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

The driving distance from Fayetteville, AR to Fort Smith, AR is about 57.5 miles (92.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 48.7 miles (78.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
57.47 mi
00h 56m
Flight
48.67 mi
78.33 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fayetteville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
48.67 mi
Kilometers
78.33 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
57.47 mi
Kilometers
92.49 km
Drive Time
00h 56m

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 00h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Smith
Sun, Apr 19, 12:23 PM CDT
Return by in Fayetteville
Sun, Apr 19, 1:19 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fayetteville
2026-04-19T11:27
Arrive Fort Smith
Sun, Apr 19, 12:23 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fayetteville
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Chester
AR

City in Arkansas

From Fayetteville
28.6 mi
00h 28m
To Fort Smith
28.8 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
73°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    98 m · 29 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South College Avenue

    575 ft · 16 sec · South College Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on South Nelson Hackett Boulevard

    2093 ft · 53 sec · South Nelson Hackett Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn slight left onto South School Avenue

    652 ft · 20 sec · South School Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard

  6. 6

    Turn left onto South Razorback Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South Razorback Road

  7. 7

    Continue on South Cato Springs Road

    1874 ft · 40 sec · South Cato Springs Road

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight left

    1618 ft · 20 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    40.4 mi · 40 min

  10. 10

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

    1596 ft · 25 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    4.3 mi · 4 min

  12. 12

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

    6.5 mi · 8 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue

    1259 ft · 34 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Grand Avenue

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fayetteville 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
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Cato Springs Road
41 mi · 71%
I 540 South
6.53 mi · 11%
I 40 West
4.58 mi · 8%
Grand Avenue
2.14 mi · 4%
South Razorback Road
1.4 mi · 2%
West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.89 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

South Cato Springs Road

Merge slight left

40.4 mi · 00h 40m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.8 mi
48.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chester
00h 28m from Fayetteville
Leave By
4:38 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville to Fort Smith?

The road trip is about 57.5 miles (92.5 km) and usually takes 00h 56m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Chester is a useful midpoint, sitting about 28.6 miles from Fayetteville and 28.8 miles from Fort Smith.

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

The direct path is about 48.7 miles (78.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.69 one way or $15.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fayetteville and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 48.67 mi (78.33 km).

Fayetteville

#1 Fayetteville

The most populous city in Washington County, Arkansas.

Population89,576
Coordinates36.0625800, -94.1574300
Altitude427
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: County Avenue (-94.157184, 36.062567)
End: Grand Avenue (-94.39855, 35.385923)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 92 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.03 gal
7.68 L · about $7.69
Round trip
$15.38
4.06 gal · 15.36 L
Estimated CO2
18 kg one way
Round trip: 36.1 kg / 80 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $7.69 $15.38
Mid-grade $4.26 $8.65 $17.29
Premium $4.63 $9.39 $18.78
Diesel $5.42 $10.99 $21.98

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Fayetteville and Fort Smith. The current time is 11:27:07.

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.