Origin
Fort Smith, AR
Late night in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Smith, AR to Springdale, 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 18m
Distance
67.1 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Springdale, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Fort Smith to Springdale is a straightforward 67.1-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 18 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route functions perfectly as a quick day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless your schedule demands it. You can expect to spend approximately $10 on fuel for the trip, making it a very cost-effective way to navigate between these two Arkansas hubs. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, the driving conditions remain consistent throughout your transit. It is a practical, no-nonsense path designed for efficiency rather than leisure, ideal for travelers who prioritize getting from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 49 | 46.4 mi | 47m |
| I 540 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| US 71 | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| South Thompson Street | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Fulbright Expressway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Grand Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| North College Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Johnson Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 49
— 46.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith, AR and Springdale, 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
46 mi
·
47 min
·
I 49
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fulbright Expressway
Exit 67B
Toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on US 71B
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North College Avenue
9
Continue on US 71B
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
South Thompson Street
10
Turn right onto West Johnson Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Johnson Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
119 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Commercial Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Commercial Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.5 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 67 — 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
8
59.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 71B / Fulbright Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 71B / Fulbright Expressway toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 71B: Fayetteville Business District
4
67 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
North Commercial Street
At end of road, turn left onto North Commercial Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.13 one way
$20.27 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.12 | $22.25 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.04 | $24.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.81 | $29.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.05 | $3.22 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.39 | $4.29 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Springdale, AR
Late night in Springdale on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
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 18m 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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with 88% of your journey spent on high-speed roads like I-49, I-540, and US-71. You will find yourself settling into a steady rhythm quickly, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 46.4 miles along I-49. Do not expect much in the way of technical local roads or winding side streets; instead, prepare for a professional, interstate-heavy experience. The road character is defined by its speed and directness, allowing you to cover the miles efficiently. It is a utilitarian route that keeps you moving consistently toward your destination without the frequent stop-and-go interruptions found on secondary highways.
88% 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: 46.4 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 7 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 67.1 miles you will encounter 7 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,733 ft
391 ft
Total Climb
1,603 ft
Total Descent
714 ft
Highest Point
1,733 ft
~38.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,342 ft
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 Springdale, 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.
Arriving in Springdale, AR
Full guide →Springdale is in the Ozarks region of Northwest Arkansas.
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 18m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m 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 46.4 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 Springdale, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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