Origin
Little Rock, AR
Afternoon in Little Rock on Sunday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Little Rock, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Drive Time
2h 22m
Distance
159.5 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 13m
★
6 AM
2h 23m
8 AM
2h 42m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 41m
8 PM
2h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Traveling from Little Rock to Fort Smith covers 159.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 22 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short distance, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $24 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly excursion within the Southeast. The path takes you through local corridors like the State Capitol, Capitol Mall, and West 7th Street rather than relying on major interstates. It is an ideal route if you prefer a direct, local experience over the high-speed monotony of a highway commute.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.8 miles from Little Rock, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention compared to a standard interstate cruise. Since this route features a 0% highway share, you will be navigating through local infrastructure rather than open lanes of high-speed traffic. The experience is defined by the technical nature of the roads, which keeps the drive engaging from start to finish. Without long, uninterrupted stretches, the constant turns ensure that the pace remains steady and deliberate. You will feel the difference in the road's personality as you transition away from the urban centers into the surrounding landscape.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Capitol 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Little Rock, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 2h 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Little Rock, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Capitol | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Capitol Mall | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Chester Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Broadway Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
State Capitol
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little Rock, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on the route
384 ft
·
36 sec
·
the route
2
Turn sharp left onto State Capitol
361 ft
·
17 sec
·
State Capitol
3
Continue on State Capitol
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Capitol
4
Turn left onto Capitol Mall
115 ft
·
7 sec
·
Capitol Mall
5
Turn right onto State Capitol
387 ft
·
22 sec
·
State Capitol
6
Turn left onto West 7th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 7th Street
7
Turn left onto South Chester Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
South Chester Street
8
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West 3rd Street
9
Turn left onto Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Broadway Street
10
Continue on Broadway Bridge
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Broadway Bridge
11
Turn left onto West Broadway Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
West Broadway Street
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Pike Avenue
23 ft
·
Pike Avenue
13
Exit the roundabout onto Pike Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Pike Avenue
14
Continue on Mac Arthur Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Mac Arthur Drive
15
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
16
Merge slight left
144 mi
·
2 hr 24 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
18
Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Grand Avenue
19
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2-hour and 22-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. With no planned stops required by the route, you can easily complete the entire 159.5-mile journey in one go without needing to worry about complex logistics. Keep your $24 fuel budget in mind when planning your departure to ensure you are ready for the road. Because the route relies on local streets like West 7th Street, be prepared for more frequent turns and lower speed limits than you might encounter on a traditional highway. Prioritize checking your local traffic conditions before heading out, as navigation through these specific local roads can be sensitive to city congestion.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 79.8 miles from Little Rock, AR, or about 1h 11m 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 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
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 Little Rock, 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 Little Rock, AR
This is one driving day of about 159.5 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Little Rock, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.8 mi from Little Rock, AR · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 79.8 miles from Little Rock, 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
$24.38 one way
$48.77 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $26.74 | $53.49 |
| premium | $4.61 | $28.95 | $57.90 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.44 | $70.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.75 | $7.66 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.33 | $10.21 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Fort Smith, AR
Afternoon in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Haskell, AR
80 mi in
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
4 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
2h 22m 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 Little Rock, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 159.5 miles and takes about 2h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Capitol, Capitol Mall, West 7th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.8 miles from Little Rock, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.38 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 Little Rock, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 2h 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Little Rock, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Little Rock, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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