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

The driving distance from Fort Smith, AR to Earle, AR is about 272.5 miles (438.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 221.8 miles (356.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 35m 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
272.49 mi
04h 47m
Flight
221.75 mi
356.87 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
221.75 mi
Kilometers
356.87 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
272.49 mi
Kilometers
438.53 km
Drive Time
04h 47m

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 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Earle
Thu, Apr 23, 4:02 AM CDT
Return by in Fort Smith
Thu, Apr 23, 8:50 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Smith
2026-04-22T23:14
Arrive Earle
Thu, Apr 23, 4:02 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:48 AM to 12:48 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
7:24 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
Mayflower
AR

City in Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States

From Fort Smith
136.1 mi
02h 23m
To Earle
136.4 mi
02h 23m

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
78°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    147.4 mi · 2 hr 29 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on Memphis

    105.3 mi · 1 hr 46 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward AR 149: Earle

    1209 ft · 30 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    39 m · 3 sec

  8. 8

    Turn straight

    9.9 mi · 18 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Arkansas Street

    141 m · 9 sec · Arkansas Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Arkansas Avenue

    1385 ft · 30 sec · Arkansas Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Cross Street

    1219 ft · 24 sec · Cross Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Park Street

    596 ft · 17 sec · Park Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto 2nd Street

    2376 ft · 50 sec · 2nd Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Barton Street

    1841 ft · 39 sec · Barton Street

  15. 15

    Turn right

    627 ft · 11 sec

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
147 mi · 54%
Memphis
105 mi · 39%
I 540 North
6.04 mi · 2%
Grand Avenue
1.98 mi · 1%
2nd Street
0.45 mi
Barton Street
0.35 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

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

147 mi · 02h 29m

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 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.7 mi
221.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mayflower
02h 23m from Fort Smith
Leave By
7:24 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Fort Smith and Mostly Sunny near Earle.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 272.5 miles (438.5 km) and usually takes 04h 47m 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?

Mayflower is a useful midpoint, sitting about 136.1 miles from Fort Smith and 136.4 miles from Earle.

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

The direct path is about 221.8 miles (356.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.7 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 7:24 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.43 one way or $72.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Mayflower

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mayflower, 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 Mayflower.

RAIL

Little Rock Union Station

26 mi away
1400 West Markham Street
RAIL

Malvern station

75 mi away
200 East First St.
RAIL

Arkadelphia station

110 mi away
798 South 5th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Smith and Earle. Straight-line distance: 221.75 mi (356.87 km).

Fort Smith

#1 Fort Smith

The second most populous city in Sebastian County, Arkansas.

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

#2 Earle

City in Arkansas, USA

Population2,164
Coordinates35.2750900, -90.4667700
Altitude63
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)
End: Earle (-90.46677, 35.27509)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 439 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.62 gal
36.4 L · about $36.43
Round trip
$72.86
19.24 gal · 72.8 L
Estimated CO2
85.5 kg one way
Round trip: 171 kg / 377 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $36.43 $72.86
Mid-grade $4.26 $40.97 $81.94
Premium $4.63 $44.49 $88.99
Diesel $5.42 $52.09 $104.18

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 Earle. The current time is 23:14:28.

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.