Posted in Arkansas
August 07, 2019
These 9 Scenic Drives Tour Every Beautiful Corner Of Arkansas
You don’t have to stay inside a National Forest to enjoy Arkansas’ beauty. These 9 scenic drives take you every gorgeous corner of the state! Whether you’re on two wheels or four, everyone can enjoy the time-honored tradition of taking a drive in Arkansas. Let’s buckle up as we tour along every side of the state and see that beauty is around every corner.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Some Arkansans are fortunate enough to have this gorgeous scenic drive as part of their normal commute. The drive through the Boston Mountains includes the newer I-49 as well as Old Highway 71. Take a shopping trip in Fayetteville or loop around to Artist's Point near the Lake Fort Smith State Park. For a map of the drive, use this one.
Cruise along the southern border of Arkansas by taking the Hamburg Haul. This route is perfect for motorcycles but also offers enough stops (both delicious and educational) that a family road trip works well, too! The 186-mile trip begins in a tiny town called Taylor and ends further north in Fordyce. For a map and more details about the route, read this article.
Driving through the southeast corner of the state will reward you with a variety of attractions. This 113-mile drive takes you around the longest bayou in the nation - Bayou Bartholomew but that's not the only sight to see. History buffs will also be treated with the tour's stops to the Rohwer War Relocation Memorial and the WWII Japanese American Internment Museum. For a map of this route, use this one.
This treasured drive has a multitude of stops and gorgeous scenery. The highway was actually the state’s first designated scenic byway in 1993. After driving on any of its 290 miles, it’s easy to understand why it was chosen as the first. If you'd like to see more of the route and what to stop and see, read this article.
Endless outdoor activities await along this central scenic drive in Arkansas. The just under five hour drive takes you to the breathtaking overlooks in Pinnacle Mountain State Park as well as the fun-filled Greers Ferry Lake. You could easily turn this daytime drive into a week long excursion with weekend camping at both points. Use this map to plot out your journey.
If you're needing an alternate route to the state-long Scenic 7 Byway, the Jasper Disaster is the perfect compromise. The motorcycle route does include some of the scenic byway but takes a shorter loop through the Ozarks. For a map and more information you can read our full article right here.
Heading west, the Talimena Scenic Drive might just be the most iconic trip in the state. Although anytime is the right time to take this drive, there’s something particularly magical about fall. Plan to take this trip in about two months for jaw-dropping foliage colors and cooler temps to enjoy. The drive does extend into Oklahoma but we're a little bias towards the beauty of the drive in Mena. For an interactive map of the full drive, use this one.
The Talimena drive may stretch into Oklahoma but the Great River Road extends through ten state! The tour along the Mississippi River earned recognition in 2002 as a scenic byway but original construction began back in 1938. The Arkansas portion of this route takes you to the beautiful and educational points all along the Delta. If you'd like to see some of the highlights, read this article.
Our corners are covered but this wouldn't be a true Arkansas scenic drive article without mentioning the Pig Trail. This drive isn't just beloved by Arkansans, route is famous throughout the nation! It made USA Today's Top 10 best motorcycling routes in the country and was number two out of all North American routes. The trail begins just north of Ozark and ends at Brashears for a short but amazingly beautiful 37-mile drive.
Where’s your favorite place to tour around Arkansas? Share your favorite family drive or motorcycle ride with us in the comments below!
If you want to explore more than just the roads, we highly recommend taking this waterfall drive. You’ll be able to hike around three different falls! You could even add in more stops to have a wine and waterfall trail!
