Discover the Top 10 Scenic Byways in Arkansas for a Relaxing Road Trip (2024)

While stuck in traffic or traveling on regular roads every day, did you ever feel exhausted and want to escape immediately? Did your eyes crave the green landscape? Did you ever want to feel the fresh air on a quiet road?

Then it’s high time to grab a ticket to the most beautiful byways of Arkansas. The overall experience of enjoying the scenic beauty far from the chaos while you’re on a long drive is unmatched. To get these feelings, you need to know all about the byways in Arkansas where you can spend some great time alone, with friends, or with family. Know about the destination, its features, and all the important guidelines about the tour to arrange a worry-free road trip for yourself.

Discover the Top 10 Scenic Byways in Arkansas for a Relaxing Road Trip

1. Crowley’s Ridge Parkway

A national scenic byway from 1998, Crowley’s Ridge Parkway follows the natural beauties of the northeast and east-central Arkansas. The route begins from Helena-West Helena by the Mississippi River and continues till the town of Kennett. This ridge has a unique geological formation with a crescent shape that rises 170 m above the alluvial plain of the Mississippi embayment. Apart from this, the byway includes St. Francis National Forest, the Mississippi River, and the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Tourists can also visit some of the most popular points in Arkansas like the National Register of Historic Places properties, Civil War battlefields, etc.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• A combination of 17 national highways like United States highways, Arkansas state highways, Missouri state routes, etc.
• It is a 212-mile-long route with both natural as well as cultural attractions to visit. You can see upland hardwood forests, farmland, and orchards on the way.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Piggott
• Paragould
• Jonesboro
• Wynne
• Forrest City
• Marianna
• West Helena
• Helena

2. The Great River Road

Driving beside the elegant Mississippi river is no more a dream as the Great River Road is open to all tourists now. This route is extended in 13 states in the USA from Louisiana to Minnesota. On the way, you’ll encounter how society is developed around a river. The Arkansas part begins at the Louisiana border on US Highway 65 and ends on Highway 61 to Missouri. There are different spots to visit like Delta Cultural Center, Lakeport Plantation, Arkansas Post National Memorial, and WWII Japanese American Internment Museum.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• This is a 362-mile road with a combination of 13 different highways across different states.
• One part of this national scenic byway in Arkansas is known as the Delta which is part of the nation’s most immense alluvial plain.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Red Wing, Minnesota
• Twin Cities, Minnesota
• Dubuque, Iowa
• Hannibal, Missouri

3. Pig Trail Scenic Byway

Pig Trail Scenic Byway or HW-23 offers a natural scope to get relaxed on a long drive, amidst a beautiful landscape. The route is extended from Elm Park in central Arkansas through the Ozarks and ends at the Missouri state line. It might feel like riding a roller coaster as there are many steep inclines and sharp curves. There are two different explanations for the name Pig Trail. One of the reasons is its use as a shortcut for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks fans traveling to Fayetteville. Another reason is the twisty roads as the tail of a wild hog.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• Tourists can enjoy a refreshing road trip as the trees crowd the roadside, creating a shady corridor during the summer in some areas and displaying stunning fall colors.
• Ozark National Forest near I-40 is a must-visit during this trip.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Fayetteville
• Clarksville

4. Mount Magazine Scenic Byway

Arkansas State Highway 309 is another recognized byway that is filled with the state’s natural beauty. Starting from the town of Havana, this road ascent through 2,753 feet in Arkansas and then ends in Paris. Upon reaching the top of Mount Magazine, there is Mount Magazine State Park. From the peak, the serene view of Blue Mountain Lake and the Ouachita Mountains to the south is amazing. In addition, there are Arkansas River Valley and the Ozark Mountains to the north of the park. The town of Paris is known as “the gateway to Mount Magazine.” which played an important role in the mining industry.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• There are multiple destinations to stop by like Cove Lake Recreation area, lookup points, a community of Havana, etc.
• At the end of the byway, there is a smaller, mostly rural place with only 300 or so residents where you can pay a visit.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Paris
• Havana
• Webb City

5. Talimena Scenic Drive

This route starts from Highway 88 and continues to Highway 71 in Mena to the Oklahoma State Line. It climbs to the ridge of Rich Mountain with an elevation of 2,681 feet and passes through Queen Wilhelmina State Park. On the way, there is Oklahoma State Line on its way 18 miles to the west. Visiting the Ouachita Mountains and Ouachita National Forest is a must while you take this route to enjoy a long drive. It is best to visit this road during spring to get the best visual experience.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• This 54-mile science byway of Arkansas is much more popular and Talimena Scenic Drive Association offers personalized merchandise.
• Even though this route is comparatively shot than other byways, it is considered the best way for motorcycle riders to get the premier feelings of colorful fall foliage.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Fort Smith
• Hot Springs
• Mehna
• Heavner, Oklahoma
• Broken Bow, Oklahoma
• Talihina, Oklahoma
• Poteau, Oklahoma

6. Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway

This route is referred to as the “highlands route” because of its versatile extensions through the traversing ridges between headwaters of the major streams. It is stretched 21 km from the Ozark National Forest and north of Clarksville in Johnson County. There are popular tourist destinations like Arkansas communities of Harrison, Jasper, Berryville, Eureka Springs, Upper Buffalo Wilderness, and Buffalo National River in Newton County on the way. Sometimes tourists may encounter different animals from a distance like white-tail deer, wild turkeys, black bears, songbirds, and squirrels.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• While following this route, you can experience panoramic views, colorful flora, and rugged terrain of green landscape.
• This 35-mile road offers a combination of picturesque beauty, cultural destinations, and an abundance of sparkling springs, waterfalls, lakes, caves, caverns, and sinks.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Van Buren
• Fort Smith
• Russellville
• Fayetteville
• Springdale
• Rogers
• Siloam Springs
• Bentonville

7. Camden Expedition Scenic Byway

One of the most recently recognized state byways, this route promotes the heritage and Civil War tourism in the communities that were impacted by the Camden Expedition of 1864. Multiple regions of Arkansas including Little Rock, Benton, Malvern, Rockport, Okolona, Prescott, Washington, Camden, Fordyce, Sheridan, Prattsville, etc are surrounded by Camden Expedition byway. Tourists can visit the significant historic spots of Arkansas like Washington State Park, Poison Springs Battleground State Park; Mark’s Mill Battleground State Park; and Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• Unlike other byways, this is a newly recognized route. Also, there are fewer natural sceneries to enjoy. Rather, it has a historic significance.
• The whole route forms a loop from Little Rock and goes southwest to Old Washington State Park in Hempstead County. Then, it returns to Prescott and proceeds east along HW 24 to Camden. Then, the route turns North in Fordyce and continues to HW 8/9 to Tulip before going northeast along HW 46 to Leola and Sheridan. At Sheridan, it proceeds to Benton before returning to Little Rock.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Helena
• Little Rock
• Camden
• Washington
• Benton

8.Boston Mountains Scenic Loop

Starting from the small town of Alma all the way to Fayetteville, the Boston Mountains Scenic loop has a spectacular view to offer. These mountains have all the facilities including shops and mountaintop lodging. Get great views of the oak-hickory forested mountains and small farms nestled in the valleys from this highest section of the Ozarks. Although this road is constructed through very rugged terrain in the Ozark Mountains, it includes several high-span bridges and Arkansas’s only highway tunnel, the Bobby Hopper Tunnel.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• Both Highway 71 and I-49 are included in this route whereas Hw 71 has less traffic. However, this route has some more twists and turns.
• You can enjoy the natural beauty of the mountain and river valley throughout the route.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Alma
• Fayetteville
• Springdale
• Rogers
• Bentonville
• Harrison

9.National Scenic 7 Byway

The first scenic byway of Arkansas is stretched from the Louisiana state line to Arkadelphia with 290 miles of length. As you start the journey, the coastal plain region of southern Arkansas with dense pine forests and numerous river valleys covered with bottomland hardwood forests would make the ride fulfilling. After that, there are Distinctive mountain sceneries to complement the view on the go. The intense green of Ozark and Ouachita National Forests would make the visitors relaxed and fresh. Also, there are multiple recreation areas providing opportunities to camp, hike, mountain bike, canoe, and ride horses.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• As you see the range of Ouachita Mountain on this byway, know that it’s the only mountain range in the U.S. whose ridges and valleys are oriented west to east of the country with distinct natural variations.
• Along with wide valleys, there are rich agricultural lands, timbered mountains, and abundant wildlife to visit between the long drive of around 60 miles. If you visit this road during fall, the forest of Ozrak mountain turns to different colors contrasted by bright green pines and in the spring the dogwoods, redbuds, wild plums, and wildflowers bloom.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Lead Hill
• Arkadelphia
• Harrison

10.Sylamore Scenic Byway

This is one of the shortest byways compared to the other roads suggested till now, but it is worth being in the top 10 byways of Arkansas. It begins at Calico Rock and proceeds along Blanchard Springs Caverns. Highways 5 and 14 and Forest Service Road 1110 are included in this byway. You can enjoy the exquisite beauty of the Ozrak forest throughout the trip and follow the changing landscape of rugged limestone bluffs and cedar glade outcrops.

What The Byway Offers Exceptionally?

• There are popular Blanchard Springs Caverns on the route that is managed for many years as one of the unique features of the national forest of Ozrak.
• There are natural beauties like limestone bluffs, creeks and rivers, waterfalls, panoramic views of Oak/Hickory forests, and short-leaf pine stands. On the other hand, there are multiple significant spots like Sugarloaf Fire Tower and Stone House.

Cities Where You Can Stay:

• Calico Rock
• Allison

Conclusion

To absorb some fresh air and roam around the offbeat sports of Arkansas would lift your mood for sure. All the ten byways are rich in natural beauty and historic significance and offer unique places to explore. For a pre-planned road trip, you can also search for nearby places to stay so you can enjoy the byways to the fullest. You will find all the cities within reach in this article so you don’t need to spend much time planning one of the best road trips yet.