How far is Houston, TX from Fort Smith, AR?
The driving distance from Houston, TX to Fort Smith, AR is about 461 miles (741.9 km), with a travel time of about 09h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 392.5 miles (631.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 26m 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 09h 13m.
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 in Marion County, Texas, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Houston and Fort Smith.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston and Fort Smith.
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1
Start on Louisiana Street
145 m · 20 sec · Louisiana Street
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2
Turn right onto Franklin Street
1678 ft · 1 min · Franklin Street
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3
Turn left onto San Jacinto Street
2319 ft · 49 sec · San Jacinto Street
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4
Turn straight onto Rothwell Street
106 m · 7 sec · Rothwell Street
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5
Take the ramp straight toward US 59 East, I 10 East
792 ft · 19 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto East Freeway
2732 ft · 39 sec · East Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight left toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland
1.3 km · 2 min
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8
Merge slight left onto Eastex Freeway
37 mi · 43 min · Eastex Freeway
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9
Keep slight left
1.1 km · 44 sec
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10
Continue straight
42 mi · 44 min
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11
Continue straight
36.2 mi · 41 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward US 59 North, Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches
5.7 mi · 8 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on US 59 North: Nacogdoches
15.6 mi · 17 min
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14
Turn left
1.2 km · 1 min
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15
Continue straight
1527 ft · 42 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Southwest Stallings Drive
5.9 mi · 7 min · Southwest Stallings Drive
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17
Continue on North US Highway 59
1.4 km · 58 sec · North US Highway 59
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18
Take the exit left
933 ft · 25 sec
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19
Continue straight
741 ft · 20 sec
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20
Merge slight left onto US Highway 259
11.2 mi · 13 min · US Highway 259
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21
Continue on US Route 259
3 mi · 3 min · US Route 259
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22
Continue on South Railroad Avenue
2.6 mi · 3 min · South Railroad Avenue
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23
Turn right
24.9 mi · 26 min
-
24
Take the ramp left
1499 ft · 41 sec
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25
Merge slight left onto Southwest Loop
3.1 mi · 4 min · Southwest Loop
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26
Take the exit slight right
1409 ft · 39 sec
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27
Turn left
57.9 mi · 1 hr 6 min
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28
Turn left
570 ft · 8 sec
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29
Turn right onto State Highway 8
12.5 mi · 14 min · State Highway 8
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30
Continue on South Street
2.7 mi · 3 min · South Street
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31
Continue on State Highway 8
8.8 mi · 12 min · State Highway 8
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32
At the end of the road, turn left onto Broadway Avenue
2.9 mi · 3 min · Broadway Avenue
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33
Turn right
17.5 mi · 24 min
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34
Continue on Highway 41 South
29.5 mi · 44 min · Highway 41 South
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35
Continue on State Highway 24/State Highway 41/Main Street
1.8 mi · 3 min · State Highway 24/State Highway 41/Main Street
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36
Continue on State Highway 41
9.7 mi · 14 min · State Highway 41
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37
Continue straight
48.7 mi · 57 min
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38
Continue straight
69.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min
-
39
Take the exit slight right toward 540 North
1.6 mi · 2 min
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40
Take the exit slight right toward Greenwood Road
1202 ft · 38 sec
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41
Turn left onto Old Greenwood Road
2.1 mi · 4 min · Old Greenwood Road
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42
Continue on South 31st Street
2637 ft · 55 sec · South 31st Street
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43
Continue on Old Greenwood Road
1187 ft · 28 sec · Old Greenwood Road
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44
Turn left onto Rogers Avenue
1729 ft · 46 sec · Rogers Avenue
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45
Turn right onto North Greenwood Avenue
1.1 km · 2 min · North Greenwood Avenue
-
46
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1391 ft · 28 sec · Grand Avenue
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47
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Houston and Fort Smith.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Houston and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fort Smith.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Houston to Fort Smith?
The road trip is about 461 miles (741.9 km) and usually takes 09h 13m 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?
Jefferson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 230.9 miles from Houston and 230.2 miles from Fort Smith.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 392.5 miles (631.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 68.5 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 $61.48 one way or $122.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 144.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Houston and Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Fort Smith.
Stop Ideas Near Jefferson
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 Jefferson.
Marshall
Longview
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, LA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 392.52 mi (631.7 km).
#1 Houston
The fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Houston metropolitan area.
| Population | 2,316,120 |
| Coordinates | 29.7632800, -95.3632700 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Fort Smith
The second most populous city in Sebastian County, Arkansas.
| Population | 87,764 |
| Coordinates | 35.3859200, -94.3985500 |
| Altitude | 134 |
| Country | United States |
End: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 742 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 31m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 35m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 45m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $61.48 | $122.97 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $69.18 | $138.36 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $74.70 | $149.39 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $64.97 | $129.93 |
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 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.