Origin
Benton, AR
Late night in Benton on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Benton, 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
3h 2m
Distance
174.7 mi
281 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 51m
★
6 AM
3h 3m
8 AM
3h 26m
10 AM
3h 11m
12 PM
3h 8m
3 PM
3h 12m
5 PM
3h 24m
8 PM
2h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Benton, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 174.7-mile drive from Benton, Arkansas, to Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 2 minutes on the road, primarily navigating via I-40, US-70, and I-30. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, this route offers an economical way to travel within the Southeast region of Arkansas. The predominantly highway profile means you'll cover ground efficiently, making it an ideal day trip without the need for an overnight stay. Consider this a practical and uncomplicated option for your travel plans.
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
87.4 miles from Benton, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 139.4 mi | 2h 19m |
| US 70 | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| I 30 | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| US 71 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| East Carpenter Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I-30 Frontage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 139.4 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Continue on Military Road
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Military Road
3
Turn left onto AR 35
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Carpenter Street
4
Turn straight
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
5
Turn straight onto AR 5
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
I-30 Frontage Road
6
Take the ramp
516 ft
·
12 sec
7
Merge onto I 30; US 67; US 70
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 30; US 67; US 70
8
Take the exit onto US 70
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 70
Exit 129
Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 13B
Toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
10
Merge onto I 40; US 65
139 mi
·
2 hr 19 min
·
I 40; US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
13
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this is a manageable 3-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in Fort Smith with plenty of daylight remaining. Plan for one stop to break up the journey, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 139.4-mile stretch on I-40, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The relatively short duration means you won't need extensive planning, but checking traffic conditions before you leave Benton is always a good idea.
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 87.4 miles from Benton, AR, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.4 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 38 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.4 miles or 1h 32m 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 27m
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 Benton, 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 Benton, AR
This is one driving day of about 174.7 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Benton, 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 I 40 for about 139.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87.4 miles from Benton, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 139.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 172.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 70
Take the exit onto US 70 toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 129
Toward I 430 North, US 70: Fort Smith
7
25.9 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 13B
Toward I 40 West: Fort Smith, Oklahoma City
5
26.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 40; US 65
Merge onto I 40; US 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
166 mi into trip
|
~2h 50m 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
172.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.38 one way
$52.77 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $28.96 | $57.93 |
| premium | $4.56 | $31.36 | $62.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.57 | $77.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.4 | 0 | $18.34 | $8.39 |
| Efficient EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.29 | $6.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.9 | 0 | $24.46 | $11.18 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
2:55 AM
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 2m 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 drive that is 98% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of your trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers an impressive 139.4 miles on I-40, allowing for significant progress without frequent exits. While mostly interstate, the route incorporates segments of US-70 and I-30, offering a slight variation in the highway experience. This highway-focused profile suggests a consistent pace, ideal for making good time between Benton and Fort Smith.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in near US 70.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 174.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 12.9 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles (I 40; US 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Benton, AR to Fort Smith, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Oklahoma City along the way.
Oklahoma City
25.9 mi in
|
~30m
About the Cities
Starting in Benton, AR
Full guide →Benton is in the Central region of Arkansas.
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 3h 2m. Total distance: 174.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.9 miles (US 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles (I 40; US 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Smith, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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