Origin
Fort Smith, AR
Late night in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Fayetteville, 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
57.3 mi
92 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 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Connecting Fort Smith to Fayetteville is a straightforward 57.5-mile journey that typically takes about 56 minutes. You will primarily utilize I-40 East, I-540 North, and I-49 North to navigate between these two Arkansas cities. Because the transit time is under an hour, this route is perfectly suited for a simple day trip, meaning there is no need to worry about overnight logistics. Budgeting around $8 for fuel covers the trip comfortably, keeping your travel costs low. Both cities are located within the Southeast, ensuring a consistent regional feel as you head north. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, the efficiency of this connection makes it an easy addition to your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 40.3 mi | 40m |
| I 540 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| US 71 | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Razorback Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Nelson Hackett Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Cato Springs Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 40.3 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Fayetteville, 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
40 mi
·
40 min
·
I 49
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Toward AR 112, AR 265
8
Turn slight right onto AR 265
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Cato Springs Road
9
Continue on South Razorback Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Razorback Road
10
Turn right onto AR 180
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto South School Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South School Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn slight right onto South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Nelson Hackett Boulevard
13
Continue on South College Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South College Avenue
14
Turn right onto East Center Street
147 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Center Street
15
Turn right
79 ft
·
5 sec
16
Arrive at destination
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 28.6 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 56.6 — 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
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
5
53.6 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward AR 112, AR 265
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward AR 112, AR 265
6
56.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
South School Avenue
Turn left onto South School Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.65 one way
$17.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $9.50 | $19.00 |
| premium | $4.56 | $10.28 | $20.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 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 | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
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
Fayetteville, AR
Late night in Fayetteville on Sunday
Local time
3:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
4 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you traverse a mix of highways, the path is characterized by its technical nature rather than long, straight stretches. With 0 miles of uninterrupted highway on I-540 North, you should stay alert for frequent transitions. The route offers zero designated stops, emphasizing a direct path from point A to point B. Behind the wheel, you will notice the road demands more attention than a typical highway trek, as the path winds through the terrain. Prepare for a dynamic driving experience that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.3 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 9 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 57.3 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 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.
On the drive from Fort Smith, AR to Fayetteville, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Memphis along the way.
Memphis
8 mi in
|
~11m
|
via US 71
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: 57.3 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 (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.3 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 Fayetteville, 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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