Origin
Fort Smith, AR
Afternoon in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Tennessee, AR
Drive Time
4h 24m
Distance
246.7 mi
397 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 11m
★
6 AM
4h 25m
8 AM
4h 51m
10 AM
4h 34m
12 PM
4h 31m
3 PM
4h 35m
5 PM
4h 50m
8 PM
4h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Traveling from Fort Smith to Tennessee, Arkansas, covers 246.7 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 24 minutes. Because this journey fits comfortably into a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $34 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly excursion within the Southeast region. The route utilizes a combination of I-540 North, I-40 East, and AR-530 South to navigate the landscape. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, this itinerary provides a straightforward path across the state. It is an ideal distance for a one-day round trip if you prefer to stay mobile and keep your travel schedule simple.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
123.3 miles from Fort Smith, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend your time navigating local roads rather than cruising long stretches of high-speed pavement. In fact, there are 0 miles of uninterrupted driving on I-540 North, so prepare for frequent adjustments and varying speeds. The road’s personality is defined by these technical sections, which keep the drive engaging from start to finish. You should anticipate a dynamic experience where the road surface and path change regularly as you transition between the segments of your journey.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 540 North 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fort Smith, AR to Tennessee, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 540 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| AR 530 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 530 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 11 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Gaines Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tennessee Spur Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 540 North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Tennessee, AR.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto I 540 North, US 71 North
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 540 North, US 71 North
3
Merge slight left
5.7 mi
·
6 min
4
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
146 mi
·
2 hr 27 min
·
I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
5
Take the exit slight right
4.6 mi
·
6 min
6
Keep slight left
44 mi
·
45 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello
8
Continue on Highway 530
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Highway 530
9
At the end of the road, turn left onto Highway 11
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 11
10
Turn right
16 mi
·
20 min
11
Take the exit right
226 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn slight right onto West Gaines Avenue
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
West Gaines Avenue
13
Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Tennessee Spur Road
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Planning for this 4-hour and 24-minute drive is best done with a flexible schedule, given the nature of the local roads. Since you have one planned stop along the way, use that time to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle, keeping your $34 fuel budget in mind. Leaving early in the day is your best bet to avoid potential traffic congestion on the turn-heavy portions of the route. Because the drive is relatively short, you have the advantage of deciding your own pace without feeling rushed. A concrete tip for this specific path is to remain alert for sharp transitions when moving between the primary roads, as the navigation will require frequent focus rather than passive highway cruising.
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 123.3 miles from Fort Smith, AR, or about 2h 12m 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 80 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.3 miles or 2h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tennessee, 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 246.7 miles and 4h 24m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123.3 mi from Fort Smith, AR · 2h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123.3 miles from Fort Smith, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tennessee, AR
The final approach into Tennessee, 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 Tennessee, 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
$37.71 one way
$75.43 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $41.37 | $82.73 |
| premium | $4.61 | $44.78 | $89.55 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $54.81 | $109.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74 | 0 | $25.90 | $11.84 |
| Efficient EV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.59 | $9.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.7 | 1 | $34.54 | $15.79 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Tennessee, AR
Afternoon in Tennessee on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
7 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
4h 24m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Tennessee, AR covers 246.7 miles and takes about 4h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 540 North, I 40 East, AR 530 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.3 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 $37.71 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 24m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fort Smith, AR to Tennessee, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fort Smith, AR to Tennessee, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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