How far is Fort Smith, AR from Paducah, KY?

The driving distance from Fort Smith, AR to Paducah, KY is about 439.2 miles (706.8 km), with a travel time of about 08h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 343.7 miles (553.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
439.21 mi
08h 11m
Flight
343.71 mi
553.14 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
343.71 mi
Kilometers
553.14 km
Flight Time
00h 41m

Driving Distance

Road route
439.21 mi
Kilometers
706.84 km
Drive Time
08h 11m

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 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Paducah
Sun, Jul 26, 11:52 PM CDT
Return by in Fort Smith
Mon, Jul 27, 8:04 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Smith
2026-07-26T15:40
Arrive Paducah
Sun, Jul 26, 11:52 PM CDT
Route Timing
08h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:12 PM to 3:42 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Smith
8:00 PM CDT
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
Campbell Station
AR

Human settlement in Jackson County, Arkansas, United States of America

From Fort Smith
219.4 mi
04h 05m
To Paducah
219.8 mi
04h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
103°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Jul 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
72°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, Jul 26 5:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    94.7 mi · 1 hr 39 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on US 67 North: Williams Baptist College, Pocahontas

    40.6 mi · 47 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto North Missouri Avenue

    73.7 mi · 1 hr 24 min · North Missouri Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    19.5 mi · 21 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 57 Business South, US 60 East , US 62, MO 77: Charleston, Wyatt

    2280 ft · 56 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right

    12.2 mi · 16 min

  16. 16

    Turn right

    4.8 mi · 8 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto 4th Street

    1112 ft · 14 sec · 4th Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Lee Street

    724 ft · 9 sec · Lee Street

  19. 19

    Continue on North 6th Street

    5.9 mi · 7 min · North 6th Street

  20. 20

    Continue on South 4th Street

    1090 ft · 16 sec · South 4th Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Broadway

    1 km · 44 sec · Broadway

  22. 22

    Continue on Paducah Road

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Paducah Road

  23. 23

    Continue on West Kentucky Drive

    1.6 km · 1 min · West Kentucky Drive

  24. 24

    Continue on Paducah Road

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Paducah Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Kentucky Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Kentucky Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on Old Hinkleville Road

    11.8 mi · 15 min · Old Hinkleville Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Park Avenue

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Park Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn right onto North 9th Street

    2480 ft · 1 min · North 9th Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Kentucky Avenue

    814 ft · 18 sec · Kentucky Avenue

  30. 30

    Turn right onto South 7th Street

    127 m · 24 sec · South 7th Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Washington Street

    49 m · 7 sec · Washington Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Vilonia Bypass
121 mi · 27%
I 40 East
119 mi · 27%
North Missouri Avenue
93.2 mi · 21%
US 67 North
40.6 mi · 9%
Old Hinkleville Road
11.8 mi · 3%
Paducah Road
7.38 mi · 2%
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

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 11m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+95.5 mi
343.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Campbell Station
04h 05m from Fort Smith
Leave By
7:36 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fort Smith and Mostly Cloudy near Paducah.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 439.2 miles (706.8 km) and usually takes 08h 11m 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?

Campbell Station is a useful midpoint, sitting about 219.4 miles from Fort Smith and 219.8 miles from Paducah.

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

The direct path is about 343.7 miles (553.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 95.5 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 $58.70 one way or $117.40 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 137.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Campbell Station

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

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

RAIL

Walnut Ridge

52 mi away
109 Southwest Front Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Smith and Paducah. Straight-line distance: 343.71 mi (553.14 km).

Fort Smith

#1 Fort Smith

The second most populous city in Sebastian County, Arkansas.

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

#2 Paducah

City in McCracken County, Kentucky, United States

Population24,883
Coordinates37.0833900, -88.6000500
Altitude104
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)
End: Paducah (-88.60005, 37.08339)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 707 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.5 gal
58.67 L · about $58.70
Round trip
$117.40
31 gal · 117.34 L
Estimated CO2
137.7 kg one way
Round trip: 275.5 kg / 607 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $58.70 $117.40
Mid-grade $4.26 $66.01 $132.03
Premium $4.63 $71.69 $143.38
Diesel $5.42 $83.93 $167.87

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Smith and Paducah. The current time is 15:40:42.

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.