Fort Smith

Understand

In 1817 Fort Smith was established as a military fort next to Indian territory in Oklahoma to keep the peace between the native Osage tribes and the recently relocated Cherokee groups. It is at the junction of the Arkansas river and the Poteau river at a place that early French explorers called Belle Point. The military fort was named after General Thomas A. Smith, the military's district commander. The military later relocated to nearby Fort Chaffee but the civilian settlers remained keeping the name of the fort and establishing a western frontier town that was often the last genteel layover for people from all walks of life before excursions into Indian Oklahoma including soldiers en route to the Mexican War in the Southwest.

Later Fort Smith became a popular stop for westward expansionists, gold rush diggers, and those seeking better opportunities due to the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 20th century.

Today as the second largest city in the state, the municipality and surrounding area is a major economic hub for the state of Arkansas with many major corporations with roots in the city still in operation and employing thousands. The downtown area and commercial zones are usually busy with voluminous traffic most days but beyond that you will find quiet residential zones and woods. Due to economic trends in the U.S. economy, some major factories and plants have closed and/or moved resulting in a swelling of the unemployed population and an uptick in local taxes.

Get in

By plane

Go Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM)

Service by American Eagle from Dallas/Fort Worth, and Delta Connection from Atlanta.

⚠ Last checked Apr 2020 — confirm before you go

MapsWebsite☆ Want to go

• Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) near Bentonville, is about an hour and a half from Fort Smith.
• Tulsa International Airport (TUL) (in Oklahoma) and Little Rock International Airport (LIT) are both about a two-hour drive away.

By train

Fort Smith does not have passenger rail service. The nearest cities with Amtrak stations are Oklahoma City, which is the northern terminus of the Heartland Flyer to Fort Worth; and Little Rock, which is served by the Texas Eagle San Antonio - Chicago route.

By car

Fort Smith is at the intersection of Interstate 40, Interstate 540, and US Route 71. Approximate driving times are: 2 hours and 30 minutes west of Little Rock, 1 hour south of Fayetteville, and 3 hours east of Oklahoma City.

By bus

The Jefferson Lines provides bus service to the east, west and north.

Get around

The best way to get around and see Fort Smith is by car. Also, public transport is provided by Fort Smith Transit. Although Fort Smith is Arkansas' second largest city, it is relatively compact and getting around shouldn't be much of a problem.

Learn

• University of Arkansas—Fort Smith, 5210 Grand Ave., +1 479 788-7000 Fort Smith's local university branch.

Stay safe

Check the Tornado safety page if you are visiting Fort Smith. A tornado ripped through downtown Fort Smith on April 21, 1996 killing two people.

Fort Smith is the 6th-most hit city by tornados in the US

Respect

• Being so close to a number of military installations and bases the area boasts a large number of military families.
• The city is in a very GOP concentrated district as opposed to the rest of the state, though changing political trends for both parties have caught up to the area.
• Church attendance is very high and religious expression often encouraged but residents are often respectful if one politely declines their invitations to services. There are also small nonreligious secular social groups nearby, notably in Fayetteville, if that's one's preference.
• Being near many rural communities and woodlands one may come across, though rare, wildlife especially the nearer one is on the outskirts of the city. It is best advised to leave the wildlife be.
• Local county liquor laws prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sundays.
• Due to nation-wide economic changes several large scale employers have had to close or move. These events have hit the local residents very hard and as a result several have had to swallow their pride and accept public assistance.

Go next

• Talimena Drive from Talihina, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas 54-mile scenic drive in Oklahoma and Arkansas along the ridge of the Ouachita Mountains and the Ouachita National Forest. The drive has frequent turnouts so you can enjoy the scenery.
• Hot Springs Visit the national park and Oaklawn Park horse racing. Enjoy a thermal bath in the bath house of your choice.
• Eureka Springs 2-1/2 hours of Ozarks driving from Fort Smith. Take the guided tram tour of the historic area. Visit Christ of the Ozarks monument and Passion Play grounds. Enjoy the Little Switzerland of the Ozarks.
• Branson is a 3-hour drive and in the heart of the Ozarks. Visit some of the craft shops, see a show, shop the outlet malls and take a ride on the Branson Scenic Railway. Be sure and visit the Veteran Memorial Museum.
• Altus, a wine-producing town, is a short drive east from Fort Smith on Interstate 40 or US Route 64. It is known best as the setting of The Simple Life. Don't forget to visit the wineries, though, and while you're at it, wine tasting is also a great idea. While in Altus, it worth stopping to see the interior of St. Mary's Catholic Church. The church is decorated with elaborate frescos that were painted by a German artist who was stranded in the United States following the outbreak of World War I.
• Buffalo National River, about three hours from Fort Smith, is a popular place for boating and fishing.