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Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Benton, AR

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 2m

Distance

174.5 mi

281 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 51m ★
6 AM
3h 3m
8 AM
3h 26m
10 AM
3h 11m
12 PM
3h 8m
3 PM
3h 12m
5 PM
3h 24m
8 PM
2h 56m

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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Downtown Benton, AR, AR

Benton, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fort Smith, AR to Benton, AR covers 174.5 miles and takes about 3h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 71, I 430, US 70 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 139.8 miles on US 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.35 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

87.3 miles from Fort Smith, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 2m. Total distance: 174.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 2m highway drive covering 174.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 71 and I 430. The longest continuous stretch is about 139.8 miles on US 71.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
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 139.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 430. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 174.5 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
2 mi into trip | ~3m in

Turn left toward I 540 North, US 71 North

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
8
8 mi into trip | ~11m in | US 71

Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
6
147.8 mi into trip | ~2h 31m in

Take the exit toward I 430: Texarkana

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 430: Texarkana
8
160.7 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in | US 70

Keep slight right at fork onto US 70 toward I 30 West: Texarkana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 129B Toward I 30 West: Texarkana
5
172.7 mi into trip | ~2h 59m in

Take the exit toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 71 139.8 mi 2h 20m
I 430 12.3 mi 14m
US 70 12.1 mi 13m
I 540 5.7 mi 6m
Grand Avenue 2 mi 3m
AR 35 1.1 mi 1m
I-30 Frontage Road 0.4 mi <1m
Old Hot Springs Highway 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 71 — 139.8 mi, about 2h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Grand Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue
2

Turn left

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
3

Merge onto I 540; US 71

5.7 mi · 6 min · I 540; US 71
4

Keep slight right at fork onto US 71

140 mi · 2 hr 20 min · US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 430: Texarkana Use the slight right lane.
6

Continue on I 430

12 mi · 14 min · I 430
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto US 70

12 mi · 13 min · US 70
Exit 129B Toward I 30 West: Texarkana Use the slight right lane.
8

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 12 sec
Toward AR 5, AR 35: Benton
9

Turn straight onto AR 5

0.4 mi · 37 sec · I-30 Frontage Road
10

Turn slight right onto AR 5

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Old Hot Springs Highway
11

Turn left onto AR 35

1.1 mi · 1 min · AR 35
12

Turn right onto East Sevier Street

383 ft · 14 sec · East Sevier Street
13

Turn right onto North Main Street

14 ft · 0 sec · North Main Street
14

Arrive at destination

North Main Street

Trip Plan

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 87.3 miles from Fort Smith, AR, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.8 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 38 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 87.3 miles or 1h 30m 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 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, 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 174.5 miles and 3h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Fort Smith, 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 139.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 87.3 mi from Fort Smith, AR · 1h 30m into the drive

Downtown Atkins, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Atkins, AR

87 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

Ozark, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Atkins, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 87.3 miles from Fort Smith, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 139.8 miles.

Arriving in Benton, AR

The final approach into Benton, 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 Benton, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park

National Park

Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 174.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.35 one way

$52.71 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $28.93 $57.86
premium $4.56 $31.32 $62.64
diesel $5.61 $38.53 $77.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 52.4 0 $18.32 $8.38
Efficient EV 43.6 0 $15.27 $6.98
EV Truck/SUV 69.8 0 $24.43 $11.17

Gas CO2

61 kg

EV CO2

20 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

Fort Smith, AR

Morning in Fort Smith on Friday

Local time

11:42 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Benton, AR

Morning in Benton on Friday

Local time

11:42 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

3h 2m 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 Benton, AR covers 174.5 miles and takes about 3h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 71, I 430, US 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 87.3 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 $26.35 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 174.5 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Hot Springs National Park.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Benton, AR to Fort Smith, AR

Plan the drive back the other way.

174.7 mi 3h 2m

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