How far is Galveston, TX from Fort Smith, AR?

The driving distance from Galveston, TX to Fort Smith, AR is about 510 miles (820.8 km), with a travel time of about 10h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 421 miles (677.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 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.
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
510 mi
10h 12m
Flight
421.05 mi
677.61 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Galveston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
421.05 mi
Kilometers
677.61 km
Flight Time
00h 50m

Driving Distance

Road route
510 mi
Kilometers
820.77 km
Drive Time
10h 12m

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 10h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Smith
Sat, Jul 18, 2:05 AM CDT
Return by in Galveston
Sat, Jul 18, 12:18 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Galveston
2026-07-17T15:53
Arrive Fort Smith
Sat, Jul 18, 2:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
10h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
4:13 PM to 5:43 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
3:34 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Galveston
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
Tatum
TX

City in Rusk County, Texas, United States

From Galveston
255.4 mi
05h 06m
To Fort Smith
254.6 mi
05h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Today

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Jul 17 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
74°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Fri, Jul 17 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 27th Street

    79 m · 16 sec · 27th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Ball Street - Avenue H

    762 ft · 28 sec · Ball Street - Avenue H

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Martin Luther King Boulevard - 29th Street

    667 ft · 18 sec · Martin Luther King Boulevard - 29th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Broadway - Avenue J

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Broadway - Avenue J

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on Gulf Freeway

    44 mi · 51 min · Gulf Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 288 South, I 69, US 59: Lake Jackson, Freeport, Cleveland, Victoria, Texas Southern University

    1.3 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on TX 288 South, US 59, I 69: Lake Jackson, Freeport, Victoria, Cleveland

    1.4 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland

    1.3 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight right onto Eastex Freeway

    39.3 mi · 46 min · Eastex Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    1.1 km · 44 sec

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    42 mi · 44 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    36.2 mi · 41 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 59 North, Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches

    5.7 mi · 8 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on US 59 North: Nacogdoches

    15.6 mi · 17 min

  15. 15

    Turn left

    1.2 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    1527 ft · 42 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Southwest Stallings Drive

    5.9 mi · 7 min · Southwest Stallings Drive

  18. 18

    Continue on North US Highway 59

    1.4 km · 58 sec · North US Highway 59

  19. 19

    Take the exit left

    933 ft · 25 sec

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    741 ft · 20 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 259

    11.2 mi · 13 min · US Highway 259

  22. 22

    Continue on US Route 259

    3 mi · 3 min · US Route 259

  23. 23

    Continue on South Railroad Avenue

    2.6 mi · 3 min · South Railroad Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right

    24.9 mi · 26 min

  25. 25

    Take the ramp left

    1499 ft · 41 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight left onto Southwest Loop

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Southwest Loop

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right

    1409 ft · 39 sec

  28. 28

    Turn left

    57.9 mi · 1 hr 6 min

  29. 29

    Turn left

    570 ft · 8 sec

  30. 30

    Turn right onto State Highway 8

    12.5 mi · 14 min · State Highway 8

  31. 31

    Continue on South Street

    2.7 mi · 3 min · South Street

  32. 32

    Continue on State Highway 8

    8.8 mi · 12 min · State Highway 8

  33. 33

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Broadway Avenue

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Broadway Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn right

    17.5 mi · 24 min

  35. 35

    Continue on Highway 41 South

    29.5 mi · 44 min · Highway 41 South

  36. 36

    Continue on State Highway 24/State Highway 41/Main Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · State Highway 24/State Highway 41/Main Street

  37. 37

    Continue on State Highway 41

    9.7 mi · 14 min · State Highway 41

  38. 38

    Continue straight

    48.7 mi · 57 min

  39. 39

    Continue straight

    69.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min

  40. 40

    Take the exit slight right toward 540 North

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  41. 41

    Take the exit slight right toward Greenwood Road

    1202 ft · 38 sec

  42. 42

    Turn left onto Old Greenwood Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Old Greenwood Road

  43. 43

    Continue on South 31st Street

    2637 ft · 55 sec · South 31st Street

  44. 44

    Continue on Old Greenwood Road

    1187 ft · 28 sec · Old Greenwood Road

  45. 45

    Turn left onto Rogers Avenue

    1729 ft · 46 sec · Rogers Avenue

  46. 46

    Turn right onto North Greenwood Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · North Greenwood Avenue

  47. 47

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1391 ft · 28 sec · Grand Avenue

  48. 48

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
48 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 41
128 mi · 25%
Eastex Freeway
118 mi · 23%
Gulf Freeway
44 mi · 9%
Highway 41 South
29.5 mi · 6%
US 59 North
21.6 mi · 4%
State Highway 8
21.3 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

State Highway 41

Continue straight

69.9 mi · 01h 24m

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
10h 12m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
20h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+89 mi
421 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Tatum
05h 06m from Galveston
Leave By
3:34 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Galveston and Partly Cloudy near Fort Smith.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 510 miles (820.8 km) and usually takes 10h 12m 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?

Tatum is a useful midpoint, sitting about 255.4 miles from Galveston and 254.6 miles from Fort Smith.

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

The direct path is about 421 miles (677.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 89 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 $68.02 one way or $136.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 160 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Galveston and Partly Cloudy near Fort Smith.

Stop Ideas Near Tatum

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

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

RAIL

Longview

28 mi away
905 Pacific Ave.
RAIL

Marshall

30 mi away
800 North Washington Street - suite 2
BUS

Tyler, TX

74 mi away
303 North Bois D'Arc Street
BUS

Shreveport, LA

75 mi away
408 Fannin Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Galveston and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 421.05 mi (677.61 km).

Galveston

#1 Galveston

A city in Galveston County, Texas.

Population50,085
Coordinates29.3013500, -94.7977000
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Fort Smith

#2 Fort Smith

The second most populous city in Sebastian County, Arkansas.

Population87,764
Coordinates35.3859200, -94.3985500
Altitude134
CountryUnited States
Start: Galveston (-94.7977, 29.30135)
End: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 821 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
18 gal
68.12 L · about $68.02
Round trip
$136.04
36 gal · 136.24 L
Estimated CO2
160 kg one way
Round trip: 319.9 kg / 705 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $68.02 $136.04
Mid-grade $4.25 $76.54 $153.07
Premium $4.59 $82.64 $165.28
Diesel $3.99 $71.87 $143.75

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 Texas · Jul 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Galveston and Fort Smith. The current time is 15:53:14.

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.