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

The driving distance from Fort Smith, AR to Caraway, AR is about 282.8 miles (455.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 230.5 miles (371 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 34m 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
282.76 mi
05h 17m
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 Fort Smith.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
282.76 mi
Kilometers
455.06 km
Drive Time
05h 17m

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 05h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Caraway
Thu, Apr 23, 4:53 AM CDT
Return by in Fort Smith
Thu, Apr 23, 10:11 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Smith
2026-04-22T23:36
Arrive Caraway
Thu, Apr 23, 4:53 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:17 AM to 1:17 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
6:26 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Smith
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 Fort Smith
141.2 mi
02h 38m
To Caraway
141.5 mi
02h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Wednesday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
79°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Grand Avenue

    2 mi · 4 min · Grand Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto I 540 North, US 71 North

    1595 ft · 41 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight left

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis

    119.2 mi · 1 hr 59 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64

    1242 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    65 m · 8 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Oak Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · East Oak Street

  8. 8

    Continue on State Highway 64

    5.4 mi · 7 min · State Highway 64

  9. 9

    Continue on Vilonia Bypass

    25.9 mi · 32 min · Vilonia Bypass

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight left

    74.6 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward AR 226: Jonesboro

    2502 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    105 m · 8 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    12.1 mi · 14 min

  14. 14

    Continue on Southwest Drive

    7.4 mi · 9 min · Southwest Drive

  15. 15

    Turn right onto East Highland Drive

    19.4 mi · 28 min · East Highland Drive

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West Rogers

    601 ft · 14 sec · West Rogers

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    7.9 mi · 14 min · North Main Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East State Street

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
119 mi · 42%
Vilonia Bypass
100 mi · 36%
East Highland Drive
19.4 mi · 7%
AR 226
12.7 mi · 4%
North Main Street
7.91 mi · 3%
Southwest Drive
7.44 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis

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
05h 17m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.3 mi
230.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vilonia
02h 38m from Fort Smith
Leave By
6:26 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Fort Smith and Mostly Sunny near Caraway.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Smith to Caraway?

The road trip is about 282.8 miles (455.1 km) and usually takes 05h 17m 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 141.2 miles from Fort Smith and 141.5 miles from Caraway.

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 52.3 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 6:26 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.79 one way or $75.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Fort Smith and Caraway. Straight-line distance: 230.5 mi (370.96 km).

Fort Smith

#1 Fort Smith

The second most populous city in Sebastian County, Arkansas.

Population87,764
Coordinates35.3859200, -94.3985500
Altitude134
CountryUnited States
Caraway

#2 Caraway

City in Craighead County, Arkansas, United States of America

Population1,288
Coordinates35.7581300, -90.3223200
Altitude69
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)
End: Caraway (-90.32232, 35.75813)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 455 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.98 gal
37.77 L · about $37.79
Round trip
$75.59
19.96 gal · 75.54 L
Estimated CO2
88.7 kg one way
Round trip: 177.4 kg / 391 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $37.79 $75.59
Mid-grade $4.26 $42.50 $85.01
Premium $4.63 $46.16 $92.32
Diesel $5.42 $54.04 $108.08

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 Fort Smith and Caraway. The current time is 23:36:33.

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.