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Trip from Paragould, 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 Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 5m

Distance

281 mi

452 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 52m ★
6 AM
5h 5m
8 AM
5h 32m
10 AM
5h 15m
12 PM
5h 12m
3 PM
5h 16m
5 PM
5h 31m
8 PM
4h 57m

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

Best Time
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city in Greene County, Arkansas, United States

Paragould, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Fort Smith, AR, AR

Fort Smith, AR

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This roughly 281-mile journey from Paragould, Arkansas, to Fort Smith, Arkansas, is designed as a single-day adventure, estimated to take around 5 hours and 5 minutes of driving time. The route primarily utilizes major highways, with 90% of it on interstates and highways, making it a straightforward drive. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $42 for this trip. Given its manageable length and highway focus, this route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The drive stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience across Arkansas.

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

140.5 miles from Paragould, AR

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 118.6 mi 1h 58m
US 412 94.7 mi 1h 38m
US 64 33 mi 42m
West Kings Highway 24.5 mi 29m
US 71 6.5 mi 7m
Grand Avenue 1.9 mi 3m
West Court Street 0.4 mi <1m
West Hunt Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 118.6 mi, about 1h 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Winchester

0.2 mi · 44 sec · Winchester
2

At end of road, turn right onto Hayes Place

237 ft · 15 sec · Hayes Place
3

Turn left onto West Hunt Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · West Hunt Street
4

At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street

51 ft · 2 sec · North 14th Street
5

Turn right onto West Hunt Street

251 ft · 13 sec · West Hunt Street
6

Turn left onto US 49; AR 1

0.2 mi · 20 sec · US 49; AR 1
7

Turn right onto US 49Y

0.4 mi · 41 sec · West Court Street
8

Turn right onto US 412B

25 mi · 29 min · West Kings Highway
9

Take the exit onto US 412

95 mi · 1 hr 38 min · US 412
10

Take the exit onto US 64

0.4 mi · 49 sec · US 64
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
11

Keep slight right at fork onto US 64

33 mi · 41 min · US 64
Toward US 64 West: Conway
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 57 sec
13

Merge onto I 40; US 65

119 mi · 1 hr 58 min · I 40; US 65
14

Take the exit onto US 71

6.5 mi · 7 min · US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 6 Toward Grand Avenue
16

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

1.9 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

Grand Avenue

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Paragould to avoid any potential midday traffic, especially as you get closer to Fort Smith. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a break is over 118 miles. This route is efficient, so you can afford to be flexible with your timing. A good tip for this drive is to ensure you have entertainment ready for the longest highway segment, as it's a significant portion of your time behind the wheel.

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 140.5 miles from Paragould, AR, or about 2h 37m 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 62 miles or 1h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 140.5 miles or 2h 37m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 11m

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 Paragould, 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 Paragould, AR

This is one driving day of about 281 miles and 5h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Paragould, 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.

Downtown Gravel Ridge, AR, AR

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gravel Ridge, AR

141 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

Bono, AR

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gravel Ridge, AR

Meal break

The midpoint is around 140.5 miles from Paragould, 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 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.

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

Old South Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Russellville, Arkansas

1.8 mi

Best coffee break · home stretch

Crossy Coffee

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+14792858615

Visit website

Taste & See Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fort Smith, Arkansas

1.9 mi

Malibu Cafe

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Vilonia, Arkansas

1.7 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

Old South Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Russellville, Arkansas

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+14799683789

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

Wiederkehr Wine Cellar & Weinkeller Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Wiederkehr Village, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+14794689463

Visit website

Lewis' Family Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+14796464309

Crosswoods Restaurant & Sports Club

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour Moderately

Clarksville, Arkansas

Hours: 3 pm–12 am

+14797548080

Visit website

Chick-fil-A

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour Inexpensiv

Russellville, Arkansas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14799670220

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

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

Malibu Cafe

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Vilonia, Arkansas

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15012730720

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

Wildflower Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Mulberry, Arkansas

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+14792972005

Blink Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Newport, Arkansas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Overlook Rest Area - Westbound

0 mi from route

Ozark Rest Area – Eastbound

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

Big Piney Rest Area - Westbound

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

Newport Truck Plaza

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.5 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 120.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Hayes Place

At end of road, turn right onto Hayes Place

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~1m in | West Hunt Street

Turn left onto West Hunt Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | North 14th Street

At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street

Navigation decision point

5
120.3 mi into trip | ~2h 11m 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
120.7 mi into trip | ~2h 11m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$39.01 one way

$78.02 round trip

$3.53/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.95 $43.64 $87.29
premium $4.29 $47.45 $94.90
diesel $4.80 $53.06 $106.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 98.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 84.3 1 $29.51 $13.49
Efficient EV 70.3 0 $24.59 $11.24
EV Truck/SUV 112.4 1 $39.34 $17.98

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Paragould, AR

Late night in Paragould on Sunday

Local time

4:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Mostly Clear

WSW 5 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Destination

Fort Smith, AR

Late night in Fort Smith on Sunday

Local time

4:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy

S 0 to 5 mph 22% chance 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

1 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

5h 5m 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 largely highway-focused, with 90% of the route on main roads like I-40, US 412, and US 64. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving with the longest segment being 118.6 miles on I-40. The character of the road is predominantly fast-paced highway travel, designed for covering distance efficiently. While the majority is highway, be prepared for the transition as you approach your destination. The focus is on steady progress rather than winding scenic byways.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 412. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Hayes Place.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 5m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Hayes Place): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (West Hunt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North 14th Street): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

631 ft 224 ft

Total Climb

450 ft

Total Descent

309 ft

Highest Point

631 ft

~240.9 mi in

Elevation Range

408 ft

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 Paragould, AR to Fort Smith, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Conway along the way.

Conway

120.3 mi in | ~2h 11m | via US 64

About the Cities

Starting in Paragould, AR

Full guide →

Founded 1883

Top landmarks

  • • Greene County Courthouse — courthouse in Arkansas, United States
  • • Linwood Mausoleum — mausoleum in Linwood Cemetery, Paragould, Arkansas, United States
  • • Paragould Downtown Commercial Historic District — historic district in Arkansas, United States

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 5h 5m. Total distance: 281 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.

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 16 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.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Hayes Place): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (West Hunt Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North 14th Street): Navigation decision point.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fort Smith, AR before the return drive.

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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