Origin
Fort Smith, AR
Morning in Fort Smith on Saturday
Local time
11:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Prairie Grove, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
57.4 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prairie Grove, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Smith, AR to Prairie Grove, AR covers 57.4 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 49, Hogeye Road, I 540 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.6 miles on I 49. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.67 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 57.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 10m highway drive covering 57.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 49 and Hogeye Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.6 miles on I 49.
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.
I 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,559 ft
415 ft
Total Climb
1,272 ft
Total Descent
541 ft
Highest Point
1,559 ft
~41 mi in
Elevation Range
1,144 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and Hogeye Road. 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 57.4 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 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
6
12.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
7
45.9 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward State Highway 170: West Fork
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward State Highway 170: West Fork
4
46.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
AR 170 / Phillips Street
Turn left onto AR 170 / Phillips Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Smith, AR and Prairie Grove, AR, road signs point toward Memphis and State Highway 170: West Fork.
Memphis
8 mi in
|
~11m
|
via US 71
State Highway 170: West Fork
45.9 mi in
|
~49m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 32.6 mi | 32m |
| Hogeye Road | 5.9 mi | 10m |
| I 540 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| US 71 | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| AR 156 | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Grand Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Mock Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Phillips Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 32.6 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Prairie Grove, 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
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 49
33 mi
·
32 min
·
I 49
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 53
Toward State Highway 170: West Fork
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto AR 170
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Phillips Street
9
Turn right onto AR 156
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
AR 156
10
Continue on AR 265
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
South State Highway 265
11
Turn right onto Hogeye Road
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Hogeye Road
12
Continue on South Mock Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mock Street
13
Turn left onto West Mock Drive
117 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Mock Drive
14
Arrive at destination
West Mock Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.7 mi from Fort Smith, AR · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Fort Smith, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Prairie Grove, AR
The final approach into Prairie Grove, 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
$8.67 one way
$17.34 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.52 | $19.03 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.30 | $20.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.67 | $25.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.04 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Prairie Grove, AR
Morning in Prairie Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
3 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 10m 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 Prairie Grove, AR covers 57.4 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, Hogeye Road, I 540. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.7 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 $8.67 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.4 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 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Fort Smith, AR and Prairie Grove, AR, road signs point toward Memphis and State Highway 170: West Fork.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 415 ft to 1,559 ft elevation with about 1,272 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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