Hazen to Fort Smith is 197.8 miles and takes about 3 hours 26 minutes via I 40, US 71, and US 63, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Arkansas, connecting the Southeast region. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. You'll find the route efficient, allowing you to cover the distance without much fuss. Consider this a practical choice if you're looking for a direct path between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.9 miles from Hazen, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
185.2 mi
3h 7m
US 71
6.5 mi
7m
US 63
2.9 mi
4m
Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
East South Front
0.8 mi
1m
North Hazen Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
East North Front
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 185.2 mi, about 3h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hazen, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on East North Front
55 ft·7 sec·East North Front
2
Turn left onto North Hazen Avenue
188 ft·10 sec·North Hazen Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 70
0.8 mi·1 min·East South Front
4
Turn left onto US 63
2.9 mi·4 min·US 63
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
185 mi·3 hr 7 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi·7 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 6Toward Grand Avenue
9
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Grand Avenue
10
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip covering just under 200 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will comfortably get you to Fort Smith with plenty of daylight remaining. With a relatively short drive, you may only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break, especially since the longest stretch is over 185 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach your destination, as fuel availability can vary between exits on the interstates. The $30 fuel cost estimate should help you budget accordingly for this leg of your journey.
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 98.9 miles from Hazen, AR, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.2 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 44 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.9 miles or 1h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 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 Hazen, 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 Hazen, AR
This is one driving day of about 197.8 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Hazen, 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 185.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 195.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Hazen Avenue
Turn left onto North Hazen Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|US 63
Turn left onto US 63
Navigation decision point
5
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
189.1 mi into trip|~3h 14m 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
195.6 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.87 one way
$59.74 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$32.79
$65.59
premium
$4.56
$35.50
$71.01
diesel
$5.61
$43.67
$87.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.3
0
$20.77
$9.49
Efficient EV
49.5
0
$17.31
$7.91
EV Truck/SUV
79.1
0
$27.69
$12.66
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Hazen, AR
Late night
in Hazen on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Late night
in Fort Smith on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3h 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of it on major roadways. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I 40, which offers a consistent and fast-paced journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 185.2 miles on I 40, meaning you can settle in for a good period without needing to navigate complex junctions. While the majority is interstate, the inclusion of US 71 and US 63 provides slight variations in scenery and road type as you progress towards Fort Smith.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 185.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 71. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Hazen Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hazen, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 3h 26m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Hazen Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 63): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 185.2 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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: near the start (North Hazen Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 63): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Smith, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
