Origin
Fort Smith, AR
Morning in Fort Smith on Tuesday
Local time
6:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Paris, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
41.8 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paris, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 41.8-mile drive from Fort Smith, AR to Paris, AR is easily manageable as a day trip, taking just over an hour to complete. You'll be navigating primarily local roads, with a highway share of about 3%, so expect a more hands-on driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $6, making it an economical option for a quick getaway. Both your starting point in Fort Smith and your destination in Paris are within the Southeast region, so you won't be crossing any major regional boundaries. This route is recommended for a single day of travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Central Avenue | 31 mi | 46m |
| Fort Street | 4 mi | 6m |
| Rogers Avenue | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| I 540 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| South Elm Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Central Avenue
— 31 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Paris, AR.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
3
Merge onto I 540; US 71
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 540; US 71
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Rogers Avenue East
5
Turn straight onto AR 22
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Rogers Avenue
6
Continue on AR 22
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Fort Street
7
Continue on AR 22
31 mi
·
46 min
·
West Central Avenue
8
Turn right onto AR 309
34 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Elm Street
9
Arrive at destination
AR 309
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.9 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
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 41.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 540; US 71
Merge onto I 540; US 71
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
3.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward Rogers Avenue East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Rogers Avenue East
4
41.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
AR 309 / South Elm Street
Turn right onto AR 309 / South Elm Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.31 one way
$12.63 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $6.93 | $13.86 |
| premium | $4.56 | $7.50 | $15.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.23 | $18.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.66 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.68 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Paris, AR
Morning in Paris on Tuesday
Local time
6:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 2m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way from Fort Smith to Paris. While there's a small highway component, much of this 1-hour, 2-minute journey will be on city streets and local roads, including West Central Avenue, Fort Street, and Rogers Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 31 miles on West Central Avenue. This route's personality is less about wide-open highway cruising and more about engaging with the local road network.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31 mi on West Central Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near I 540; US 71.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Smith, AR to Paris, AR is easy. At 1h 2m with 3% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (I 540; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 41.8 miles (AR 309 / South Elm Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Paris, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Rogers Avenue East along the way.
Rogers Avenue East
3.6 mi in
|
~5m
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 2m. Total distance: 41.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31 miles on West Central Avenue. 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 2.2 miles (I 540; US 71): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 41.8 miles (AR 309 / South Elm Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Paris, 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
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Fort Smith, AR or browse trips ending in Paris, AR.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AR road trips.