How far is Caraway, AR from Fort Smith, AR?

The driving distance from Caraway, AR to Fort Smith, AR is about 284.7 miles (458.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 230.5 miles (371 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 09m 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
284.68 mi
04h 34m
Flight
230.5 mi
370.96 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Caraway.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
230.5 mi
Kilometers
370.96 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
284.68 mi
Kilometers
458.15 km
Drive Time
04h 34m

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 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Smith
Thu, Apr 23, 2:31 AM CDT
Return by in Caraway
Thu, Apr 23, 7:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Caraway
2026-04-22T21:56
Arrive Fort Smith
Thu, Apr 23, 2:31 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:35 AM to 12:35 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
7:50 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Caraway
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
Vilonia
AR

City in Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States of America

From Caraway
141.9 mi
02h 17m
To Fort Smith
142.7 mi
02h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 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 Caraway and Fort Smith.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Caraway and Fort Smith.

  1. 1

    Start on East State Street

    5.7 mi · 10 min · East State Street

  2. 2

    Continue straight

    2.2 mi · 4 min

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Rogers

    601 ft · 16 sec · West Rogers

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Highway 18

    14.9 mi · 21 min · Highway 18

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    1325 ft · 32 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Joe N Martin Expressway

    5.1 mi · 6 min · Joe N Martin Expressway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    948 ft · 23 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Alexander Drive

    139 m · 10 sec · Alexander Drive

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Southwest Drive

    6.4 mi · 7 min · Southwest Drive

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    12.5 mi · 14 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit sharp left

    1938 ft · 47 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    74.5 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway

    2037 ft · 50 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on US 64 West: Conway

    32.6 mi · 42 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit straight

    2355 ft · 57 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    118.6 mi · 1 hr 59 min

  18. 18

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

    6.5 mi · 8 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue

    1259 ft · 34 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Grand Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 64 West
152 mi · 53%
Southwest Drive
93.8 mi · 33%
Highway 18
14.9 mi · 5%
East State Street
7.91 mi · 3%
I 540 South
6.53 mi · 2%
Joe N Martin Expressway
5.27 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

US 64 West

Merge slight left

119 mi · 01h 59m

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 34m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.2 mi
230.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vilonia
02h 17m from Caraway
Leave By
7:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Caraway 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 Caraway to Fort Smith?

The road trip is about 284.7 miles (458.1 km) and usually takes 04h 34m 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?

Vilonia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.9 miles from Caraway and 142.7 miles from Fort Smith.

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

The direct path is about 230.5 miles (371 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.2 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 7:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.06 one way or $76.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Vilonia

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Vilonia, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Vilonia.

RAIL

Little Rock Union Station

38 mi away
1400 West Markham Street
RAIL

Malvern station

97 mi away
200 East First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Caraway and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 230.5 mi (370.96 km).

Caraway

#1 Caraway

City in Craighead County, Arkansas, United States of America

Population1,288
Coordinates35.7581300, -90.3223200
Altitude69
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: East State Street (-90.32232, 35.758133)
End: Grand Avenue (-94.39855, 35.385923)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 458 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 29m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.05 gal
38.03 L · about $38.06
Round trip
$76.12
20.1 gal · 76.06 L
Estimated CO2
89.3 kg one way
Round trip: 178.6 kg / 394 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $38.06 $76.12
Mid-grade $4.26 $42.80 $85.61
Premium $4.63 $46.48 $92.96
Diesel $5.42 $54.42 $108.84

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Caraway and Fort Smith. The current time is 21:56:26.

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.