Origin
Alma, AR
Late night in Alma on Tuesday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alma, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
15.2 mi
24 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alma, AR
Sami Aksu
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between Alma and Fort Smith, this 15.2-mile journey is an efficient way to get across the region. Spanning just 18 minutes, the trip is easily manageable as a simple day outing or a routine commute. You won't need to stress over your budget, as the fuel cost for the trip is estimated at only $2. Both cities are located within the Southeast region of Arkansas, meaning you will experience a consistent local atmosphere throughout the drive. Since the entire route is quite short, you can comfortably complete the journey in a single day without needing any overnight accommodations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 12 mi | 13m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Fayetteville Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US Highway 71 North | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 12 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alma, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on Fayetteville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Fayetteville Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto AR 162
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Fayetteville Avenue
3
Continue on US 71B; AR 162
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
US Highway 71 North
4
Turn left onto US 71
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
US 71
5
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
7
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
8
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 13.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 71
Turn left onto US 71
Navigation decision point
5
6.5 mi into trip
|
~8m 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
13 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
3
13.3 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
Grand Avenue
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.30 one way
$4.59 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $2.52 | $5.04 |
| premium | $4.56 | $2.73 | $5.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.36 | $6.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Late night in Fort Smith on Tuesday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
2 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
20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. While you will navigate sections of Fayetteville Avenue, Highway 71 North, and I-540 South, the route maintains a 0% highway share, emphasizing local roads over long-distance highway stretches. Because of this, you should be prepared for more frequent adjustments behind the wheel compared to a standard freeway drive. The journey lacks any significantly long, uninterrupted stretches, requiring your full attention as you transition between the various roads. It is a practical, functional route that prioritizes getting you to your destination quickly rather than offering a monotonous interstate grind.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and Grand Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 20m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 71): Navigation decision point; at 6.5 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
535 ft
415 ft
Total Climb
134 ft
Total Descent
132 ft
Highest Point
535 ft
~4.3 mi in
Elevation Range
120 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Alma, AR
Full guide →Founded 1874
Arriving in Fort Smith, AR
Full guide →Fort Smith is in northwest Arkansas and borders Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Sebastian County. The city has a population of 80,286 which makes it the third largest city in Arkansas behind Little Rock and Fayetteville. It is located in the River Valley of Arkansas between the Ouachita mountains in the south and the Boston and Ozark mountains of the north and a gateway city to the Ozarks.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 15.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (AR 162 / Fayetteville Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 71): Navigation decision point; at 6.5 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Smith, AR before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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