Origin
Harrison, AR
Afternoon in Harrison on Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Harrison, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
131.3 mi
211 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 34m
★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harrison, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 131.3-mile drive from Harrison, Arkansas, to Fort Smith, Arkansas, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 44 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-49, US 412, and AR 45, with 91% of the journey on highways, making it a straightforward, highway-focused experience. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $20. Given its manageable length and focus on main roads, this trip is ideal for a leisurely day of travel within the Southeast region of Arkansas, offering a convenient connection between these two points.
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
65.6 miles from Harrison, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 131.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 131.3-mile journey. With 91% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-49, US 412, and AR 45, you'll experience efficient travel for most of the 2 hours and 44 minutes. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 40.4 miles on I-49, allowing for sustained driving without frequent interruptions. While the profile is highway-focused, be prepared for the transitions as you move between these main arteries.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 40.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and US 412. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.4 miles in near US 412.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 131.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.4 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here; at 70.5 miles (AR 265 / North Crossover Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 76.2 miles (South Razorback Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
13.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 412
Turn left onto US 412
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
AR 265 / North Crossover Road
Turn left onto AR 265 / North Crossover Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
76.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
South Razorback Road
Turn left onto South Razorback Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
77.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
I 49
Merge onto I 49
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
118 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 40.4 mi | 40m |
| US 412 | 40.2 mi | 46m |
| AR 45 | 16.4 mi | 24m |
| US 62 | 11.6 mi | 17m |
| US 71 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| I 40 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| East 15th Street | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| North Crossover Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 40.4 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrison, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on West Stephenson Avenue
78 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Stephenson Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
3
Continue on US 62; US 65; US 412
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
US 62; US 65; US 412
4
Take the exit onto US 62; US 412
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
US 62; US 412
5
Continue on US 62; US 412
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 62; US 412
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 412
40 mi
·
46 min
·
US 412
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto US 412B
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 412B
8
Turn slight left onto AR 45
16 mi
·
24 min
·
AR 45
9
Turn left onto AR 265
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Crossover Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn slight right
380 ft
·
7 sec
Use the right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto AR 16
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
East Huntsville Road
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on AR 16
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Happy Hollow Road
13
Continue on AR 16
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
East 15th Street
14
Turn left onto South Razorback Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Razorback Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Continue on AR 265
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Cato Springs Road
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
Use the left lane.
17
Merge onto I 49
40 mi
·
40 min
·
I 49
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
19
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 40; US 71
20
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
22
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
With a total duration of 2 hours and 44 minutes and a fuel cost of approximately $20, this 131.3-mile trip offers flexibility for when you depart. You can easily complete this drive in one day without needing an overnight stay. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. There's one recommended stop on this route, but with only one longest stretch of 40.4 miles on I-49, you won't feel rushed. A practical tip: keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Fort Smith, as highway services can sometimes be spaced out.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.6 miles from Harrison, AR, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.4 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 29 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.6 miles or 1h 26m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Smith, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harrison, 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 Harrison, AR
This is one driving day of about 131.3 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Harrison, 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 I 49 for about 40.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.6 mi from Harrison, AR · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.6 miles from Harrison, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Smith, AR
The final approach into Fort Smith, 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 Fort Smith, 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
$19.83 one way
$39.66 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $21.77 | $43.54 |
| premium | $4.56 | $23.57 | $47.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.99 | $57.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.79 | $6.30 |
| Efficient EV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.49 | $5.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.38 | $8.40 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Afternoon in Fort Smith on Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
2h 44m 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 Harrison, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 131.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, US 412, AR 45. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.6 miles from Harrison, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.83 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 131.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.4 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here; at 70.5 miles (AR 265 / North Crossover Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 76.2 miles (South Razorback Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Harrison, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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