Traveling between Russellville and Fort Smith covers 84.1 miles of Arkansas landscape, typically taking about 1 hour and 17 minutes to complete. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily manage the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via West Main Street, Mission Road, and Lakewood Drive keeps you off the major interstates for this particular excursion. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographic feel throughout your transition from Russellville to Fort Smith.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Russellville, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
69.6 mi
1h 9m
US 71
6.5 mi
7m
West Main Street
4.6 mi
7m
Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Mission Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Lakewood Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Arkansas Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 69.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russellville, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on AR 7
106 ft·6 sec·North Arkansas Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 64
3.1 mi·4 min·West Main Street
3
Continue on US 64
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Street
4
Turn right onto Mission Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mission Road
5
Continue on Lakewood Drive
367 ft·9 sec·Lakewood Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 78Toward I-40
7
Merge onto I 40
70 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 40
8
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi·7 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 6Toward Grand Avenue
10
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Grand Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Since the trip is a manageable 84.1 miles, you have significant flexibility with your departure time, though leaving during daylight hours is best given the technical nature of the turn-heavy roads. You won't need to plan for formal stops, as the duration is under an hour and a half, but keeping a small buffer in your schedule is wise for local traffic navigation. Ensure your gas tank is ready to go with your $13 fuel budget before heading out, as local roads may offer fewer refueling options than major highways. A concrete tip for this route is to map out your turns on Mission Road and Lakewood Drive in advance, as the constant navigation requires a clear understanding of the route before you start your engine.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.7 miles from Russellville, AR, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.6 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
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 Russellville, AR so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Russellville, AR
This is one driving day of about 83.5 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Russellville, AR.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 69.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10 to $20
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Hours: 6 am–3 pm
+14796464309
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 and 81.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 64 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 64 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in|Mission Road
Turn right onto Mission Road
Navigation decision point
6
4.9 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I-40
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 78
Toward I-40
5
74.8 mi into trip|~1h 18m 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
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.61 one way
$25.22 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.84
$27.69
premium
$4.56
$14.99
$29.97
diesel
$5.61
$18.44
$36.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.1
0
$8.77
$4.01
Efficient EV
20.9
0
$7.31
$3.34
EV Truck/SUV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 13, 2026
Origin
Russellville, AR
Morning
in Russellville on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Morning
in Fort Smith on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph15% chanceLive 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
10 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 30m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning you will have zero highway miles to rely on for high-speed cruising. The path requires frequent adjustments as you navigate the specific turns along West Main Street and connecting roads. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches, the drive feels dynamic and requires a more active driving style. You will find that the road’s personality is defined by its localized nature rather than long, straightaway segments.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.6 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 early in the drive near US 64 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Russellville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is easy. At 1h 30m with 91% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 64 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (Mission Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
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 69.6 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 64 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (Mission Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fort Smith, AR before heading back.
