How far is Paducah, KY from Fort Smith, AR?

The driving distance from Paducah, KY to Fort Smith, AR is about 439.2 miles (706.9 km), with a travel time of about 08h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 343.7 miles (553.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 22m 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
439.22 mi
08h 11m
Flight
343.71 mi
553.14 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Paducah.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
343.71 mi
Kilometers
553.14 km
Flight Time
00h 41m

Driving Distance

Road route
439.22 mi
Kilometers
706.86 km
Drive Time
08h 11m

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 08h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Smith
Mon, Jul 27, 12:56 AM CDT
Return by in Paducah
Mon, Jul 27, 9:07 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Paducah
2026-07-26T16:45
Arrive Fort Smith
Mon, Jul 27, 12:56 AM CDT
Route Timing
08h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:11 PM to 3:41 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
7:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Paducah
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
Campbell Station
AR

Human settlement in Jackson County, Arkansas, United States of America

From Paducah
219.5 mi
04h 05m
To Fort Smith
219.8 mi
04h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, Jul 26 5:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 mph SSW
Destination
103°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Jul 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Washington Street

    49 m · 9 sec · Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South 7th Street

    127 m · 26 sec · South 7th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Kentucky Avenue

    814 ft · 18 sec · Kentucky Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South 9th Street

    2890 ft · 1 min · South 9th Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Park Avenue

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Park Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Hinkleville Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Hinkleville Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Hinkleville Road

    10.8 mi · 14 min · Hinkleville Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Kentucky Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Kentucky Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Paducah Road

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Paducah Road

  10. 10

    Continue on East Kentucky Drive

    1.6 km · 1 min · East Kentucky Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on Paducah Road

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Paducah Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Broadway

    1 km · 49 sec · Broadway

  13. 13

    Turn left onto South 4th Street

    6.1 mi · 7 min · South 4th Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Lee Street

    724 ft · 9 sec · Lee Street

  15. 15

    Continue on 4th Street

    1112 ft · 19 sec · 4th Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Green Street

    2474 ft · 1 min · Green Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Cairo Road

    4.4 mi · 7 min · Cairo Road

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Sikeston

    12.4 mi · 16 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit left

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    6.1 mi · 7 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    29.1 mi · 33 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right

    68 m · 6 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto West Main Street

    27.3 mi · 31 min · West Main Street

  24. 24

    Continue straight

    12.4 mi · 14 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight left

    1.3 km · 2 min

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    94.7 mi · 1 hr 38 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward US 64 West, I 57 Business North: Beebe, Conway

    2037 ft · 50 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on US 64 West: Conway

    32.6 mi · 42 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit straight

    2355 ft · 57 sec

  30. 30

    Merge slight left

    118.6 mi · 1 hr 59 min

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right toward I 540 South, US 71 South: Fort Smith

    6.5 mi · 8 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue

    1259 ft · 34 sec

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Grand Avenue

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Paducah 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
34 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 64 West
152 mi · 35%
West Main Street
135 mi · 31%
Sikeston
106 mi · 24%
Hinkleville Road
11.8 mi · 3%
Paducah Road
7.38 mi · 2%
I 540 South
6.53 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

US 64 West

Merge slight left

119 mi · 01h 59m

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
08h 11m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+95.5 mi
343.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Campbell Station
04h 05m from Paducah
Leave By
7:38 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Paducah and Sunny near Fort Smith.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 439.2 miles (706.9 km) and usually takes 08h 11m 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?

Campbell Station is a useful midpoint, sitting about 219.5 miles from Paducah and 219.8 miles from Fort Smith.

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

The direct path is about 343.7 miles (553.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 95.5 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 $58.45 one way or $116.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 137.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Paducah and Sunny near Fort Smith.

Stop Ideas Near Campbell Station

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

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

RAIL

Walnut Ridge

52 mi away
109 Southwest Front Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Paducah and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 343.71 mi (553.14 km).

Paducah

#1 Paducah

City in McCracken County, Kentucky, United States

Population24,883
Coordinates37.0833900, -88.6000500
Altitude104
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: Paducah (-88.60005, 37.08339)
End: Fort Smith (-94.39855, 35.38592)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 707 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.5 gal
58.67 L · about $58.45
Round trip
$116.90
31 gal · 117.34 L
Estimated CO2
137.7 kg one way
Round trip: 275.5 kg / 607 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $58.45 $116.90
Mid-grade $4.25 $65.92 $131.84
Premium $4.65 $72.14 $144.27
Diesel $5.30 $82.21 $164.42

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 Kentucky · Jul 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Paducah and Fort Smith. The current time is 16:45:00.

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.