Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Barling, AR

Drive Time

13m

Distance

8.3 mi

13 km

Drive Score

5/10

Practical drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM

0h 12m ★

6 AM

0h 13m

8 AM

0h 15m

10 AM

0h 14m

12 PM

0h 14m

3 PM

0h 14m

5 PM

0h 15m

8 PM

0h 12m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit between Fort Smith and Barling, you will find this 8.3-mile journey takes just about 13 minutes to complete. This trip is designed as a simple day excursion that requires no overnight stops, making it perfect for a quick commute or local errand. Budgeting for this route is incredibly easy, as you should expect to spend only about $1 on fuel for the entire distance. Since both towns are located within the Southeast region of Arkansas, you will remain in a familiar environment for the duration of the drive. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that relies entirely on local roads rather than interstate travel. Whether you are heading out for business or personal travel, this short connection provides a reliable link between the two cities.

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

4.2 miles from Fort Smith, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate your way out of Fort Smith and toward Barling. You will rely primarily on Rogers Avenue East, Rogers Avenue, and Fort Street to reach your destination. Because this route maintains a 0% highway share, you will be traveling on city streets for the full duration of the 8.3-mile trip. There are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches to contend with here; instead, the driving experience is defined by local traffic patterns and frequent turns. Keep your focus sharp, as the nature of these local roads requires consistent attention to your surroundings compared to a monotonous interstate cruise.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Rogers Avenue East 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 Fort Smith, AR to Barling, AR is easy. At 13m 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 Fort Smith, AR to Barling, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Rogers Avenue East	Unavailable	Refreshing
Rogers Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Fort Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Rogers Avenue East — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Barling, AR.

1

Start on Grand Avenue

1.9 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue

2

Take the ramp slight right

0.3 mi · 38 sec

3

Merge slight left

1.5 mi · 1 min

4

Take the exit slight right toward Rogers Avenue East

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Rogers Avenue East

5

Turn straight onto Rogers Avenue

2.8 mi · 4 min · Rogers Avenue

6

Continue on Fort Street

1.6 mi · 2 min · Fort Street

7

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Because this is a short 13-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on Rogers Avenue is always a smart move. You won't need to plan for any formal stops since the trip is so brief, allowing you to reach Barling quickly and efficiently. Keep a close watch on your navigation through the various turns on Fort Street to ensure you stay on the most direct path. Since the fuel cost is estimated at just $1, you can easily top off your tank in Fort Smith before you leave and arrive with plenty of range to spare. Use this efficiency to your advantage by keeping your schedule open and stress-free.

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 4.2 miles from Fort Smith, AR, or about 6m 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 8.3 miles or 13m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 4.2 miles or 6m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barling, AR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Fort Smith, 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 Fort Smith, AR

This is one driving day of about 8.3 miles and 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fort Smith, 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 4.2 mi from Fort Smith, AR · 6m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Garland, TX

4 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

Garland, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 8.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Garland, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 4.2 miles from Fort Smith, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Barling, AR

The final approach into Barling, 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 Barling, 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

$1.27 one way

$2.54 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.26	$1.39	$2.78
premium	$4.61	$1.51	$3.01
diesel	$5.64	$1.84	$3.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	2.5	$0.87	$0.40
Efficient EV	2.1	$0.73	$0.33
EV Truck/SUV	3.3	$1.16	$0.53

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Fort Smith, AR

Afternoon in Fort Smith on Sunday

Local time

3:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Barling, AR

Afternoon in Barling on Sunday

Local time

3:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

63°F

Garland, TX

4 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

20 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

13m 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 Fort Smith, AR to Barling, AR covers 8.3 miles and takes about 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Rogers Avenue East, Rogers Avenue, Fort Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 4.2 miles from Fort Smith, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.27 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 Fort Smith, AR to Barling, AR is easy. At 13m 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 Fort Smith, AR to Barling, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Fort Smith, AR to Barling, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.