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

The driving distance from Paragould, AR to Fort Smith, AR is about 280.9 miles (452.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 223.7 miles (360 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 45m 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
280.91 mi
04h 22m
Flight
223.69 mi
360 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Paragould.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
223.69 mi
Kilometers
360 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
280.91 mi
Kilometers
452.08 km
Drive Time
04h 22m

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 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Smith
Fri, May 1, 11:51 AM CDT
Return by in Paragould
Fri, May 1, 4:13 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Paragould
2026-05-01T07:28
Arrive Fort Smith
Fri, May 1, 11:51 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:23 AM to 12:23 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
8:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Paragould
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
Vilonia
AR

City in Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States of America

From Paragould
140.4 mi
02h 11m
To Fort Smith
140.6 mi
02h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Friday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNE
Destination
65°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Winchester

    971 ft · 45 sec · Winchester

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Hayes Place

    72 m · 16 sec · Hayes Place

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Hunt Street

    1113 ft · 32 sec · West Hunt Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North 14th Street

    15 m · 2 sec · North 14th Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West Hunt Street

    77 m · 14 sec · West Hunt Street

  6. 6

    Turn left

    1202 ft · 20 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto West Court Street

    2070 ft · 41 sec · West Court Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto West Kings Highway

    24.5 mi · 29 min · West Kings Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit left

    94.7 mi · 1 hr 39 min

  10. 10

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

    2037 ft · 50 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on US 64 West: Conway

    32.6 mi · 42 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit straight

    2355 ft · 57 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    118.6 mi · 1 hr 59 min

  14. 14

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

    6.5 mi · 8 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Grand Avenue

    1259 ft · 34 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Grand Avenue

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
17 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 64 West
152 mi · 54%
West Kings Highway
119 mi · 42%
I 540 South
6.53 mi · 2%
Grand Avenue
2.14 mi · 1%
West Court Street
0.39 mi
West Hunt Street
0.26 mi
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

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 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+57.2 mi
223.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vilonia
02h 11m from Paragould
Leave By
8:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Paragould and Chance Rain Showers near Fort Smith.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 280.9 miles (452.1 km) and usually takes 04h 22m 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?

Vilonia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 140.4 miles from Paragould and 140.6 miles from Fort Smith.

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

The direct path is about 223.7 miles (360 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.2 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 8:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.53 one way or $75.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Paragould and Chance Rain Showers near Fort Smith.

Stop Ideas Near Vilonia

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

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

RAIL

Little Rock Union Station

38 mi away
1400 West Markham Street
RAIL

Malvern station

97 mi away
200 East First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Paragould and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 223.69 mi (360 km).

Paragould

#1 Paragould

City in Arkansas, USA

Population29,257
Coordinates36.0584000, -90.4973300
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: Winchester (-90.497416, 36.058463)
End: Grand Avenue (-94.39855, 35.385923)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 452 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.91 gal
37.52 L · about $37.53
Round trip
$75.06
19.82 gal · 75.04 L
Estimated CO2
88.1 kg one way
Round trip: 176.1 kg / 388 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.79 $37.53 $75.06
Mid-grade $4.26 $42.21 $84.41
Premium $4.63 $45.83 $91.67
Diesel $5.42 $53.66 $107.33

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 · May 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Paragould and Fort Smith. The current time is 07:28:51.

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.