Origin
Paris, AR
Morning in Paris on Friday
Local time
9:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paris, 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
1h 2m
Distance
41.5 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paris, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Paris, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 41.5 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Walnut Street, Fort Street, Rogers Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31 miles on West Walnut Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 41.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 2m drive with frequent turns across 41.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Walnut Street is the longest continuous segment at about 31 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 22 / West Walnut Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Paris, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 1h 2m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 22 / West Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38 miles (I 540; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 22 / West Walnut Street
Turn left onto AR 22 / West Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
4
37.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the ramp toward I 540 North, US 71 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
3
38 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
I 540; US 71
Merge onto I 540; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
39.2 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Grand Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Walnut Street | 31 mi | 46m |
| Fort Street | 4 mi | 6m |
| Rogers Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| I 540 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Elm Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Walnut Street
— 31 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paris, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on AR 309
34 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Elm Street
2
Turn left onto AR 22
31 mi
·
46 min
·
West Walnut Street
3
Continue on AR 22
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Fort Street
4
Continue on AR 22
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Rogers Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
6
Merge onto I 540; US 71
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 540; US 71
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward Grand Avenue
8
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
9
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.8 mi from Paris, AR · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.8 miles from Paris, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.27 one way
$12.53 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.88 | $13.76 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.45 | $14.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.16 | $18.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.36 | $1.99 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Morning in Fort Smith on Friday
Local time
9:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
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
1h 2m 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 Paris, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 41.5 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Walnut Street, Fort Street, Rogers Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.8 miles from Paris, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.27 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 Paris, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 1h 2m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 22 / West Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38 miles (I 540; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Paris, 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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