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Trip from Shannon Hills, 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

2h 35m

Distance

165.8 mi

267 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 25m ★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 56m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Shannon Hills, AR, AR

Shannon Hills, AR

Griffin Wooldridge

Trip Overview

The drive from Shannon Hills, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 165.8 miles and takes about 2h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Sardis Road, Alexander Road, South Loop Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.04 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

82.9 miles from Shannon Hills, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 165.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 35m drive with frequent turns across 165.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sardis Road 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Shannon Hills, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 2h 35m 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 Shannon Hills, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sardis Road
Alexander Road
South Loop Road
Mabelvale West Road
I-30
I 40 West
I 540 South
Grand Avenue

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Sardis Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Shannon Hills, AR and Fort Smith, AR.

1

Start on Tall Pine Drive

33 ft · 7 sec · Tall Pine Drive
2

Turn left onto Sardis Road

1.7 mi · 4 min · Sardis Road
3

Turn left onto Alexander Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Alexander Road
4

Turn right onto South Loop Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Loop Road
5

At the end of the road, turn left onto Mabelvale West Road

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Mabelvale West Road
6

Turn slight right

256 ft · 11 sec
7

Continue straight

364 ft · 16 sec
8

Turn slight right onto I-30 Frontage Road

213 ft · 4 sec · I-30 Frontage Road
9

Take the ramp slight left

13 mi · 15 min
10

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City

0.7 mi · 49 sec · I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
11

Merge slight left

139 mi · 2 hr 19 min
12

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
13

Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Grand Avenue
14

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

1.9 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue
15

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 82.9 miles from Shannon Hills, AR, or about 1h 17m 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 36 miles or 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 82.9 miles or 1h 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 7m

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 Shannon Hills, 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 Shannon Hills, AR

This is one driving day of about 165.8 miles and 2h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Shannon Hills, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 82.9 mi from Shannon Hills, AR · 1h 17m into the drive

Downtown Atkins, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Atkins, AR

83 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

North Little Rock, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Atkins, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 82.9 miles from Shannon Hills, 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

$25.04 one way

$50.08 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $27.49 $54.98
premium $4.56 $29.76 $59.52
diesel $5.61 $36.61 $73.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 58 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.7 0 $17.41 $7.96
Efficient EV 41.5 0 $14.51 $6.63
EV Truck/SUV 66.3 0 $23.21 $10.61

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Shannon Hills, AR

Night in Shannon Hills on Friday

Local time

9:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Smith, AR

Night in Fort Smith on Friday

Local time

9:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 35m 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 Shannon Hills, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 165.8 miles and takes about 2h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Sardis Road, Alexander Road, South Loop Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 82.9 miles from Shannon Hills, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.04 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Shannon Hills, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 2h 35m 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 Shannon Hills, AR to Fort Smith, AR is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Shannon Hills, 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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