Origin
Russellville, AR
Evening in Russellville on Sunday
Local time
8:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Russellville, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
84.1 mi
135 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Russellville, AR
Get Lost Mike
Trip Overview
Traveling between Russellville and Fort Smith covers 84.1 miles of Arkansas landscape, typically taking about 1 hour and 17 minutes to complete. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily manage the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via West Main Street, Mission Road, and Lakewood Drive keeps you off the major interstates for this particular excursion. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographic feel throughout your transition from Russellville to Fort Smith.
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
42.1 miles from Russellville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning you will have zero highway miles to rely on for high-speed cruising. The path requires frequent adjustments as you navigate the specific turns along West Main Street and connecting roads. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches, the drive feels dynamic and requires a more active driving style. You will find that the road’s personality is defined by its localized nature rather than long, straightaway segments.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Main Street 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 Russellville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 1h 17m 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 Russellville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mission Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lakewood Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-40 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 540 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russellville, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on North Arkansas Avenue
105 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Arkansas Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on West Main Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
4
Turn right onto Mission Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Mission Road
5
Continue on Lakewood Drive
367 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lakewood Drive
6
Take the ramp left toward I-40
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I-40
7
Merge slight left
70 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
8
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
9
Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Grand Avenue
10
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
11
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since the trip is a manageable 84.1 miles, you have significant flexibility with your departure time, though leaving during daylight hours is best given the technical nature of the turn-heavy roads. You won't need to plan for formal stops, as the duration is under an hour and a half, but keeping a small buffer in your schedule is wise for local traffic navigation. Ensure your gas tank is ready to go with your $13 fuel budget before heading out, as local roads may offer fewer refueling options than major highways. A concrete tip for this route is to map out your turns on Mission Road and Lakewood Drive in advance, as the constant navigation requires a clear understanding of the route before you start your engine.
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 42.1 miles from Russellville, AR, or about 38m 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 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 38m 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 5m
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 Russellville, 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 Russellville, AR
This is one driving day of about 84.1 miles and 1h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Russellville, 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 42.1 mi from Russellville, AR · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 42.1 miles from Russellville, 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
$12.86 one way
$25.71 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $14.10 | $28.20 |
| premium | $4.61 | $15.26 | $30.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.68 | $37.37 |
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: 29.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.83 | $4.04 |
| Efficient EV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.77 | $5.38 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Evening in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
8:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
1h 17m 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 Russellville, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 84.1 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Main Street, Mission Road, Lakewood Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.1 miles from Russellville, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.86 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 Russellville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 1h 17m 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 Russellville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Russellville, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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