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

The driving distance from Magnolia, AR to Fort Smith, AR is about 236.6 miles (380.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 160.6 miles (258.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 02m 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
236.61 mi
04h 31m
Flight
160.64 mi
258.53 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Magnolia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
160.64 mi
Kilometers
258.53 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
236.61 mi
Kilometers
380.78 km
Drive Time
04h 31m

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 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Smith
Thu, Apr 23, 10:59 AM CDT
Return by in Magnolia
Thu, Apr 23, 3:30 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Magnolia
2026-04-23T06:27
Arrive Fort Smith
Thu, Apr 23, 10:59 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 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
7:58 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Magnolia
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Gillham
AR

Town in Arkansas, United States of America

From Magnolia
116.7 mi
02h 15m
To Fort Smith
119.9 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Jackson Street

    3 m · 8 sec · Jackson Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    100 m · 8 sec · East Main Street

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward West Main Street

    127 m · 10 sec · West Main Street

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto West Main Street

    644 ft · 15 sec · West Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto North Vine Street

    2.1 mi · 3 min · North Vine Street

  6. 6

    Turn left

    49.5 mi · 57 min

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Jefferson Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn left onto East 51st Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · East 51st Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto North State Line Avenue

    18.4 mi · 25 min · North State Line Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Main Street

    24.3 mi · 33 min · Main Street

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    8 mi · 11 min

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North Lakeside Drive

    51.2 mi · 1 hr · North Lakeside Drive

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    69.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward 540 North

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Greenwood Road

    1202 ft · 38 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Old Greenwood Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Old Greenwood Road

  17. 17

    Continue on South 31st Street

    2637 ft · 55 sec · South 31st Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Old Greenwood Road

    1187 ft · 28 sec · Old Greenwood Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Rogers Avenue

    1729 ft · 46 sec · Rogers Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn right onto North Greenwood Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · North Greenwood Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1391 ft · 28 sec · Grand Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
22 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
0 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Lakeside Drive
121 mi · 51%
Main Street
32.3 mi · 14%
North State Line Avenue
18.4 mi · 8%
Jefferson Avenue
2.87 mi · 1%
Old Greenwood Road
2.32 mi · 1%
North Vine Street
2.09 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

North Lakeside Drive

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

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 31m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+76 mi
160.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gillham
02h 15m from Magnolia
Leave By
7:58 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Magnolia and Partly Sunny then 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 Magnolia to Fort Smith?

The road trip is about 236.6 miles (380.8 km) and usually takes 04h 31m 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?

Gillham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 116.7 miles from Magnolia and 119.9 miles from Fort Smith.

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

The direct path is about 160.6 miles (258.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 76 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 7:58 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.62 one way or $63.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Gillham

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

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

RAIL

Texarkana

87 mi away
100 East Front Street
RAIL

Hope

87 mi away
100 East Division Street
RAIL

Arkadelphia station

116 mi away
798 South 5th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Magnolia and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 160.64 mi (258.53 km).

Magnolia

#1 Magnolia

City in and county seat of Columbia County, Arkansas, United States

Population11,443
Coordinates33.2670700, -93.2393300
Altitude103
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: East Main Street (-93.239314, 33.267097)
End: Grand Avenue (-94.39855, 35.385923)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 381 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.35 gal
31.6 L · about $31.62
Round trip
$63.24
16.7 gal · 63.2 L
Estimated CO2
74.2 kg one way
Round trip: 148.4 kg / 327 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $31.62 $63.24
Mid-grade $4.26 $35.56 $71.13
Premium $4.63 $38.62 $77.24
Diesel $5.42 $45.22 $90.43

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Magnolia and Fort Smith. The current time is 06:27:50.

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.