Hazen to Fort Smith is 197.8 miles and takes about 3 hours 26 minutes via I 40, US 71, and US 63, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arkansas, connecting the Southeast region. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. You'll find the route efficient, allowing you to cover the distance without much fuss. Consider this a practical choice if you're looking for a direct path 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
98.9 miles from Hazen, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
185.2 mi
3h 7m
US 71
6.5 mi
7m
US 63
2.9 mi
4m
Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
East South Front
0.8 mi
1m
North Hazen Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
East North Front
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 185.2 mi, about 3h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hazen, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on East North Front
55 ft·7 sec·East North Front
2
Turn left onto North Hazen Avenue
188 ft·10 sec·North Hazen Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 70
0.8 mi·1 min·East South Front
4
Turn left onto US 63
2.9 mi·4 min·US 63
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
185 mi·3 hr 7 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi·7 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 6Toward Grand Avenue
9
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Grand Avenue
10
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip covering just under 200 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will comfortably get you to Fort Smith with plenty of daylight remaining. With a relatively short drive, you may only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break, especially since the longest stretch is over 185 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach your destination, as fuel availability can vary between exits on the interstates. The $30 fuel cost estimate should help you budget accordingly for this leg of your journey.
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 98.9 miles from Hazen, AR, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.2 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 44 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.9 miles or 1h 42m 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 46m
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 Hazen, 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 Hazen, AR
This is one driving day of about 197.8 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Hazen, 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 40 for about 185.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 195.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Hazen Avenue
Turn left onto North Hazen Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|US 63
Turn left onto US 63
Navigation decision point
5
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
189.1 mi into trip|~3h 14m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
5
195.6 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.87 one way
$59.74 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$32.79
$65.59
premium
$4.56
$35.50
$71.01
diesel
$5.61
$43.67
$87.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Tesla Supercharger
Conway, Arkansas
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Conway, Arkansas
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.3
0
$20.77
$9.49
Efficient EV
49.5
0
$17.31
$7.91
EV Truck/SUV
79.1
0
$27.69
$12.66
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Hazen, AR
Afternoon
in Hazen on Saturday
Local time
1:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Afternoon
in Fort Smith on Saturday
Local time
1:17 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of it on major roadways. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I 40, which offers a consistent and fast-paced journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 185.2 miles on I 40, meaning you can settle in for a good period without needing to navigate complex junctions. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of US 71 and US 63 provides slight variations in scenery and road type as you progress towards Fort Smith.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 185.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 71. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Hazen Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hazen, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 3h 26m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Hazen Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 63): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 197.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The drive from Hazen, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 197.8 miles and takes about 3h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, US 71, US 63. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.9 miles from Hazen, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.87 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.
The drive from Hazen, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 3h 26m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Hazen Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 63): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Hazen, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
