Origin
El Dorado, AR
Afternoon in El Dorado on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from El Dorado, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Drive Time
5h 3m
Distance
273.1 mi
439 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 50m
★
6 AM
5h 3m
8 AM
5h 30m
10 AM
5h 13m
12 PM
5h 10m
3 PM
5h 14m
5 PM
5h 29m
8 PM
4h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
El Dorado, AR
Juan Felipe Ramírez
Trip Overview
Connecting El Dorado to Fort Smith covers 273.1 miles across the state of Arkansas, typically taking about 5 hours and 3 minutes of driving time. Because this is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $42 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will rely primarily on US 65, US 167, and Lee Street to navigate between these two southeastern Arkansas hubs. This route serves as a straightforward transition between regions, making it a practical choice if you are looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
136.5 miles from El Dorado, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 42m into the drive .
Drive Character
This highway-focused trek is defined by a 74% highway share, offering a consistent pace for the majority of your travel. You will spend a significant portion of your time on US 65, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 145.7 miles. The road maintains a functional, steady personality that keeps you moving toward your destination without excessive technical maneuvering. As you transition between the segments of US 167 and Lee Street, the environment shifts gradually, providing a clear and predictable rhythm for the driver. It is the type of drive where you can settle into a comfortable cruising speed, making the 273.1-mile distance feel quite approachable.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 145.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and US 167. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 82B / West Hillsboro Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 273.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 82B / West Hillsboro Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles (US 167 / Lee Street): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 82B / West Hillsboro Street
Turn left onto US 82B / West Hillsboro Street
Navigation decision point
5
14.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 167 / Lee Street
Merge onto US 167 / Lee Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
104 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
|
US 167
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North:...
7
118.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65 toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143A
Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Co...
6
118.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 65 | 145.7 mi | 2h 27m |
| US 167 | 50.9 mi | 1h |
| Lee Street | 35.7 mi | 43m |
| Sheridan Bypass | 17.9 mi | 20m |
| Calion Highway | 10 mi | 12m |
| US 71 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| South West Avenue | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 145.7 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Dorado, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on Barton Street
70 ft
·
8 sec
·
Barton Street
2
Turn left onto US 82B
273 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Hillsboro Street
3
Turn left onto US 167B
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South West Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 167B
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Calion Road
5
Continue on US 167
10.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Calion Highway
6
Merge onto US 167
36 mi
·
43 min
·
Lee Street
Use the none lane.
7
Turn left onto US 167
36 mi
·
44 min
·
US 167
8
Continue on US 167
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Sheridan Bypass
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 167
15 mi
·
16 min
·
US 167
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
Use the none lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 65
Exit 143A
Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
145 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
US 65
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
14
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid midday traffic fluctuations. Since the itinerary suggests only one stop, plan to take your break near the midpoint of the journey to stay refreshed for the final stretch. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you navigate the transition from US 167 to the longer US 65 corridor. Because the drive is designed for a single day, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on how you feel behind the wheel. A helpful tip for this route is to account for your fuel budget of $42 before you leave, ensuring you have enough set aside for the full 273.1-mile distance.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 136.5 miles from El Dorado, AR, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.7 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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.5 miles or 2h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
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 El Dorado, 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 El Dorado, AR
This is one driving day of about 273.1 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from El Dorado, 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 65 for about 145.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.5 mi from El Dorado, AR · 2h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 136.5 miles from El Dorado, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.7 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.75 one way
$83.50 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $45.79 | $91.59 |
| premium | $4.61 | $49.57 | $99.13 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $60.67 | $121.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.9 | 1 | $28.68 | $13.11 |
| Efficient EV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.90 | $10.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.2 | 1 | $38.23 | $17.48 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Haskell, AR
137 mi in
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
4 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
5h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from El Dorado, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 273.1 miles and takes about 5h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 65, US 167, Lee Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.5 miles from El Dorado, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 273.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 82B / West Hillsboro Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles (US 167 / Lee Street): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 104 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from El Dorado, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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