Origin
Fayetteville, AR
Evening in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
7:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fayetteville, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Drive Time
56m
Distance
57.5 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Fayetteville, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 57.5 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South College Avenue, South Nelson Hackett Boulevard, South School Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.79 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
28.7 miles from Fayetteville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 56m drive with frequent turns across 57.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South College Avenue 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 Fayetteville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 56m 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 Fayetteville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South College Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Nelson Hackett Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South School Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Razorback Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Cato Springs Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 540 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South College Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on the route
322 ft
·
29 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto South College Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
South College Avenue
3
Continue on South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
4
Turn slight left onto South School Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South School Avenue
5
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
6
Turn left onto South Razorback Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Razorback Road
7
Continue on South Cato Springs Road
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Cato Springs Road
8
Take the ramp slight left
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
9
Merge slight left
40 mi
·
40 min
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
11
Merge slight left
4.3 mi
·
4 min
12
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
13
Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Grand Avenue
14
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
15
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 28.7 miles from Fayetteville, AR, or about 28m 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 57.5 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.7 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 47m
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 Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, AR
This is one driving day of about 57.5 miles and 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fayetteville, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.7 mi from Fayetteville, AR · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 57.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Fayetteville, 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
$8.79 one way
$17.58 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $9.64 | $19.28 |
| premium | $4.61 | $10.44 | $20.87 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.77 | $25.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.04 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.05 | $3.68 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Sunday
Local time
7:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
63°F
Garland, TX
29 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
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
56m 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 Fayetteville, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 57.5 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South College Avenue, South Nelson Hackett Boulevard, South School Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.7 miles from Fayetteville, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.79 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.
The drive from Fayetteville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 56m 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 Fayetteville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fayetteville, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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