Origin
Tennessee, AR
Afternoon in Tennessee on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tennessee, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Drive Time
4h 25m
Distance
246.8 mi
397 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 12m
★
6 AM
4h 25m
8 AM
4h 52m
10 AM
4h 34m
12 PM
4h 32m
3 PM
4h 36m
5 PM
4h 50m
8 PM
4h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Tennessee to Fort Smith, expect a 246.8-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 25 minutes to complete. Because this route is easily manageable in a single day, you can comfortably make the drive without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 65, the Wiley A Branton Sr Highway, and Highway 530, keeping you within the southeastern region of Arkansas for the duration of your travel. Budgeting approximately $38 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. This highway-focused path is straightforward and efficient, making it a practical choice if you need to get between these two points reliably and quickly.
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
123.4 miles from Tennessee, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive defined by its highway-focused nature, with 88% of your travel spent on higher-speed roads. The journey features a significant 145.7-mile uninterrupted stretch along US 65, which allows you to settle into a consistent pace early on. As you transition between the various highways, the road maintains a steady, functional character rather than a technical or winding path. You will find that the route remains predictable, prioritizing efficient transit through the landscape. Being behind the wheel here requires focus for long durations, but the high highway percentage ensures you avoid the frequent stop-and-go patterns of local surface streets.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 145.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 43.9 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 246.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.4 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.7 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
43.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 530 North, US 65 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
92.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m 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
92.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
238.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 13m 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
244.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| US 65 | 145.7 mi | 2h 27m |
| Wiley A Branton Sr Highway | 26.9 mi | 28m |
| Highway 530 | 23.4 mi | 27m |
| I 530 | 16.8 mi | 16m |
| US 425 | 15.8 mi | 20m |
| US 71 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| I 30 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| US 278 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 145.7 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tennessee, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on Tennessee Spur Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Tennessee Spur Road
2
Turn right onto US 278
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US 278
3
Turn left onto US 425
16 mi
·
20 min
·
US 425
4
Turn left onto AR 11
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 11
5
Turn right onto AR 530
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Highway 530
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 530 North, US 65 North
7
Merge onto I 530; US 63; US 65; US 79
27 mi
·
28 min
·
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
8
Continue on I 530; US 65
17 mi
·
16 min
·
I 530; US 65
Use the none lane.
9
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
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
145 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
US 65
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
14
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a 4-hour and 25-minute trip, aiming for an early morning departure will help you reach your destination with plenty of time to spare in your day. Plan to incorporate at least one stop to break up the drive, especially given the lengthy 145.7-mile stretch on US 65. Flexibility is a major advantage on this route, allowing you to easily adjust your schedule if traffic patterns change. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the long highway segments to ensure you aren't caught off guard between service stations. By pacing your travel to include a mid-trip break, you will arrive in Fort Smith feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
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 123.4 miles from Tennessee, AR, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.7 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.4 miles or 2h 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 3h 36m
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 Tennessee, 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 Tennessee, AR
This is one driving day of about 246.8 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tennessee, 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 145.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123.4 mi from Tennessee, AR · 2h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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 123.4 miles from Tennessee, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 65 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.7 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fort Smith, 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
$37.73 one way
$75.46 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $41.38 | $82.77 |
| premium | $4.61 | $44.79 | $89.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $54.83 | $109.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74 | 0 | $25.91 | $11.85 |
| Efficient EV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.60 | $9.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.7 | 1 | $34.55 | $15.80 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Sunday
Local time
3:43 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
7 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
4h 25m 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 Tennessee, AR to Fort Smith, AR covers 246.8 miles and takes about 4h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 65, Wiley A Branton Sr Highway, Highway 530. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123.4 miles from Tennessee, AR. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.73 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 246.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 43.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.4 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.7 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Tennessee, AR to Fort Smith, AR does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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