Overlook Rest Area - Westbound
0 mi from route
Trip from Harrisburg, AR to Fort Smith, AR
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 33m
Distance
243.7 mi
392 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 20m
★
6 AM
4h 34m
8 AM
5h 1m
10 AM
4h 43m
12 PM
4h 40m
3 PM
4h 45m
5 PM
4h 59m
8 PM
4h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harrisburg, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Smith, AR
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Harrisburg, AR to Fort Smith, AR is 243.7 miles and takes about 4h 33m via I 40 and US 64, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Arkansas, moving from the Southeast region toward the west. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, this route is a solid option for a single-day trip, especially if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.8 miles from Harrisburg, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 118.6 mi | 1h 58m |
| I 57 | 51.9 mi | 52m |
| US 64 | 33 mi | 42m |
| State Highway 14 | 19.6 mi | 29m |
| US 71 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Amagon Street | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Grand Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 118.6 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisburg, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on AR 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Jackson Street
2
Continue on AR 14
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 14
3
Continue on AR 14
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Main Street
4
Continue on AR 14
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Amagon Street
5
Continue on AR 14
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 14
6
Continue on AR 14
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 14
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
8
Merge onto I 57
52 mi
·
52 min
·
I 57
9
Take the exit onto US 64
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 64
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
33 mi
·
41 min
·
US 64
Toward US 64 West: Conway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
12
Merge onto I 40; US 65
119 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
I 40; US 65
13
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
15
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Grand Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 33m estimated drive time, leaving Harrisburg in the morning allows ample time to reach Fort Smith before evening. The route is mostly highway with a suggested single stop, so you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is over 100 miles. Planning to refuel before you hit that 118.6-mile segment on I 40 would be a smart move.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 121.8 miles from Harrisburg, AR, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 54 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.8 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Smith, AR than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harrisburg, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Harrisburg, AR
This is one driving day of about 243.7 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Harrisburg, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 118.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.8 miles from Harrisburg, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Ozark Rest Area – Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Big Piney Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Ozark Rest Area - Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Big Piney Rest Area – Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 30.9 and 241.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
30.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
83 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
US 64
Take the exit onto US 64 toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe,...
5
83.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
US 64
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64 toward US 64 West: Conway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 64 West: Conway
5
235 mi into trip
|
~4h 21m in
|
US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
5
241.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 29m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.83 one way
$67.66 round trip
$3.53/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.95 | $37.85 | $75.70 |
| premium | $4.29 | $41.15 | $82.30 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $46.02 | $92.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.1 | 0 | $25.59 | $11.70 |
| Efficient EV | 60.9 | 0 | $21.32 | $9.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.5 | 1 | $34.12 | $15.60 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Harrisburg, AR
Late night in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
W 5 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Late night in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph
17% chance
Live forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:07AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Little Rock AR
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
4h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 predominantly highway, with 94% of the 243.7 miles on major roads like I 40. You'll encounter a long stretch of 118.6 miles on I 40 without needing to exit. The route is generally a straightforward cruise until you transition to US 64 closer to your destination, where you may notice more frequent exits and local traffic as you approach Fort Smith.
94% 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: 118.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 57. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 30.9 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 243.7 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 30.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 83 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.4 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
583 ft
220 ft
Total Climb
494 ft
Total Descent
367 ft
Highest Point
583 ft
~208.9 mi in
Elevation Range
363 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 Harrisburg, AR to Fort Smith, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Conway along the way.
Conway
83 mi in
|
~1h 39m
|
via US 64
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Blue Diamond Cafe
Cafe
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Starbucks
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Fort Smith, AR
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-18:30, Fr 07:00-15:00
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Russellville, AR
Cuisine: coffee_shop
5th Street Cafe
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
The Daily Bread Cafe
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Russellville, AR
Cuisine: american
Dreami Tea
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Russellville, AR
Cuisine: bubble_tea
Pizza Hut
Restaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
Morrilton, AR
Cuisine: pizza
Visit websiteMcDonald's
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
AR
Cuisine: burger
Hours: Mo-We 05:00-23:00; Th-Fr 05:00-24:00; Sa...
Visit websiteSam's Southern Eatery
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Visit website
Ortega's Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Morrilton, AR
Cuisine: mexican
Sonic
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Cuisine: burger
Sonic
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Cuisine: burger
Tilles Park
Park
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Shiloh Park
Park
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Harley Wilson Park
Park
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Fort Smith, AR
Hunt Park
Park
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Woodlawn Park
Park
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Belle Grove Historic District
Park
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Mother Mary Teresa Farrell, R.S.M.
Memorial
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Judge Isaac C. Parker
Memorial
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
John Carnall
Memorial
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Hindsman Bell Tower
Memorial
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
William O. Darby
Memorial
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Belle Grove Historic District
District
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
About the Cities
Starting in Harrisburg, AR
Full guide →Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
Top landmarks
- • Poinsett County Courthouse — county courthouse in Harrisburg, United States of America
- • Harrisburg Commercial Historic District — historic district in Arkansas, United States
- • Modern News Building — building in Harrisburg, United States of America
Arriving in Fort Smith, AR
Full guide →Founded 1817
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.
Top landmarks
- • Fort Smith National Cemetery — historic veterans cemetery in Sebastian County, Arkansas
- • Maumelle Ordnance Works Locomotive 1
- • West Garrison Avenue Historic District — historic district in Fort Smith, 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 4h 33m. Total distance: 243.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 83 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.4 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Smith, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fort Smith, AR
More trips to Fort Smith, AR
Explore more options from Harrisburg, AR or browse trips ending in Fort Smith, AR.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AR road trips.