Spanning 121.4 miles between Berryville and Fort Smith, this trip takes approximately 2 hours and 8 minutes of pure driving time. It is a straightforward journey that fits perfectly into a single day, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your Arkansas travels. Because the route relies on local roads like Spring Street, Eureka Avenue, and West Trimble Avenue rather than major interstates, you get a much more intimate look at the Southeast region. Whether you are commuting for business or heading out for a weekend change of scenery, this direct path offers a reliable, no-fuss way to navigate between these two communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.8 miles from Berryville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Fulbright Expressway
48.3 mi
49m
US 412
16.5 mi
21m
West Trimble Avenue
10.8 mi
16m
Van Buren Street
9.5 mi
14m
US 71
6.5 mi
7m
Clifty Highway
6.2 mi
10m
AR 45
6.1 mi
10m
I 40
4.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Fulbright Expressway
— 48.3 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berryville, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on West Church Avenue
141 ft·7 sec·West Church Avenue
2
Turn right onto Spring Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Spring Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 62
0.4 mi·39 sec·Eureka Avenue
4
Continue on US 62
11 mi·16 min·West Trimble Avenue
5
Turn left onto AR 23
0.6 mi·56 sec·Huntsville Road
6
Continue on AR 23
9.5 mi·14 min·Van Buren Street
7
Turn right onto AR 12
6.2 mi·10 min·Clifty Highway
8
Turn left onto AR 45
6.1 mi·10 min·AR 45
9
Turn right onto US 412
16 mi·21 min·US 412
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 412
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Robinson Avenue
11
Turn slight left onto US 71B
1.9 mi·3 min·South Thompson Street
12
Continue on US 71B
1.5 mi·2 min·North College Avenue
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
48 mi·49 min·Fulbright Expressway
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
15
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi·4 min·I 40; US 71
16
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi·7 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 6Toward Grand Avenue
18
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Grand Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With no scheduled stops included in the 2-hour and 8-minute duration, you can easily tackle the entire distance in one go, though you might want to factor in extra time for traffic or personal breaks if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Keep your $16 fuel budget in mind, as local roads often yield different fuel efficiency than highway driving. Since the route is entirely comprised of local roads like West Trimble Avenue, make sure your navigation system is updated to handle the frequent turns. Planning to leave during off-peak hours will help you maintain a steady flow through these local thoroughfares.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.8 miles from Berryville, AR, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.3 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 25 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 miles or 1h 26m 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 4m
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 Berryville, 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 Berryville, AR
This is one driving day of about 115.5 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Berryville, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Fulbright Expressway for about 48.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 113.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Spring Street
Turn right onto Spring Street
Navigation decision point
6
54 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
102.3 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
5
106.9 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
113.4 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.44 one way
$34.89 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.15
$38.30
premium
$4.56
$20.73
$41.46
diesel
$5.61
$25.50
$51.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.13
$5.54
Efficient EV
28.9
0
$10.11
$4.62
EV Truck/SUV
46.2
0
$16.17
$7.39
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Berryville, AR
Night
in Berryville on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Night
in Fort Smith on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of high-speed interstate travel; this route is defined by its turn-heavy local road profile. You won't find any significant stretches of highway here, as the journey consists entirely of local navigation through various streets. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Spring Street, you should prepare for a drive that requires your constant attention and engagement. The experience is best described as a technical, winding local drive that prioritizes navigation over speed. Expect to stay sharp behind the wheel as you maneuver through the turns that characterize this 121.4-mile transit.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.3 mi on Fulbright Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Fulbright Expressway and US 412. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Spring Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 115.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 54 miles (US 71B / Fulbright Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 115.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.3 miles on Fulbright Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fort Smith, AR before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 54 miles (US 71B / Fulbright Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
