Origin
Barling, AR
Late night in Barling on Sunday
Local time
2:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Barling, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
8.1 mi
13 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Barling, AR
Andrea Piacquadio
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Barling to Fort Smith, you are looking at a quick 8.1-mile transit within the Southeast region of Arkansas. Expect a brief 16-minute drive that serves as a straightforward local connection rather than a long-distance haul. Since the entire trip takes less than half an hour, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Rogers Avenue, I-540 North, and Grand Avenue to reach your destination. With a fuel cost estimate of just $1, this is an incredibly budget-friendly commute that offers maximum flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| Fort Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| I 540 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Rogers Avenue
— 2.7 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Barling, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on AR 22
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Fort Street
2
Continue on AR 22
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Rogers Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
4
Merge onto I 540; US 71
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 540; US 71
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward Grand Avenue
6
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
7
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 5.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 540 North, US 71 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
3
4.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 540; US 71
Merge onto I 540; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
5.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.22 one way
$2.45 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $1.34 | $2.69 |
| premium | $4.56 | $1.45 | $2.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.79 | $3.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.71 | $0.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Late night in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
2:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
13m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will not find any monotonous stretches of open highway here, as this route maintains a 0% highway share, favoring city streets and local arteries instead. Because the path relies on urban navigation, you should expect frequent turns rather than long, uninterrupted segments. The transition between these roads requires your full attention, making the 16-minute journey feel active and deliberate. It is a practical, no-nonsense trip that prioritizes connectivity over high-speed cruising.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.7 mi on Rogers Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Barling, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 13m with 15% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles (I 540; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
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 13m. Total distance: 8.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.7 miles on Rogers Avenue. 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 4.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.6 miles (I 540; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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