Origin
Prairie Grove, AR
Morning in Prairie Grove on Saturday
Local time
11:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prairie Grove, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
57.1 mi
92 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prairie Grove, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Prairie Grove, AR to Fort Smith, AR is 57.1 miles and takes about 1h 9m via I 49 and US 71, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, making it a straightforward trip between two points in Arkansas. It’s a short journey, primarily on highway, so you won't spend much time on the road. Expect a functional drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this a quick connection rather than an extensive scenic tour.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 57.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 76% of the journey on faster roads like I 49 and US 71. You'll experience a significant stretch of 32.7 miles on I 49 without needing to exit, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is largely defined by these main arteries, providing a smooth and direct path. While not exclusively interstate, the majority of your time will be spent on these well-maintained highways, making for an uncomplicated driving experience.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 32.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and Hogeye Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in near AR 265 / South State Highway 265.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles (AR 265 / South State Highway 265): Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles (AR 170 / Phillips Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
6.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
AR 265 / South State Highway 265
At end of road, turn left onto AR 265 / South State Highway 265
Navigation decision point
4
10.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
AR 170 / Phillips Street
At end of road, turn left onto AR 170 / Phillips Street
Navigation decision point
6
43.8 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
48.4 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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 | 32.7 mi | 32m |
| Hogeye Road | 10.1 mi | 17m |
| US 71 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| I 40 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| North Mock Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South State Highway 265 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Phillips Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 32.7 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prairie Grove, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on West Mock Drive
117 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Mock Drive
2
Turn right onto North Mock Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Mock Street
3
Continue on Hogeye Road
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Hogeye Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto AR 265
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
South State Highway 265
5
Turn straight onto AR 156
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Hogeye Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto AR 170
457 ft
·
9 sec
·
Phillips Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
8
Merge onto I 49
33 mi
·
32 min
·
I 49
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
10
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 40; US 71
11
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
13
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.5 mi from Prairie Grove, AR · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Prairie Grove, 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
$8.62 one way
$17.25 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.47 | $18.93 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.25 | $20.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.61 | $25.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 Saturday
Local time
11:23 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
3 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 9m 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 Prairie Grove, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 57.1 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 49, Hogeye Road, US 71. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.5 miles from Prairie Grove, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.62 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles (AR 265 / South State Highway 265): Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles (AR 170 / Phillips Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Prairie Grove, 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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