Fort Smith to New Orleans: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Fort Smith from New Orleans?

The distance from Fort Smith to New Orleans is 451.9 miles (727.3 km) as the crow flies. New Orleans is located SE of Fort Smith. By car, the driving distance is approximately 542.3 miles, taking about 10h 55min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 25min. Both are located in United States — Fort Smith in Arkansas and New Orleans in Louisiana.

This is a solid day of driving. Be sure to take breaks every 2-3 hours to avoid driver fatigue, and plan your meals ahead of time. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility.

Coordinates come from public place data for Fort Smith and New Orleans. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.