How far is Fort Smith, AR from Lexington, KY?
The driving distance from Fort Smith, AR to Lexington, KY is about 692.1 miles (1113.8 km), with a travel time of about 12h 42m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 578 miles (930.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 25h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 12h 42m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City and the county seat of Dyer County, Tennessee, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Smith and Lexington.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Smith and Lexington.
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1
Start on Grand Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · Grand Avenue
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2
Turn left onto I 540 North, US 71 North
1595 ft · 41 sec
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3
Merge slight left
5.7 mi · 7 min
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4
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Little Rock, Memphis
119.2 mi · 1 hr 59 min
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5
Take the exit slight right toward US 64
1242 ft · 30 sec
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6
Keep slight left
65 m · 8 sec
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7
Turn left onto East Oak Street
1.8 mi · 3 min · East Oak Street
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8
Continue on State Highway 64
5.4 mi · 7 min · State Highway 64
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9
Continue on Vilonia Bypass
25.9 mi · 32 min · Vilonia Bypass
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10
Take the exit slight left
94.7 mi · 1 hr 39 min
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11
Keep slight right to continue on US 412: Paragould, Walnut Ridge
2734 ft · 1 min
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12
Turn right
55.7 mi · 1 hr 6 min
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13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
11 m · 1 sec
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14
Exit the roundabout
1.4 mi · 2 min
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15
Turn right onto 1st Street
43.4 mi · 48 min · 1st Street
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16
Continue straight
27.5 mi · 32 min
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17
Take the exit slight right
2224 ft · 1 min
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18
Continue straight
10.2 mi · 11 min
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19
Continue straight
5.6 mi · 6 min
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20
Turn left onto West Highland Drive
3109 ft · 52 sec · West Highland Drive
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21
Continue on Highland Drive
1271 ft · 30 sec · Highland Drive
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22
Turn left onto Nolan Avenue
1551 ft · 27 sec · Nolan Avenue
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23
Take the ramp right
1159 ft · 28 sec
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24
Merge slight left
49.1 mi · 53 min
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25
Keep slight left to continue on I 24 East, I 69 North: Nashville, Henderson
16.6 mi · 18 min
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26
Take the exit slight right toward I 69 North: Elizabethtown, Princeton
38.3 mi · 42 min
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27
Keep slight right to continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
1783 ft · 22 sec · Western Kentucky Parkway
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28
Continue on Western Kentucky Parkway
98.9 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Western Kentucky Parkway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
1955 ft · 48 sec
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30
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 North: Lexington, Louisville
3052 ft · 1 min
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31
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 1 min
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32
Take the exit slight right toward Lexington, Bardstown
3252 ft · 1 min
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33
Continue on Bluegrass Parkway
70.7 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Bluegrass Parkway
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34
Keep slight left to continue on US 60 West: Frankfort
571 ft · 16 sec
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35
Turn right onto Lexington Road
1.7 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road
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36
Continue on Versailles Road
4.4 mi · 6 min · Versailles Road
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37
Take the exit slight right toward KY 4 South: New Circle Road
1920 ft · 47 sec
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38
Merge slight left onto New Circle Road
5.6 mi · 8 min · New Circle Road
-
39
Take the exit slight right toward KY 1974: Lexington
1224 ft · 33 sec
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40
Turn right onto Tates Creek Road
1044 ft · 29 sec · Tates Creek Road
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41
Turn left onto Gainesway Drive
1 mi · 2 min · Gainesway Drive
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42
Turn left onto Coldstream Drive
80 m · 9 sec · Coldstream Drive
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43
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Coldstream Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Smith and Lexington.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fort Smith and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lexington.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Smith to Lexington?
The road trip is about 692.1 miles (1113.8 km) and usually takes 12h 42m 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?
Dyersburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 345.7 miles from Fort Smith and 346.4 miles from Lexington.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 578 miles (930.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 114.1 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 CDT. 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 $92.48 one way or $184.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 217 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Fort Smith and Lexington, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Fort Smith and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lexington.
Stop Ideas Near Dyersburg
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Dyersburg.
Newbern–Dyersburg
Fulton
Central Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Smith and Lexington. Straight-line distance: 577.99 mi (930.19 km).
#1 Fort Smith
The second most populous city in Sebastian County, Arkansas.
| Population | 87,764 |
| Coordinates | 35.3859200, -94.3985500 |
| Altitude | 134 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Lexington
The second most populous city in Kentucky.
| Population | 225,366 |
| Coordinates | 37.9886900, -84.4777200 |
| Altitude | 295 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lexington (-84.47772, 37.98869)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1114 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 23h 03m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 17h 18m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 13h 50m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 11h 32m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 09h 53m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 08h 38m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.79 | $92.48 | $184.96 |
| Mid-grade | $4.26 | $104.00 | $208.01 |
| Premium | $4.63 | $112.94 | $225.89 |
| Diesel | $5.42 | $132.23 | $264.47 |
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 · Jul 09, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.