Trip from Smackover, AR to Fayetteville, AR

Drive Time

5h 32m

Distance

304.3 mi

490 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 19m ★
6 AM
5h 32m
8 AM
5h 59m
10 AM
5h 42m
12 PM
5h 39m
3 PM
5h 43m
5 PM
5h 58m
8 PM
5h 24m

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

Trip Overview

Traveling from Smackover to Fayetteville covers 306.1 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. Since this route functions as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint, you can comfortably complete the journey in one day. Plan for a fuel budget of approximately $47 to cover your transit across Arkansas. Because the trip stays entirely within the state, you will remain in the Southeast region for the duration of the drive. It is a manageable trip for a single day, offering a practical way to navigate from the southern part of the state up toward the northwest.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

152.1 miles from Smackover, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a very different experience than a standard interstate commute, as this route is characterized by a series of turn-heavy local roads. You will rely on corridors like Smackover Highway, South Adams Avenue, and the Branyan-Hunnicutt Bypass to make your way north. With a 0% highway share, the focus is entirely on local navigation, which keeps the drive engaging and requires your full attention behind the wheel. The absence of long, monotonous stretches means you will be frequently adjusting your pace as the road conditions shift throughout the 306.1-mile journey.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 141 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,641 ft 124 ft

Total Climb

1,658 ft

Total Descent

374 ft

Highest Point

1,641 ft

~291.6 mi in

Elevation Range

1,517 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and US 167. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 304.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 18.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 104.3 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
18.1 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

6
104.3 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in | US 167

Keep slight left at fork onto US 167 toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North:...
7
119 mi into trip | ~2h 20m in | US 65

Keep slight left at fork onto US 65 toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 143A Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Co...
6
119.3 mi into trip | ~2h 21m in | US 65

Keep slight left at fork onto US 65

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
303.5 mi into trip | ~5h 30m in | South School Avenue

Turn left onto South School Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Smackover, AR to Fayetteville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.

Fort Smith

119 mi in | ~2h 20m | via US 65

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 65 141 mi 2h 22m
US 167 50.9 mi 1h
I 49 40.3 mi 40m
Washington Street 30.5 mi 35m
Sheridan Bypass 17.9 mi 20m
Smackover Highway 15.5 mi 17m
East 7th Street 2.4 mi 4m
South Razorback Road 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 65 — 141 mi, about 2h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Smackover, AR and Fayetteville, AR.

1

Start on AR 7B

2.4 mi · 4 min · East 7th Street
2

Turn right onto AR 7

15 mi · 17 min · Smackover Highway
3

Continue on AR 7

0.2 mi · 11 sec · South Adams Avenue
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
5

Continue on US 79; US 278

1.3 mi · 1 min · Branyan-Hunnicutt Bypass
6

Continue on US 79; US 278

30 mi · 35 min · Washington Street
7

Turn left onto US 167

36 mi · 44 min · US 167
8

Continue on US 167

18 mi · 20 min · Sheridan Bypass
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 167

15 mi · 16 min · US 167
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North, US 167 North: Little Rock
10

Keep slight left at fork onto US 65

0.3 mi · 35 sec · US 65
Exit 143A Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
11

Keep slight left at fork onto US 65

141 mi · 2 hr 22 min · US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
13

Continue on I 49

40 mi · 40 min · I 49
Use the slight right lane.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Toward AR 112, AR 265
15

Turn slight right onto AR 265

0.2 mi · 23 sec · South Cato Springs Road
16

Continue on South Razorback Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Razorback Road
17

Turn right onto AR 180

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Turn left onto South School Avenue

0.1 mi · 15 sec · South School Avenue
Use the left lane.
19

Turn slight right onto South Nelson Hackett Boulevard

0.4 mi · 52 sec · South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
20

Continue on South College Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · South College Avenue
21

Turn right onto East Center Street

147 ft · 8 sec · East Center Street
22

Turn right

79 ft · 5 sec
23

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the local nature of these roads, aim to depart early in the morning to ensure you have plenty of daylight for the navigate-heavy sections. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $47 estimated budget in mind as you monitor your gauge. Because this is a turn-heavy route, stay alert for directional changes on the Branyan-Hunnicutt Bypass and other local connectors. Having a reliable GPS is essential, as the lack of highway driving means you will encounter frequent intersections and turns that require careful navigation to keep your trip on track.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152.1 miles from Smackover, AR, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 152.1 miles or 2h 54m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fayetteville, AR than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Smackover, 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 Smackover, AR

This is one driving day of about 304.3 miles and 5h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Smackover, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 65 for about 141 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 152.1 mi from Smackover, AR · 2h 54m into the drive

Downtown Texarkana, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Texarkana, TX

152 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

Texarkana, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Texarkana, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 152.1 miles from Smackover, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 141 miles.

Arriving in Fayetteville, AR

The final approach into Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, AR.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.52 one way

$93.04 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 107 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $51.02 $102.05
premium $4.61 $55.23 $110.46
diesel $5.64 $67.60 $135.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 106.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 91.3 1 $31.95 $14.61
Efficient EV 76.1 0 $26.63 $12.17
EV Truck/SUV 121.7 1 $42.60 $19.48

Gas CO2

106 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Smackover, AR

Evening in Smackover on Sunday

Local time

6:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fayetteville, AR

Evening in Fayetteville on Sunday

Local time

6:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°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

6 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

5h 32m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Smackover, AR to Fayetteville, AR covers 304.3 miles and takes about 5h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 65, US 167, I 49. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 152.1 miles from Smackover, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 304.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 104.3 miles (US 167): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Smackover, AR to Fayetteville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Smith along the way.

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