Origin
Fort Smith, AR
Afternoon in Fort Smith on Friday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Russellville, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
83.3 mi
134 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Russellville, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fort Smith to Russellville is 83.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via US 71 and I-540, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on well-maintained highways. You'll want to know that this route is almost entirely highway driving, so pack accordingly if you prefer more varied scenery. Consider this a quick hop, perfect for a day trip or a short leg of a larger journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 83.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey on high-speed roads like US 71 and I-540. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 70.2 miles on US 71, offering a consistent pace. The character is largely that of efficient travel, designed for covering ground quickly rather than a winding exploration. Expect smooth pavement and predictable conditions for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 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 70.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 540. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Smith, AR to Russellville, AR is easy. At 1h 29m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 78.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese 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
5
78.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78
Toward US 64
4
78.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
US 64
Turn left onto US 64
Navigation decision point
6
83.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
AR 7 / North Arkansas Avenue
Turn left onto AR 7 / North Arkansas Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fort Smith, AR to Russellville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
8 mi in
|
~11m
|
via US 71
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 70.2 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 540 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| West Main Street | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| US 64 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North Arkansas Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 70.2 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Russellville, 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
70 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 78
Toward US 64
6
Turn left onto US 64
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 64
7
Continue on US 64; Hwy 326
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
8
Turn left onto AR 7
106 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Arkansas Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Arrive at destination
AR 7
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.7 mi from Fort Smith, AR · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.7 miles from Fort Smith, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.2 miles.
Arriving in Russellville, AR
The final approach into Russellville, AR usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.58 one way
$25.16 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $13.81 | $27.62 |
| premium | $4.56 | $14.95 | $29.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.39 | $36.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25 | 0 | $8.75 | $4.00 |
| Efficient EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.66 | $5.33 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Russellville, AR
Afternoon in Russellville on Friday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 29m 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 Russellville, AR covers 83.3 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 71, I 540, West Main 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 41.7 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 $12.58 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 Russellville, AR is easy. At 1h 29m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 78.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Fort Smith, AR to Russellville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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