How far is Austin, TX from Fort Smith, AR?
The driving distance from Austin, TX to Fort Smith, AR is about 472.4 miles (760.3 km), with a travel time of about 08h 32m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 403.4 miles (649.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 08h 32m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Collin County, Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Austin and Fort Smith.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin and Fort Smith.
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1
Start on East 5th Street
1836 ft · 52 sec · East 5th Street
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2
Turn left onto Red River Street
711 ft · 20 sec · Red River Street
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3
Turn right onto East 7th Street
757 ft · 17 sec · East 7th Street
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4
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
928 ft · 27 sec · North Interstate 35
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5
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35 North, US 290 East
906 ft · 22 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
2985 ft · 42 sec · Purple Heart Trail
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7
Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail
95.6 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Purple Heart Trail
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8
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi · 8 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
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9
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 35E: Dallas
56.2 mi · 58 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
2094 ft · 42 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
129 m · 6 sec
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
2206 ft · 33 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana
117 m · 6 sec
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15
Continue on East R L Thornton Freeway
1.2 km · 1 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
2421 ft · 46 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on US 75 North: McKinney
2512 ft · 1 min
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18
Keep slight right to continue on US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
1697 ft · 27 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Julius Schepps Freeway
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20
Continue on North Central Expressway
45 mi · 48 min · North Central Expressway
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21
Continue on South Henry Hynds Expressway
10.1 mi · 10 min · South Henry Hynds Expressway
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22
Continue on South Sam Rayburn Freeway
28.4 mi · 30 min · South Sam Rayburn Freeway
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23
Continue on US 69 North, US 75 North: Durant
1.1 mi · 1 min
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24
Continue on US 69 North, US 75 North: Durant
26.4 mi · 29 min
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25
Continue on US 69 North, US 75 North: Atoka
5.9 mi · 6 min
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26
Continue on South Jefferson Street
2.3 mi · 3 min · South Jefferson Street
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27
Continue straight
36.1 mi · 42 min
-
28
Continue straight
11.6 mi · 16 min
-
29
Keep slight left to continue on South George Nigh Expressway
40.5 mi · 45 min · South George Nigh Expressway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East: Fort Smith
3139 ft · 1 min
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31
Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
59.7 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
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32
Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Roland, Fort Smith
2140 ft · 53 sec
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33
Merge slight left onto West Ray Fine Boulevard
6.3 mi · 9 min · West Ray Fine Boulevard
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34
Turn left onto North 11th Street
1083 ft · 25 sec · North 11th Street
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35
Turn slight right onto Grand Avenue
1.1 mi · 2 min · Grand Avenue
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Austin and Fort Smith.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail
95.6 mi · 01h 40m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Austin and Sunny near Fort Smith.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Austin to Fort Smith?
The road trip is about 472.4 miles (760.3 km) and usually takes 08h 32m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Melissa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 236.5 miles from Austin and 235.9 miles from Fort Smith.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 403.4 miles (649.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 69 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $63.00 one way or $125.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 148.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Austin and Sunny near Fort Smith.
Stop Ideas Near Melissa
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Town of Prosper City Hall
City of McKinney
Mckinney City Office
City Hall Plaza Park
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Melissa.
Mesquite, TX
Dallas, TX
Union Station
Gainesville
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Austin and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 403.4 mi (649.21 km).
#1 Austin
The eleventh most populous city in the United States and the center of the Austin metropolitan area.
| Population | 995,484 |
| Coordinates | 30.2671500, -97.7430600 |
| Altitude | 149 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Fort Smith
The second most populous city in Sebastian County, Arkansas.
| Population | 87,764 |
| Coordinates | 35.3859200, -94.3985500 |
| Altitude | 134 |
| Country | United States |
End: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 760 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 44m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 52m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 44m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 53m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $63.00 | $125.99 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $70.88 | $141.76 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $76.53 | $153.06 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $66.56 | $133.13 |
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 Texas · Jul 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.