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

The driving distance from Nacogdoches, TX to Fort Smith, AR is about 320.6 miles (515.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 261.8 miles (421.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 07m 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
320.55 mi
06h 33m
Flight
261.76 mi
421.26 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nacogdoches.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
261.76 mi
Kilometers
421.26 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
320.55 mi
Kilometers
515.87 km
Drive Time
06h 33m

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 06h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Smith
Thu, Oct 15, 6:16 PM CDT
Return by in Nacogdoches
Fri, Oct 16, 12:49 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nacogdoches
2026-10-15T11:42
Arrive Fort Smith
Thu, Oct 15, 6:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:34 PM to 2:04 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
10:52 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nacogdoches
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
Foreman
AR

City in Arkansas, USA

From Nacogdoches
160.2 mi
03h 16m
To Fort Smith
160.4 mi
03h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
85°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    2942 ft · 52 sec · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Douglass Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Douglass Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right

    1355 ft · 37 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Northwest Stallings Drive

    4 mi · 5 min · Northwest Stallings Drive

  5. 5

    Continue on North US Highway 59

    1.4 km · 58 sec · North US Highway 59

  6. 6

    Take the exit left

    933 ft · 25 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    741 ft · 20 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 259

    11.2 mi · 13 min · US Highway 259

  9. 9

    Continue on US Route 259

    3 mi · 3 min · US Route 259

  10. 10

    Continue on South Railroad Avenue

    2.6 mi · 3 min · South Railroad Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right

    24.9 mi · 26 min

  12. 12

    Take the ramp left

    1499 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Southwest Loop

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Southwest Loop

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    1409 ft · 39 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    57.9 mi · 1 hr 6 min

  16. 16

    Turn left

    570 ft · 8 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto State Highway 8

    12.5 mi · 14 min · State Highway 8

  18. 18

    Continue on South Street

    2.7 mi · 3 min · South Street

  19. 19

    Continue on State Highway 8

    8.8 mi · 12 min · State Highway 8

  20. 20

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

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Broadway Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right

    17.5 mi · 24 min

  22. 22

    Continue on Highway 41 South

    29.5 mi · 44 min · Highway 41 South

  23. 23

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

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

  24. 24

    Continue on State Highway 41

    9.7 mi · 14 min · State Highway 41

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    48.7 mi · 57 min

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    69.9 mi · 1 hr 24 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward 540 North

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward Greenwood Road

    1202 ft · 38 sec

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Old Greenwood Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Old Greenwood Road

  30. 30

    Continue on South 31st Street

    2637 ft · 55 sec · South 31st Street

  31. 31

    Continue on Old Greenwood Road

    1187 ft · 28 sec · Old Greenwood Road

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Rogers Avenue

    1729 ft · 46 sec · Rogers Avenue

  33. 33

    Turn right onto North Greenwood Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · North Greenwood Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1391 ft · 28 sec · Grand Avenue

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Nacogdoches 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
35 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 41
128 mi · 40%
Highway 41 South
29.5 mi · 9%
State Highway 8
21.3 mi · 7%
US Highway 259
11.2 mi · 3%
Northwest Stallings Drive
3.98 mi · 1%
Southwest Loop
3.33 mi · 1%
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
06h 33m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.8 mi
261.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Foreman
03h 16m from Nacogdoches
Leave By
10:52 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Nacogdoches and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Fort Smith.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 320.6 miles (515.9 km) and usually takes 06h 33m 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?

Foreman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.2 miles from Nacogdoches and 160.4 miles from Fort Smith.

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

The direct path is about 261.8 miles (421.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.8 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 $43.42 one way or $86.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Nacogdoches and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Fort Smith.

Stop Ideas Near Foreman

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

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

RAIL

Texarkana

47 mi away
100 East Front Street
RAIL

Hope

75 mi away
100 East Division Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nacogdoches and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 261.76 mi (421.26 km).

Nacogdoches

#1 Nacogdoches

Small city in Nacogdoches County, Texas

Population32,461
Coordinates31.6035100, -94.6554900
Altitude92
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: Nacogdoches (-94.65549, 31.60351)
End: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 516 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.31 gal
42.82 L · about $43.42
Round trip
$86.84
22.62 gal · 85.64 L
Estimated CO2
100.5 kg one way
Round trip: 201 kg / 443 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.84 $43.42 $86.84
Mid-grade $4.35 $49.16 $98.33
Premium $4.72 $53.42 $106.83
Diesel $5.78 $65.33 $130.65

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Nacogdoches and Fort Smith. The current time is 11:42:30.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.