Drive or Fly: Camden, AR to Fort Smith, AR?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for ELD–FSM. At 209 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 32m

Distance

209.9 mi

Total Cost

$81

CO2

85 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$46

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 6m

18m in the air

Air Distance

153 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Camden, AR → ELD 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FSM → Fort Smith, AR 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Camden, AR ELD — South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field 25 mi, ~38m drive

Fort Smith, AR FSM — Fort Smith Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ELD and FSM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	4h 32m	3h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$81	$181
Carbon footprint	85 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

209.9 mi 4h 32m

via US 71, AR 7, US 270B

Alternative (+7 min)

255.1 mi 4h 39m

via US 65, US 167, US 79

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Camden, AR to Fort Smith, AR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.