Origin
Fort Smith, AR
Late night in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Farmington, 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 5m
Distance
58.6 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
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
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
This straightforward 58.6-mile drive from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Farmington, Arkansas, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes to complete. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 89% of the journey on major interstates like I-49 and I-540, along with US-71. Given its short duration and uncomplicated nature, it's an ideal day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. With an estimated fuel cost of around $9, it’s an economical option for a quick journey within the Southeast region of Arkansas. This drive offers a practical connection between two points, prioritizing efficiency over scenic detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 41.8 mi | 41m |
| I 540 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| US 71 | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Futrall Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 41.8 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Farmington, 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
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 49
42 mi
·
41 min
·
I 49
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward University of Arkansas, Farmington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on South Futrall Drive
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
South Futrall Drive
9
Turn left onto US 62; AR 16
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on US 62
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
US 62
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 29.3 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 55.4 — 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
6
12.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 49 North: Fayetteville
7
55.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward University of Arkansas, Farmington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward University of Arkansas, Farmington
5
55.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
US 62; AR 16 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Turn left onto US 62; AR 16 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.85 one way
$17.70 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.72 | $19.43 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.52 | $21.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.94 | $25.88 |
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 · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
| Efficient EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.13 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.20 | $3.75 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Farmington, AR
Late night in Farmington on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 5m 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 highway-focused experience for the majority of this 58.6-mile trip, with 89% of the drive utilizing major interstate roads. You'll primarily be on I-49 and I-540, complemented by US-71. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 41.8 miles on I-49, providing a period of consistent speed and minimal interruptions. This means the drive is largely characterized by smooth, high-speed travel rather than winding backroads. The road's personality remains consistent, offering a predictable and efficient journey from start to finish.
89% 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: 41.8 mi on I 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 49 and I 540. You will hit about 6 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 58.6 miles you will encounter 6 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 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Farmington, AR, road signs point toward Memphis and University Of Arkansas.
Memphis
8 mi in
|
~11m
|
via US 71
University Of Arkansas
55.1 mi in
|
~59m
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 5m. Total distance: 58.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.8 miles on I 49. 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 12.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Farmington, 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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