Fort Smith, AR to Fairfield Bay, AR is 165.2 miles and takes about 3h 32m via US 71 and AR 9, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Given its relatively short length and high highway percentage, this route is a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on main roads, making it an efficient way to travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.6 miles from Fort Smith, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
100.4 mi
1h 40m
State Highway 9
33.5 mi
58m
AR 9
9.6 mi
16m
US Highway 65
5.8 mi
9m
I 540
5.7 mi
6m
AR 16
4.6 mi
8m
Dave Creek Parkway
3 mi
7m
Grand Avenue
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 100.4 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Fairfield Bay, 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
100 mi·1 hr 40 min·US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, MemphisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
6
Keep slight left at fork
149 ft·3 sec
7
Turn straight onto AR 9
33 mi·58 min·State Highway 9
8
Turn left onto US 65; AR 9
5.8 mi·9 min·US Highway 65
9
Continue on AR 9; AR 16
9.6 mi·16 min·AR 9; AR 16
10
Turn right onto AR 16
4.6 mi·8 min·AR 16
11
Turn right onto Dave Creek Parkway
3.0 mi·7 min·Dave Creek Parkway
12
Arrive at destination
Dave Creek Parkway
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under four hours, you can easily complete it in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight. You'll have one stop planned, so consider making it around the halfway point or when you need a break. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's a budget-friendly trip. The route is primarily highway, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the transition to State Highway 9 and AR 9, as services might become less frequent.
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 82.6 miles from Fort Smith, AR, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.4 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 36 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.6 miles or 1h 25m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield Bay, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Smith, 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 Fort Smith, AR
This is one driving day of about 165.2 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Fort Smith, 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 71 for about 100.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First break
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10 to $20
Mulberry, Arkansas
Hours: 11 am–7 pm
+14792972005
Panini Cafe
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.6 mi from route
~7 min detour
$1 to $10
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+14797631047
Ozark Rest Area – Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Overlook Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Ozark Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Big Piney Rest Area – Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Big Piney Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from 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 2 and 157.6 — 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
4
108.8 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
142.3 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|US 65; AR 9 / US Highway 65
Turn left onto US 65; AR 9 / US Highway 65
Navigation decision point
4
157.6 mi into trip|~3h 17m in|AR 16
Turn right onto AR 16
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.39 one way
$50.78 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$28.08
$56.17
premium
$4.65
$30.22
$60.45
diesel
$5.35
$34.80
$69.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.6
0
$17.35
$7.93
Efficient EV
41.3
0
$14.46
$6.61
EV Truck/SUV
66.1
0
$23.13
$10.57
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Fort Smith, AR
Afternoon
in Fort Smith on Wednesday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Fairfield Bay, AR
Afternoon
in Fairfield Bay on Wednesday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:45PM CDT until June 6 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:44PM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
72°F
Wooster, AR
83 mi in
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 32m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for 98% of this 165.2-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 100.4 miles on US 71. Towards the end of your drive, you'll transition from highway to State Highway 9 and AR 9 for the final miles. Expect mostly consistent cruising with minimal interruptions from surface streets for the majority of the journey.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.4 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and State Highway 9. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 32m 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: 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 108.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 100.4 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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: 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 108.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Fairfield Bay, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
