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Trip from Lonoke, AR to Fort Smith, AR

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 4m

Distance

176.5 mi

284 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 53m ★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Lonoke County, Arkansas, United States

Lonoke, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 176.5-mile journey from Lonoke to Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a straightforward drive that can comfortably be completed in about 3 hours and 4 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, you'll primarily navigate I-40, US-71, and Grand Avenue, with highway travel making up 98% of the route. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $27, making it an economical option for a quick getaway. Given its manageable distance and duration, it’s a practical choice for a day trip without needing an overnight stay. The drive stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent experience across Arkansas.

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

88.3 miles from Lonoke, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 164.7 mi 2h 47m
US 71 6.5 mi 7m
Grand Avenue 1.9 mi 3m
State Highway 89 1.6 mi 2m
Front Street Southeast 0.9 mi 1m
Hwy 89 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 164.7 mi, about 2h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lonoke, AR and Fort Smith, AR.

1

Start on this road

23 ft · 3 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto US 70

0.9 mi · 1 min · Front Street Southeast
3

Turn sharp right onto AR 89

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Hwy 89
4

Continue on AR 89

1.6 mi · 2 min · State Highway 89
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 48 sec
6

Merge onto I 40

165 mi · 2 hr 47 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 6 Toward Grand Avenue
9

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

1.9 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue
10

Arrive at destination

Grand Avenue

Trip Plan

With a duration of just over 3 hours, this route offers flexibility for departure times. Leaving Lonoke in the morning allows ample time to reach Fort Smith with a comfortable pace, and the longest uninterrupted stretch of 164.7 miles means you won't need frequent fuel stops. However, it's always wise to check your fuel levels before embarking, especially since the estimated fuel cost is $27. Given the minimal stops needed, you can easily tailor the timing to your preference, perhaps aiming to arrive mid-afternoon to enjoy the rest of your day in Fort Smith.

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 88.3 miles from Lonoke, AR, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.7 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 39 miles or 42m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 88.3 miles or 1h 32m 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 29m

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 Lonoke, 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 Lonoke, AR

This is one driving day of about 176.5 miles and 3h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Lonoke, 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 164.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Atkins, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Atkins, AR

88 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

Maumelle, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Atkins, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 88.3 miles from Lonoke, AR, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 164.7 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.

Best meal stop · home stretch

George's Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+14797851199

Visit website

Phở Việtnam

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Smith, Arkansas

0.8 mi

The Patio Café

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Conway, Arkansas

1.2 mi

Best coffee break

Cozy Nook Café

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lonoke, Arkansas

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+15012828343

Visit website

Crossy Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Smith, Arkansas

0.6 mi

Dark Side Coffee Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

North Little Rock, Arkansas

2.4 mi

George's Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+14797851199

Visit website

Phở Việtnam

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm

+14797823227

Visit website

The Patio Café

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Conway, Arkansas

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+15013583556

Visit website

Neumeier's Whippoorwill Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+14797692095

Visit website

Taste & See Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+14797557414

Wildflower Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Mulberry, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+14792972005

Cafe Bossa Nova

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30

Little Rock, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15015046360

Visit website

Chick-fil-A

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour Inexpensiv

Russellville, Arkansas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14799670220

Visit website

Cozy Nook Café

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route $10 to $20

Lonoke, Arkansas

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+15012828343

Visit website

Crossy Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+14792858615

Visit website

Dark Side Coffee Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

North Little Rock, Arkansas

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

Visit website

River City Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Little Rock, Arkansas

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+15016611496

Visit website

Panini Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14797631047

Tesla Supercharger

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Conway, Arkansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Conway, Arkansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Lonoke County Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Lonoke, Arkansas

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+15016766750

Visit website

Reno's Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

North Little Rock, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15013762900

Visit website

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 0.9 and 174.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | AR 89 / Hwy 89

Turn sharp right onto AR 89 / Hwy 89

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

4
2.7 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
167.8 mi into trip | ~2h 52m 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
174.4 mi into trip | ~3h in

Take the exit toward Grand Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 6 Toward Grand Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.66 one way

$53.31 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $29.26 $58.52
premium $4.56 $31.68 $63.36
diesel $5.61 $38.97 $77.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 52.9 0 $18.53 $8.47
Efficient EV 44.1 0 $15.44 $7.06
EV Truck/SUV 70.6 0 $24.71 $11.30

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Lonoke, AR

Late night in Lonoke on Tuesday

Local time

3:06 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fort Smith, AR

Late night in Fort Smith on Tuesday

Local time

3:06 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 4m 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?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this trip, with 98% of the 176.5 miles on well-maintained roads. The primary thoroughfare, I-40, will carry you for a significant stretch of 164.7 miles, providing a consistent pace. While the route is largely interstate, you'll transition to US-71 and then Grand Avenue as you approach your destination, offering a slight change in scenery and speed. This highway-centric profile means you'll experience a smooth, predictable drive for most of the journey.

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: 164.7 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

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 around 0.9 miles in near AR 89 / Hwy 89.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Lonoke, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 3h 4m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (AR 89 / Hwy 89): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving 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 3h 4m. Total distance: 176.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 164.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 0.9 miles (AR 89 / Hwy 89): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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