Skip to main content

Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Coal Hill, AR

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h

Distance

52.7 mi

85 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 56m ★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Coal Hill, AR, AR

Coal Hill, AR

Braeson Holland

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across Arkansas, this 52.7-mile connection from Fort Smith to Coal Hill is an efficient choice. The drive takes approximately one hour, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of about $8, it is a very economical journey for solo travelers or families alike. Because the route is entirely contained within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent geographical feel from start to finish. It is a practical, no-nonsense path designed for those who prioritize speed and simplicity over detours. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a short excursion, the predictable nature of this drive makes it easy to fit into any busy schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 71 39 mi 39m
I 540 5.7 mi 6m
Highway 164 4.4 mi 7m
Grand Avenue 2 mi 3m
US 64 1 mi 1m
3rd Street <0.1 mi <1m
Oak Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 71 — 39 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Coal Hill, AR.

1

Start on Grand Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue
2

Turn left

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
3

Merge onto I 540; US 71

5.7 mi · 6 min · I 540; US 71
4

Keep slight right at fork onto US 71

39 mi · 39 min · US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward AR 164: Coal Hill, Hartman
6

Keep slight right at fork onto AR 164

4.4 mi · 7 min · Highway 164
7

Turn right onto US 64

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 64
8

Turn left onto 3rd Street

248 ft · 13 sec · 3rd Street
9

Turn right onto Oak Street

80 ft · 3 sec · Oak Street
10

Arrive at destination

Oak Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

genus of plants

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mulberry, AR

26 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

Meadows, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mulberry, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.4 miles from Fort Smith, 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 52.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2 mi into trip | ~3m in

Turn left toward I 540 North, US 71 North

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 540 North, US 71 North
8
8 mi into trip | ~11m in | US 71

Keep slight right at fork onto US 71 toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
5
47 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward AR 164: Coal Hill, Hartman

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward AR 164: Coal Hill, Hartman
4
47.3 mi into trip | ~50m in | AR 164 / Highway 164

Keep slight right at fork onto AR 164 / Highway 164

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
52.7 mi into trip | ~1h in | Oak Street

Turn right onto Oak Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.96 one way

$15.92 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $8.74 $17.47
premium $4.56 $9.46 $18.92
diesel $5.61 $11.64 $23.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.8 0 $5.53 $2.53
Efficient EV 13.2 0 $4.61 $2.11
EV Truck/SUV 21.1 0 $7.38 $3.37

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Fort Smith, AR

Late night in Fort Smith on Tuesday

Local time

4:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Coal Hill, AR

Late night in Coal Hill on Tuesday

Local time

4:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Mulberry, AR

26 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 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?

Expect a high-speed experience, as 95% of this journey is comprised of highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating via US 71, I-540, and Highway 164, which keeps the pace steady and the navigation simple. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on US 71, where you will cover 39 miles of highway before transitioning to the next leg of the trip. Behind the wheel, you will find this to be a highway-focused drive that favors efficiency over technical maneuvering. It is the type of route where you can settle into a consistent rhythm, as the transitions between the major thoroughfares are designed to keep traffic moving smoothly toward your destination.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39 mi on US 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 540. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.

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 52.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Fort Smith, AR and Coal Hill, AR, road signs point toward Memphis and Hartman.

Memphis

8 mi in | ~11m | via US 71

Hartman

47 mi in | ~50m

About the Cities

Starting 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. Total distance: 52.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 39 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles (US 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Coal Hill, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Fort Smith, AR or browse trips ending in Coal Hill, AR.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AR road trips.