Origin
Fort Smith, AR
Late night in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Russellville, 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 29m
Distance
83.3 mi
134 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Russellville, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fort Smith to Russellville is 83.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via US 71 and I-540, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on well-maintained highways. You'll want to know that this route is almost entirely highway driving, so pack accordingly if you prefer more varied scenery. Consider this a quick hop, perfect for a day trip or a short leg of a larger journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 71 | 70.2 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 540 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| West Main Street | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Grand Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| US 64 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North Arkansas Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 70.2 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Russellville, 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
70 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
US 71
Toward I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 78
Toward US 64
6
Turn left onto US 64
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 64
7
Continue on US 64; Hwy 326
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
8
Turn left onto AR 7
106 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Arkansas Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Arrive at destination
AR 7
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.7 miles from Fort Smith, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.2 miles.
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 83.3 — 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
78.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward US 64
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 78
Toward US 64
4
78.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
US 64
Turn left onto US 64
Navigation decision point
6
83.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
AR 7 / North Arkansas Avenue
Turn left onto AR 7 / North Arkansas Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.58 one way
$25.16 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $13.81 | $27.62 |
| premium | $4.56 | $14.95 | $29.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.39 | $36.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25 | 0 | $8.75 | $4.00 |
| Efficient EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.66 | $5.33 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Russellville, AR
Late night in Russellville on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
1 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 29m 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?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey on high-speed roads like US 71 and I-540. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 70.2 miles on US 71, offering a consistent pace. The character is largely that of efficient travel, designed for covering ground quickly rather than a winding exploration. Expect smooth pavement and predictable conditions for the majority of your time behind the wheel.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.2 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and I 540. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Smith, AR to Russellville, AR is easy. At 1h 29m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 78.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Russellville, 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 29m. Total distance: 83.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.2 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 78.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Russellville, 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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