This 226.2-mile drive from Tuckerman to Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a straightforward journey primarily utilizing I-40 and I-57. Clocking in at around 4 hours and 7 minutes, it's easily manageable as a single-day trip, so no overnight stays are necessary. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $34 for this route. The drive is almost entirely highway, offering a consistent pace across the Southeast region. With a recommended single day for travel, you'll have plenty of flexibility to reach your destination efficiently.
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
113.1 miles from Tuckerman, AR
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
118.6 mi
1h 58m
I 57
57.3 mi
58m
US 64
33 mi
42m
AR 37
7.3 mi
12m
US 71
6.5 mi
7m
Grand Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Air Base Road
0.6 mi
<1m
East Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 118.6 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuckerman, AR and Fort Smith, AR.
1
Start on East Main Street
294 ft·18 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto AR 37; AR 367
7.3 mi·12 min·AR 37; AR 367
3
Turn left onto AR 18
0.6 mi·54 sec·Air Base Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 57 South, US 67 South: Bald Knob, Little Rock
5
Merge onto I 57
57 mi·58 min·I 57
6
Take the exit onto US 64
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 64
Toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 64
33 mi·41 min·US 64
Toward US 64 West: Conway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
9
Merge onto I 40; US 65
119 mi·1 hr 58 min·I 40; US 65
10
Take the exit onto US 71
6.5 mi·7 min·US 71
Toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 6Toward Grand Avenue
12
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Grand Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Trip Plan
Given that this route is only about 4 hours long, it's best tackled in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to arrive well before evening. With only one recommended stop, you can be quite flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 118.6-mile stretch on I-40, as services might be less frequent than you'd expect on a shorter highway segment. Planning your fuel stops before you enter longer stretches of interstate is a smart move.
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 113.1 miles from Tuckerman, AR, or about 2h 10m 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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.1 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
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 Tuckerman, 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 Tuckerman, AR
This is one driving day of about 226.2 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Tuckerman, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 224.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|AR 37; AR 367
Turn left onto AR 37; AR 367
Navigation decision point
5
65.5 mi into trip|~1h 13m 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
65.9 mi into trip|~1h 13m 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
5
217.6 mi into trip|~3h 55m 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
224.1 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 6
Toward Grand Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.16 one way
$68.32 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$37.50
$75.00
premium
$4.56
$40.60
$81.20
diesel
$5.61
$49.94
$99.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.9
0
$23.75
$10.86
Efficient EV
56.6
0
$19.79
$9.05
EV Truck/SUV
90.5
1
$31.67
$14.48
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Tuckerman, AR
Late night
in Tuckerman on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Smith, AR
Late night
in Fort Smith on Tuesday
Local time
4:37 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
20 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
4h 7m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the journey on interstates. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 118.6 miles on I-40, which forms the backbone of this route. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience for the majority of your travel time. While US-64 is part of the plan, the sheer volume of interstate driving means you'll spend most of your time on these major arteries, making for a predictable and efficient commute.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 57. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near AR 37; AR 367.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 226.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (AR 37; AR 367): Navigation decision point; at 65.5 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.9 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Tuckerman, AR to Fort Smith, AR, road signs begin pointing toward Conway along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 226.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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 0.1 miles (AR 37; AR 367): Navigation decision point; at 65.5 miles (US 64): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.9 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Smith, AR, but most travelers stay overnight.
