This approximately 283-mile drive from Caraway, Arkansas, to Fort Smith, Arkansas, will take about 5 hours and 17 minutes of pure driving time. Given its duration and the fact that you'll be spending 94% of your time on highways, this route is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip. You can expect a fuel cost of around $43 for this journey. The drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, making it a straightforward transit between these two Arkansas locations. Since both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, you'll remain within familiar territory throughout the trip, allowing for a smooth and predictable travel day.
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
141.5 miles from Caraway, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
118.6 mi
1h 58m
I 57
74.5 mi
1h 16m
US 64
33 mi
42m
Highway 18
19.4 mi
28m
US 78
12.5 mi
14m
Southwest Drive
7.4 mi
8m
US 71
6.5 mi
7m
East State Street
5.7 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 118.6 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caraway, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on AR 158
5.7 mi·10 min·East State Street
2
Continue on AR 135
2.2 mi·3 min·AR 135
3
Turn left onto AR 135
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Rogers
4
Turn left onto US 78; AR 18
19 mi·28 min·Highway 18
5
Turn left onto AR 18
7.4 mi·8 min·Southwest Drive
6
Continue on US 78; AR 226
13 mi·14 min·US 78; AR 226
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
8
Merge onto I 57
75 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 57
9
Take the exit onto US 64
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 64
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
33 mi·41 min·US 64
Toward US 64 West: Conway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
12
Merge onto I 40; US 65
119 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 40; US 65
13
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi·7 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 6Toward Grand Avenue
15
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Grand Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 17-minute drive, starting early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, especially as you approach Fort Smith. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself, but consider a break around the halfway point to stretch and refuel. Keep in mind the longest stretch without a significant change in road is over 118 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly before you feel the need. The estimated fuel cost of $43 is a good baseline, but always have a little extra for unexpected detours or price fluctuations.
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 141.5 miles from Caraway, AR, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 62 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.5 miles or 2h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
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 Caraway, 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 Caraway, AR
This is one driving day of about 283 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Caraway, 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 118.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 47.4 and 280.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
47.4 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
122.3 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|US 64
Take the exit onto US 64 toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe,...
5
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 toward US 64 West: Conway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 64 West: Conway
5
274.3 mi into trip|~5h 5m 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
280.9 mi into trip|~5h 13m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.29 one way
$78.57 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$43.95
$87.91
premium
$4.29
$47.79
$95.57
diesel
$4.80
$53.44
$106.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.9
1
$29.72
$13.58
Efficient EV
70.8
0
$24.76
$11.32
EV Truck/SUV
113.2
1
$39.62
$18.11
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Caraway, AR
Late night
in Caraway on Sunday
Local time
2:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Late night
in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
2:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
S 0 to 5 mph22% chanceLive 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
5h 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 94% of your travel occurring on major roadways. You'll primarily navigate on I-40 and I-57, with US-64 also playing a role. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is an impressive 118.6 miles on I-40, offering a significant period of consistent cruising. This highway-centric profile suggests a drive where maintaining speed is generally easy, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. The road character remains largely consistent, focusing on efficient travel rather than varied landscapes.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 57. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 47.4 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 283 miles you will encounter 12 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 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 122.3 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.7 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
649 ft225 ft
Total Climb
521 ft
Total Descent
313 ft
Highest Point
649 ft
~242.6 mi in
Elevation Range
424 ft
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 Caraway, AR to Fort Smith, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Conway along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Fort Smith National Cemetery — historic veterans cemetery in Sebastian County, Arkansas
•Maumelle Ordnance Works Locomotive 1
•West Garrison Avenue Historic District — historic district in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 283 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 122.3 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.7 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Smith, AR before the return drive.
