How far is Denton, TX from Fort Smith, AR?

The driving distance from Denton, TX to Fort Smith, AR is about 451.7 miles (726.9 km), with a travel time of about 08h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 365.6 miles (588.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
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
451.66 mi
08h 19m
Flight
365.65 mi
588.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Denton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
365.65 mi
Kilometers
588.45 km
Flight Time
00h 44m

Driving Distance

Road route
451.66 mi
Kilometers
726.88 km
Drive Time
08h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Smith
Sat, Nov 7, 6:26 AM CST
Return by in Denton
Sat, Nov 7, 2:45 PM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Denton
2026-11-06T22:07
Arrive Fort Smith
Sat, Nov 7, 6:26 AM CST
Route Timing
08h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:19 PM to 3:49 PM CST

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
7:22 PM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Denton
8:00 PM CST
Overnight-style route

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
Howe
TX

Town of the United States

From Denton
225.7 mi
04h 09m
To Fort Smith
226 mi
04h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 to 10 mph N
Destination
65°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on State Highway 36 West

    96 m · 12 sec · State Highway 36 West

  2. 2

    Turn left

    12.5 mi · 22 min

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Access Road West

    871 ft · 24 sec · South Access Road West

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward I 20 East: Fort Worth

    770 ft · 19 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    120.2 mi · 2 hr 2 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on West Freeway

    5.6 mi · 6 min · West Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 820 North

    1.4 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Jim Wright Freeway

    12.6 mi · 14 min · Jim Wright Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Northeast Loop

    1398 ft · 18 sec · Northeast Loop

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 820 TEXpress

    6.9 mi · 7 min · I 820 TEXpress

  11. 11

    Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress

    4.4 mi · 4 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 121 North: DFW Airport North Entry

    8.9 mi · 10 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on TX 121 North, I 635 East

    5.5 mi · 6 min

  14. 14

    Continue on Sam Rayburn Tollway

    3.6 mi · 4 min · Sam Rayburn Tollway

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 1 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Sam Rayburn Tollway

    19.4 mi · 21 min · Sam Rayburn Tollway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 75 North, TX 121 North, US 75 South: Sherman, Dallas

    774 ft · 19 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on US 75 North, TX 121 North: Sherman

    1 mi · 2 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on US 75 North, TX 121 North: Sherman

    934 ft · 23 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Central Expressway

    17 mi · 18 min · Central Expressway

  21. 21

    Continue on South Henry Hynds Expressway

    10.1 mi · 10 min · South Henry Hynds Expressway

  22. 22

    Continue on South Sam Rayburn Freeway

    28.4 mi · 30 min · South Sam Rayburn Freeway

  23. 23

    Continue on US 69 North, US 75 North: Durant

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  24. 24

    Continue on US 69 North, US 75 North: Durant

    26.4 mi · 29 min

  25. 25

    Continue on US 69 North, US 75 North: Atoka

    5.9 mi · 6 min

  26. 26

    Continue on South Jefferson Street

    2.3 mi · 3 min · South Jefferson Street

  27. 27

    Continue straight

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  28. 28

    Continue straight

    11.6 mi · 16 min

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on South George Nigh Expressway

    40.5 mi · 45 min · South George Nigh Expressway

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East: Fort Smith

    3139 ft · 1 min

  31. 31

    Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway

    59.7 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Roland, Fort Smith

    2140 ft · 53 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left onto West Ray Fine Boulevard

    6.3 mi · 9 min · West Ray Fine Boulevard

  34. 34

    Turn left onto North 11th Street

    1083 ft · 25 sec · North 11th Street

  35. 35

    Turn slight right onto Grand Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Grand Avenue

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
36 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 20 East
120 mi · 27%
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
59.7 mi · 13%
South Jefferson Street
50 mi · 11%
South George Nigh Expressway
40.5 mi · 9%
US 69 North
33.5 mi · 7%
South Sam Rayburn Freeway
28.4 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

I 20 East

Merge slight left

120 mi · 02h 03m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
08h 19m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+86.1 mi
365.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Howe
04h 09m from Denton
Leave By
7:22 PM CST
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Denton 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 Denton to Fort Smith?

The road trip is about 451.7 miles (726.9 km) and usually takes 08h 19m 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?

Howe is a useful midpoint, sitting about 225.7 miles from Denton and 226 miles from Fort Smith.

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

The direct path is about 365.6 miles (588.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 86.1 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 CST. 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 $57.08 one way or $114.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 141.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Denton and Sunny near Fort Smith.

Stop Ideas Near Howe

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Howe and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 12.2 mi away

City Hall Plaza Park

Melissa , TX
Melissa, TX 75454
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Park
City of Anna City Hall
Meeting point 8.9 mi away

City of Anna City Hall

Anna , TX
101 S Powell Pkwy, Anna, TX 75409
Rating 2.4/5 10 reviews City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Gainesville

51 mi away
605 East California Street
BUS

Mesquite, TX

80 mi away
1331 Highway 80 East \r\n1331 Highway 80 East \r\n
BUS

Dallas, TX

83 mi away
205 South Lamar Street
RAIL

Union Station

84 mi away
400 South Houston St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Denton and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 365.65 mi (588.45 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Denton

Denton is a place in Texas, United States.

Population0
Coordinates32.2587400, -99.5395200
Altitude603
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: Denton (-99.53952, 32.25874)
End: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 727 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.94 gal
60.33 L · about $57.08
Round trip
$114.16
31.88 gal · 120.66 L
Estimated CO2
141.7 kg one way
Round trip: 283.3 kg / 625 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.58 $57.08 $114.16
Mid-grade $4.09 $65.26 $130.52
Premium $4.47 $71.28 $142.57
Diesel $5.68 $90.57 $181.14

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 · Nov 06, 2026

There is no time difference between Denton and Fort Smith. The current time is 22:07:18.

Distance to Other Cities

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