Origin
Farmington, AR
Night in Farmington on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Farmington, 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
1h 4m
Distance
58.5 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Farmington, AR
Andrea Piacquadio
Trip Overview
Farmington to Fort Smith is 58.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 4 minutes via Fulbright Expressway and US 71, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive connects two points within Arkansas's Southeast region. It's a short trip, mostly on highway, making it an easy addition to a longer journey or a quick travel day. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained, high-speed roads, so it's a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. With a driving time under an hour and a half, you'll arrive with plenty of time to spare.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Expressway | 41.9 mi | 42m |
| US 71 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| I 40 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Shiloh Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Fulbright Expressway
— 41.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on US 62
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on US 62
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto South Shiloh Drive
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Shiloh Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
5
Merge onto I 49; US 71
42 mi
·
42 min
·
Fulbright Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith
7
Merge onto I 40; US 71
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 40; US 71
8
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
10
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.2 miles from Farmington, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 3 and 56.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
South Shiloh Drive
Turn right onto South Shiloh Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 49; US 71 / Fulbright Expressway
Merge onto I 49; US 71 / Fulbright Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
45.2 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
49.8 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
56.3 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.83 one way
$17.67 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.70 | $19.40 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.50 | $21.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.92 | $25.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.14 | $2.81 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.19 | $3.74 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Night in Fort Smith on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Chester, AR
29 mi in
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
3 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
1h 4m 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?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the journey on major roads like the Fulbright Expressway and US 71. You'll experience a consistent pace for most of the 58.5 miles, including one uninterrupted stretch of 41.9 miles on the Fulbright Expressway. Expect smooth sailing and minimal slowdowns as you navigate these well-traveled arteries. The character is less about winding backroads and more about efficient travel, with the occasional transition onto I-40 offering a familiar interstate feel.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.9 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 71. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near South Shiloh Drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 58.5 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 3 miles (South Shiloh Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 49; US 71 / Fulbright Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 1h 4m. Total distance: 58.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.9 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.
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 3 miles (South Shiloh Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 49; US 71 / Fulbright Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.2 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.
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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