Drive or Fly: Manila, 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 JBR–FSM. At 290 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 23m

Distance

290.4 mi

Total Cost

$99

CO2

117 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$64

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 20m

29m in the air

Air Distance

240 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manila, AR → JBR 41m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FSM → Fort Smith, AR 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Manila, AR JBR — Jonesboro Municipal Airport 27 mi, ~41m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 3m compared to driving

+ 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	5h 23m	3h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$99	$185
Carbon footprint	117 kg CO₂	61 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 21, 2026.

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