Connecting Hot Springs to Fort Smith, this 128.2-mile journey is an efficient trip through Arkansas that takes approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, as it is a straightforward trek that doesn't require an overnight stay. Expect to spend around $20 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travels. The route primarily utilizes US 71, Albert Pike Road, and US 270 to navigate between the two cities. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this highway-focused drive offers a reliable link between these Southeast Arkansas hubs.
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
64.1 miles from Hot Springs, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 71
56 mi
1h 8m
Albert Pike Road
34.9 mi
40m
US 270
31.7 mi
39m
Old Greenwood Road
2.3 mi
4m
West Grand Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
North Greenwood Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
South 31st Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Rogers Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 71
— 56 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hot Springs, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on US 70B; US 270B
0.9 mi·1 min·West Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 70B; US 270B
0.3 mi·28 sec·Summer Street
3
Turn straight onto US 70B; US 270B
35 mi·40 min·Albert Pike Road
4
Continue on US 270; AR 27
32 mi·39 min·US 270; AR 27
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 71
54 mi·1 hr 6 min·US 71
6
Take the exit onto US 71
1.6 mi·2 min·US 71
Toward 540 North
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward Greenwood Road
8
Turn left onto AR 45
2.1 mi·3 min·Old Greenwood Road
9
Continue on South 31st Street
0.5 mi·54 sec·South 31st Street
10
Continue on Old Greenwood Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·Old Greenwood Road
11
Turn left onto AR 22
0.3 mi·45 sec·Rogers Avenue
12
Turn right onto North Greenwood Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Greenwood Avenue
13
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
0.3 mi·27 sec·Grand Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this 128.2-mile route is relatively short, you have the advantage of scheduling flexibility for your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, as this will help you stay alert during the 2-hour and 39-minute transit. Given the $20 fuel estimate, it is wise to check your levels before leaving Hot Springs to ensure you don't have to hunt for stations during the longer 56-mile stretch on US 71. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when navigating the transition between the different main roads. Utilizing the inherent flexibility of this single-day trip allows you to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions along the primary highway segments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.1 miles from Hot Springs, AR, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 17m 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 7m
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 Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs, AR
This is one driving day of about 128.2 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Hot Springs, 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 US 71 for about 56 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
2.6 mi from route
~7 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 128.2
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+14797631047
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 67.9 and 127 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
67.9 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|US 71
At end of road, turn right onto US 71
Navigation decision point
4
122.3 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|US 71
Take the exit onto US 71 toward 540 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward 540 North
4
123.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward Greenwood Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Greenwood Road
4
124.1 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|AR 45 / Old Greenwood Road
Turn left onto AR 45 / Old Greenwood Road
Navigation decision point
3
127 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|AR 22 / Rogers Avenue
Turn left onto AR 22 / Rogers Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.36 one way
$38.72 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$21.25
$42.51
premium
$4.56
$23.01
$46.02
diesel
$5.61
$28.30
$56.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.5
0
$13.46
$6.15
Efficient EV
32.1
0
$11.22
$5.13
EV Truck/SUV
51.3
0
$17.95
$8.20
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 13, 2026
Origin
Hot Springs, AR
Late night
in Hot Springs on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 10 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Late night
in Fort Smith on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Gaston, AR
64 mi in
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
12 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 39m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hot Springs National Park
National Park
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of y...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that leans heavily on highway travel, with 68% of the route dedicated to faster-paced roads. You will encounter a mix of highway stretches and local road segments that keep the pace varied as you move toward your destination. The longest uninterrupted portion of the trip spans 56 miles on US 71, providing a consistent rhythm behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, the experience is largely about steady progress rather than technical maneuvers. Being prepared for these sustained highway miles will help you stay comfortable during the nearly three-hour duration.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56 mi on US 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 71 and Albert Pike Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 67.9 miles in near US 71.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hot Springs, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 2h 39m with 68% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 67.9 miles (US 71): Navigation decision point; at 122.3 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 123.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 56 miles on US 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 67.9 miles (US 71): Navigation decision point; at 122.3 miles (US 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 123.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Hot Springs National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Smith, AR before heading back.
