How far is Ash Flat, AR from Fort Smith, AR?

The driving distance from Ash Flat, AR to Fort Smith, AR is about 246.3 miles (396.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 166.7 miles (268.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
246.28 mi
04h 18m
Flight
166.71 mi
268.3 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ash Flat.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
166.71 mi
Kilometers
268.3 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
246.28 mi
Kilometers
396.35 km
Drive Time
04h 18m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Smith
Wed, Apr 22, 10:42 PM CDT
Return by in Ash Flat
Thu, Apr 23, 3:01 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ash Flat
2026-04-22T18:24
Arrive Fort Smith
Wed, Apr 22, 10:42 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:19 AM to 12:19 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ash Flat
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Alpena
AR

Town in Arkansas, USA

From Ash Flat
117.3 mi
02h 09m
To Fort Smith
128.9 mi
02h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
76°F
Wednesday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ash Flat and Fort Smith.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ash Flat and Fort Smith.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    9 m · 6 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Ash Flat Drive

    1.6 km · 2 min · Ash Flat Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto T & C Boulevard

    49.9 mi · 57 min · T & C Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Shield-Hopper Highway

    101 m · 4 sec · Shield-Hopper Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Shied-Hopper Bypass

    5.4 mi · 6 min · Shied-Hopper Bypass

  6. 6

    Continue on Shield-Hopper Bypass

    19.1 mi · 22 min · Shield-Hopper Bypass

  7. 7

    Turn right

    22.6 mi · 26 min

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn right

    7.2 mi · 12 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right

    5 mi · 8 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    6.1 mi · 9 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    2728 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Turn left

    40.2 mi · 47 min

  13. 13

    Turn left

    2724 ft · 54 sec

  14. 14

    Turn slight left

    16.4 mi · 25 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto North Crossover Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · North Crossover Road

  16. 16

    Turn slight right

    116 m · 7 sec

  17. 17

    Turn slight right onto East Huntsville Road

    2372 ft · 57 sec · East Huntsville Road

  18. 18

    Continue on South Happy Hollow Road

    1696 ft · 41 sec · South Happy Hollow Road

  19. 19

    Continue on East 15th Street

    2.5 mi · 5 min · East 15th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto South Razorback Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · South Razorback Road

  21. 21

    Continue on South Cato Springs Road

    1874 ft · 40 sec · South Cato Springs Road

  22. 22

    Take the ramp slight left

    1618 ft · 20 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    40.4 mi · 40 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 West: Van Buren, Fort Smith

    1596 ft · 25 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    4.3 mi · 4 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith

    6.5 mi · 8 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue

    1259 ft · 34 sec

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Grand Avenue

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ash Flat and Fort Smith.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
29 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
T & C Boulevard
49.9 mi · 20%
South Cato Springs Road
41 mi · 17%
Shield-Hopper Bypass
30.8 mi · 12%
I 540 South
6.53 mi · 3%
Shied-Hopper Bypass
5.43 mi · 2%
I 40 West
4.58 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

T & C Boulevard

Turn left onto T & C Boulevard

49.9 mi · 00h 57m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 18m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+79.6 mi
166.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Alpena
02h 09m from Ash Flat
Leave By
8:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Ash Flat and Mostly Cloudy near Fort Smith.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ash Flat to Fort Smith?

The road trip is about 246.3 miles (396.4 km) and usually takes 04h 18m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Alpena is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117.3 miles from Ash Flat and 128.9 miles from Fort Smith.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 166.7 miles (268.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 79.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.91 one way or $65.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ash Flat and Mostly Cloudy near Fort Smith.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ash Flat and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 166.71 mi (268.3 km).

Ash Flat

#1 Ash Flat

City in Arkansas, USA

Population1,100
Coordinates36.2239600, -91.6084800
Altitude202
CountryUnited States
Fort Smith

#2 Fort Smith

The second most populous city in Sebastian County, Arkansas.

Population87,764
Coordinates35.3859200, -94.3985500
Altitude134
CountryUnited States
Start: AR 354 (-91.608495, 36.224028)
End: Grand Avenue (-94.39855, 35.385923)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 396 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 55m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.69 gal
32.9 L · about $32.91
Round trip
$65.82
17.38 gal · 65.8 L
Estimated CO2
77.2 kg one way
Round trip: 154.5 kg / 341 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $32.91 $65.82
Mid-grade $4.26 $37.01 $74.02
Premium $4.63 $40.19 $80.38
Diesel $5.42 $47.06 $94.11

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Arkansas · Apr 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Ash Flat and Fort Smith. The current time is 18:24:11.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.