Origin
Pea Ridge, AR
Afternoon in Pea Ridge on Thursday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pea Ridge, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
88.9 mi
143 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pea Ridge, AR
The Traveling Photo Experiment
Trip Overview
The drive from Pea Ridge, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 88.9 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 49, US 71, State Highway 72 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.8 miles on I 49. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.4 miles from Pea Ridge, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 88.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 40m highway drive covering 88.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 49 and US 71. The longest continuous stretch is about 67.8 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 13 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 67.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and US 71. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near AR 72 / Slack Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (AR 72 / Slack Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 75.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
AR 72 / Slack Street
Turn right onto AR 72 / Slack Street
Navigation decision point
4
7.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
75.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m 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
5
80.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m 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
86.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 67.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| US 71 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 72 | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| I 40 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Slack Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Curtis Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 67.8 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pea Ridge, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on North Curtis Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Curtis Avenue
2
Turn right onto AR 72
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Slack Street
3
Continue on AR 72
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 72
4
Continue on AR 72
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Central Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
6
Merge onto I 49; US 71
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 49; US 71
7
Continue on I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12
66 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 49; US 62; US 71; AR 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
9
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 40; US 71
10
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
12
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
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 44.4 miles from Pea Ridge, AR, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.8 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.4 miles or 51m 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 23m
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 Pea Ridge, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pea Ridge, AR
This is one driving day of about 88.9 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Pea Ridge, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 49 for about 67.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.4 mi from Pea Ridge, AR · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.4 miles from Pea Ridge, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 49 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.8 miles.
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
$13.43 one way
$26.85 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $14.74 | $29.48 |
| premium | $4.56 | $15.96 | $31.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.63 | $39.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.33 | $4.27 |
| Efficient EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.78 | $3.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.45 | $5.69 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 Thursday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Fayetteville, AR
44 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 40m 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 Pea Ridge, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 88.9 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, US 71, State Highway 72. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.4 miles from Pea Ridge, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.43 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 is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (AR 72 / Slack Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 75.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Pea Ridge, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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