Greenwood Road
8
Turn left onto AR 45
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Greenwood Road
9
Continue on South 31st Street
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
South 31st Street
10
Continue on Old Greenwood Road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Old Greenwood Road
11
Turn left onto AR 22
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Rogers Avenue
12
Turn right onto North Greenwood Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Greenwood Avenue
13
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Grand Avenue
14
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.1 miles from De Queen, AR, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.5 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 16m 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 5m
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 De Queen, 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 De Queen, AR
This is one driving day of about 128.2 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from De Queen, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 71 for about 71.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.1 mi from De Queen, AR · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.1 miles from De Queen, 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 71.5 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
$19.36 one way
$38.72 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $21.25 | $42.51 |
| premium | $4.56 | $23.01 | $46.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.30 | $56.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.46 | $6.15 |
| Efficient EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.22 | $5.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.95 | $8.20 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in Fort Smith on Thursday
Local time
4:15 PM
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
1 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
2h 36m 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 De Queen, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 128.2 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 71, North Lakeside Drive, Old Greenwood Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.1 miles from De Queen, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.36 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 De Queen, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 2h 36m with 56% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 59; US 71 / North Lakeside Drive): Navigation decision point; at 122.2 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from De Queen, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 421 ft to 1,132 ft elevation with about 901 ft of total climbing.
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