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

The driving distance from Fort Smith, AR to Tennessee, AR is about 246.7 miles (397 km), with a travel time of about 04h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 189.1 miles (304.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 49m 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
246.69 mi
04h 24m
Flight
189.13 mi
304.37 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
189.13 mi
Kilometers
304.37 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
246.69 mi
Kilometers
397.01 km
Drive Time
04h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tennessee
Sat, Apr 11, 12:37 AM CDT
Return by in Fort Smith
Sat, Apr 11, 5:02 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Smith
2026-04-10T20:13
Arrive Tennessee
Sat, Apr 11, 12:37 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:25 AM to 12:25 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
8:10 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
Conway
AR

The most populous city in Faulkner County, Arkansas.

From Fort Smith
123.3 mi
02h 12m
To Tennessee
123.3 mi
02h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph S
Destination
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    145.8 mi · 2 hr 27 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right

    4.6 mi · 6 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    43.9 mi · 45 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward AR 530 South: Star City, Monticello

    1.2 km · 52 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Highway 530

    22.9 mi · 27 min · Highway 530

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Highway 11

    2 mi · 2 min · Highway 11

  10. 10

    Turn right

    15.7 mi · 20 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit right

    69 m · 6 sec

  12. 12

    Turn slight right onto West Gaines Avenue

    2.6 mi · 4 min · West Gaines Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Tennessee Spur Road

    1475 ft · 1 min · Tennessee Spur Road

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Tennessee Spur Road

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
194 mi · 79%
Highway 530
22.9 mi · 9%
I 540 North
6.04 mi · 2%
West Gaines Avenue
2.65 mi · 1%
Highway 11
2.01 mi · 1%
Grand Avenue
1.98 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

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

146 mi · 02h 27m

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 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+57.6 mi
189.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Conway
02h 12m from Fort Smith
Leave By
8:10 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Fort Smith and Mostly Sunny near Tennessee.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 246.7 miles (397 km) and usually takes 04h 24m 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?

Conway is a useful midpoint, sitting about 123.3 miles from Fort Smith and 123.3 miles from Tennessee.

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

The direct path is about 189.1 miles (304.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.6 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 8:10 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.95 one way or $65.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Fort Smith and Mostly Sunny near Tennessee.

Stop Ideas Near Conway

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

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

RAIL

Little Rock Union Station

40 mi away
1400 West Markham Street
RAIL

Malvern station

87 mi away
200 East First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Smith and Tennessee. Straight-line distance: 189.13 mi (304.37 km).

Fort Smith

#1 Fort Smith

The second most populous city in Sebastian County, Arkansas.

Population87,764
Coordinates35.3859200, -94.3985500
Altitude134
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Tennessee

Tennessee is a place in Arkansas, United States.

Population0
Coordinates33.6312200, -91.8487400
Altitude73
CountryUnited States
Start: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)
End: Tennessee (-91.84874, 33.63122)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 397 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.7 gal
32.95 L · about $32.95
Round trip
$65.89
17.4 gal · 65.9 L
Estimated CO2
77.3 kg one way
Round trip: 154.6 kg / 341 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $32.95 $65.89
Mid-grade $4.26 $37.05 $74.11
Premium $4.63 $40.24 $80.48
Diesel $5.42 $47.11 $94.22

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Smith and Tennessee. The current time is 20:13:00.

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.