How far is Waco, TX from Fort Smith, AR?
The driving distance from Waco, TX to Fort Smith, AR is about 372.2 miles (599 km), with a travel time of about 06h 49m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 308.8 miles (496.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 38m 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 06h 49m.
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.
Town in Bryan County, Oklahoma, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waco and Fort Smith.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waco and Fort Smith.
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1
Start on West Waco Drive
3.4 mi · 7 min · West Waco Drive
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2
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
706 ft · 16 sec · North Interstate 35
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3
Take the ramp straight toward I 35 North, US 77 North
1458 ft · 36 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
32.8 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
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5
Keep slight right to continue on I 35E: Dallas
56.2 mi · 58 min
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
2094 ft · 42 sec
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7
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
129 m · 6 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
2206 ft · 33 sec
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9
Keep slight left to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana
117 m · 6 sec
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10
Continue on East R L Thornton Freeway
1.2 km · 1 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
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11
Take the exit slight right toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
2421 ft · 46 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on US 75 North: McKinney
2512 ft · 1 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
1697 ft · 27 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Julius Schepps Freeway
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15
Continue on North Central Expressway
45 mi · 48 min · North Central Expressway
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16
Continue on South Henry Hynds Expressway
10.1 mi · 10 min · South Henry Hynds Expressway
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17
Continue on South Sam Rayburn Freeway
28.4 mi · 30 min · South Sam Rayburn Freeway
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18
Continue on US 69 North, US 75 North: Durant
1.1 mi · 1 min
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19
Continue on US 69 North, US 75 North: Durant
26.4 mi · 29 min
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20
Continue on US 69 North, US 75 North: Atoka
5.9 mi · 6 min
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21
Continue on South Jefferson Street
2.3 mi · 3 min · South Jefferson Street
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22
Continue straight
36.1 mi · 42 min
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23
Continue straight
11.6 mi · 16 min
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24
Keep slight left to continue on South George Nigh Expressway
40.5 mi · 45 min · South George Nigh Expressway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 East: Fort Smith
3139 ft · 1 min
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26
Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
59.7 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward US 64: Roland, Fort Smith
2140 ft · 53 sec
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28
Merge slight left onto West Ray Fine Boulevard
6.3 mi · 9 min · West Ray Fine Boulevard
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29
Turn left onto North 11th Street
1083 ft · 25 sec · North 11th Street
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30
Turn slight right onto Grand Avenue
1.1 mi · 2 min · Grand Avenue
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Grand Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waco and Fort Smith.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
Merge slight left onto Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway
59.7 mi · 01h 01m
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.
Sunny leaving Waco 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 Waco to Fort Smith?
The road trip is about 372.2 miles (599 km) and usually takes 06h 49m 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?
Calera is a useful midpoint, sitting about 186.3 miles from Waco and 185.9 miles from Fort Smith.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 308.8 miles (496.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.4 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 $49.62 one way or $99.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 116.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Waco and Sunny near Fort Smith.
Stop Ideas Near Calera
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 Calera.
Ardmore station
Gainesville
Pauls Valley
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waco and Fort Smith. Straight-line distance: 308.77 mi (496.91 km).
#1 Waco
The 11th most populous city in Texas.
| Population | 141,377 |
| Coordinates | 31.5493300, -97.1466700 |
| Altitude | 143 |
| 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: 599 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 18m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 38m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $49.62 | $99.24 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $55.83 | $111.66 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $60.28 | $120.56 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $52.43 | $104.86 |
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 · Aug 03, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.