This 166.4-mile drive from Flippin to Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes. You'll primarily be on US 62 and I 49, with a small portion on US 412, making it a highway-focused journey. The estimated fuel cost for this leg is around $25. Given its relatively short duration and focused highway profile, it’s perfect for a single day's travel without needing an overnight stop. This route stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward connection between two Arkansas communities.
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
83.2 miles from Flippin, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 166.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 93% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 46.7 miles on US 62. While mostly highway, the transition between US 62 and I 49 will likely offer a change in pace and environment. This route is designed for efficient travel, so you can anticipate consistent speeds for most of the 166.4 miles.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 62 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 62 and I 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 3rd Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 166.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.6 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North 3rd Street
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
29.6 mi into trip|~35m in|US 62; US 65; US 412
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412
Navigation decision point
6
111.3 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|South Razorback Road
Turn left onto South Razorback Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
153.1 mi into trip|~3h 11m 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
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 62
46.7 mi
1h 1m
I 49
40.4 mi
40m
US 412
40.2 mi
46m
AR 45
16.4 mi
24m
US 71
6.5 mi
7m
I 40
4.3 mi
4m
East 15th Street
2.5 mi
5m
North Crossover Road
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 62
— 46.7 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Flippin, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on Girard Street
32 ft·5 sec·Girard Street
2
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
442 ft·21 sec·North 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·East Main Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 178
1.4 mi·2 min·South 1st Street
5
Turn right onto US 62; US 412
5.4 mi·6 min·US 62; US 412
6
Turn right onto US 62; US 412
23 mi·25 min·US 62; US 412
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 62; US 65; US 412
7.2 mi·11 min·US 62; US 65; US 412
8
Take the exit onto US 62; US 65; US 412
5.0 mi·7 min·US 62; US 65; US 412
9
Take the exit onto US 62; US 412
6.1 mi·8 min·US 62; US 412
10
Continue on US 62; US 412
0.5 mi·1 min·US 62; US 412
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 412
40 mi·46 min·US 412
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto US 412B
0.5 mi·54 sec·US 412B
13
Turn slight left onto AR 45
16 mi·24 min·AR 45
14
Turn left onto AR 265
2.3 mi·3 min·North Crossover Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn slight right
380 ft·7 sec
Use the right lane.
16
Turn slight right onto AR 16
0.4 mi·56 sec·East Huntsville Road
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on AR 16
0.3 mi·41 sec·South Happy Hollow Road
18
Continue on AR 16
2.5 mi·5 min·East 15th Street
19
Turn left onto South Razorback Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Razorback Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Continue on AR 265
0.4 mi·40 sec·South Cato Springs Road
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·19 sec
Use the left lane.
22
Merge onto I 49
40 mi·40 min·I 49
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
24
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi·4 min·I 40; US 71
25
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi·7 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 6Toward Grand Avenue
27
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Grand Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour and 27-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Flippin to maximize your time upon arrival in Fort Smith. With only one recommended stop and a 93% highway share, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 46.7-mile stretch on US 62, as services might be less frequent there. The estimated $25 fuel cost is a good budget guideline for this 166.4-mile journey.
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 83.2 miles from Flippin, AR, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.7 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 37 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.2 miles or 1h 45m 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 54m
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 Flippin, 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 Flippin, AR
This is one driving day of about 166.4 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Flippin, 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 62 for about 46.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.2 mi from Flippin, AR
· 1h 45m into the drive
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 166.4
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Hours: 6 am–3 pm
+14796464309
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.13 one way
$50.26 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.59
$55.17
premium
$4.56
$29.87
$59.73
diesel
$5.61
$36.74
$73.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.9
0
$17.47
$7.99
Efficient EV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
EV Truck/SUV
66.6
0
$23.30
$10.65
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Flippin, AR
Afternoon
in Flippin on Friday
Local time
12:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Afternoon
in Fort Smith on Friday
Local time
12:13 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 27m 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 Flippin, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 166.4 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 62, I 49, US 412. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.2 miles from Flippin, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.13 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 166.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.6 miles (US 62; US 65; US 412): Navigation decision point.
The route from Flippin, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
