Drive or Fly: Van Buren, AR to Bella Vista, 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 FSM–XNA. At 85 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 37m

Distance

85.9 mi

Total Cost

$54

CO2

35 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$19

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

2h 41m

9m in the air

Air Distance

72 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Van Buren, AR → FSM 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

XNA → Bella Vista, AR 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Van Buren, AR FSM — Fort Smith Regional Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Bella Vista, AR XNA — Northwest Arkansas National Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FSM and XNA. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	1h 37m	2h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$54	$123
Carbon footprint	35 kg CO₂	18 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Van Buren, AR to Bella Vista, AR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.