This 270.8-mile journey from Dermott to Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a straightforward drive that can comfortably be completed in about 4 hours and 55 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll primarily be on US 65 and US 71, with 81% of the route being highway driving. Expect a fuel cost of around $41 for this trip. Traveling within Arkansas, this route offers a practical way to move across the state, connecting the Southeast region to another part of the state.
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
135.4 miles from Dermott, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 65
207.4 mi
3h 43m
Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
46.7 mi
48m
US 71
6.5 mi
7m
I 30
4.2 mi
5m
US 165
2 mi
3m
Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
East Speedway Street
1.8 mi
3m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 207.4 mi, about 3h 43m
Traffic on I-530
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~881 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,083
Quietest
2 AM
~65 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 15 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dermott, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on South Main Street
162 ft·9 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto AR 35
1.8 mi·3 min·East Speedway Street
3
Turn left onto US 165
2.0 mi·3 min·US 165
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 65; US 165; US 278
60 mi·1 hr 13 min·US 65; US 165; US 278
5
Continue on US 65; US 425
2.2 mi·3 min·US 65; US 425
6
Continue on I 530; US 65
47 mi·48 min·Wiley A Branton Sr Highway
7
Continue on I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
4.2 mi·5 min·I 30; US 65; US 67; US 167
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 65
Exit 143AToward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
145 mi·2 hr 26 min·US 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi·7 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 6Toward Grand Avenue
12
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Grand Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 55-minute drive, departing in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Factor in the estimated $41 fuel cost and plan your refueling accordingly, especially during the longest stretch on US 65. Consider leaving Dermott early to beat any potential traffic, and use the highway nature of the route to your advantage by maintaining a consistent speed.
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 135.4 miles from Dermott, AR, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 207.4 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 60 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.4 miles or 2h 35m 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 3m
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 Dermott, 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 Dermott, AR
This is one driving day of about 270.8 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Dermott, 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 US 65 for about 207.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 268.7 — 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|AR 35 / East Speedway Street
Turn left onto AR 35 / East Speedway Street
Navigation decision point
7
116.4 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65 toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Conway, Fort Smith
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143A
Toward I 40 West, US 65 North, AR 107 North: Co...
6
116.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 65
Keep slight left at fork onto US 65
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
262.2 mi into trip|~4h 43m 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
268.7 mi into trip|~4h 51m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.59 one way
$75.18 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$42.06
$84.12
premium
$4.29
$45.73
$91.45
diesel
$4.80
$51.13
$102.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.2
1
$28.43
$13.00
Efficient EV
67.7
0
$23.70
$10.83
EV Truck/SUV
108.3
1
$37.91
$17.33
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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
Dermott, AR
Late night
in Dermott on Sunday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Late night
in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
4:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 55m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Arkansas Post National Memorial
National Memorial
Located at the confluence of two rivers, Arkansas Post has served as a gathering place for many cultures throughout human history - it represents cultural cooperation, conflict, synthesis, and diversi...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 81% of the 270.8 miles on major roads. You'll experience long stretches of consistent travel, including a significant 207.4-mile segment on US 65. The character of the road is likely to be efficient and direct, allowing for steady progress toward Fort Smith. While it's not a winding scenic byway, the highway nature means you can maintain a good pace for most of the trip, making it a predictable and manageable drive.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 207.4 mi on US 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and Wiley A Branton Sr Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near AR 35 / East Speedway Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 55m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (AR 35 / East Speedway Street): Navigation decision point; at 116.4 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.7 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 207.4 miles on US 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
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: near the start (AR 35 / East Speedway Street): Navigation decision point; at 116.4 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.7 miles (US 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Arkansas Post National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Smith, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
