Six Epic Weekend Drives in Northwest Arkansas

Boston Mountains Scenic Loop

Fayetteville to Alma

Following the westernmost leg of the former Butterfield stagecoach and mail route that once joined Northwest Arkansas to Little Rock, West Memphis and points East, the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop is a beautiful, 80-mile drive that follows U.S. 71 and Interstate 40. Looping up, around, over and through the Boston Mountains, the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop is a favorite for sports car and motorcycle enthusiasts, traveling through Mountainburg, Winslow, West Fork, Greenland, Fayetteville and other picturesque towns, and passing close to multiple areas of natural wonder, including Lake Fort Smith State Park and Devil’s Den State Park before ending in the small community of Dean’s Market near Alma. Along the way are some of the most beautiful and breathtaking vistas in the whole country, with plentiful places to shop, eat and get out into nature.

Talimena National Scenic Byway

Mena to Talihina, Oklahoma

The Talimena National Scenic Byway, which stretches 54 miles between Mena, Arkansas and Talihina, Oklahoma is a great way to take in the geographic and geologic diversity and splendor of Northwest Arkansas. The route follows Arkansas Highway 88 northwest from Mena through the Ouachita National Forest before scaling Rich Mountain, the state’s second highest peak, before continuing through Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Continuing into Oklahoma, where it becomes Oklahoma Route 1, the Talimena Scenic Drive continues through the Winding Stair mountains until it reaches Talihina, Okla., a quaint town full of shops, antique stores and restaurants founded after the Frisco Railroad expanded its tracks there in 1886. The name comes from two Choctaw words: Tully and Hena, meaning “Iron Road,” a nod to the town’s railroad boomtown origins.

Pig Trail Scenic Byway

Interstate 40 near Ozark to Brashears

Before the construction of Interstate 540 sped up the trip from Central Arkansas to Fayetteville considerably, the only way to get to Fayetteville from points south was via the winding, looping, car-sickness inducing highway between Ozark and Fayetteville that was long ago christened “The Pig Trail” by Razorback football fans heading up for home games. Though the journey could be arduous for those not used to the twisty route north, it also took drivers through some of the most beautiful spots in the Ozarks, especially in the fall of the year when the foliage was ablaze with color. These days, the Pig Trail Scenic byway isn’t as heavily traveled, but the scenery is still excellent, crossing both the Mulberry River and the Ozark Highlands Trail. as it winds through Franklin and Madison County.

Scenic Highway 7

Harrison to the Louisiana border near El Dorado

One of the longest continuous highways in the state, Scenic Highway 7 was also the state’s first designated scenic byway, traveling all the way from Harrison in North Arkansas to El Dorado in South Arkansas before crossing the Louisiana border, and passing by some of the state’s most beautiful places, including De Gray Lake, Hot Springs National Park, and the Ouachita Mountains, for a total distance of almost 300 miles. While you might not want to take a road trip quite THAT long, the North Arkansas portion of Scenic Highway 7 is one of the most epic drives in the U.S., looping through heavy forests, over mountains and through valleys while passing picturesque towns like Jasper and crossing the pristine beauty of the Buffalo National River.

Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway

Clarksville to the Buffalo River near Boxley

At only 35 miles, the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway may not match Scenic Highway 7 for length, but it’s surely got natural beauty and lovely vistas to spare. Long a go-to route for motorcyclists and those just looking for a cruise along twisting roads in the great outdoors, the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway follows Arkansas Highway 21 up from Clarksdale, through the tiny communities of Ludwig, Ozone and Fallsville before winding its way to the Buffalo River near Boxley, near where four other important and scenic Arkansas rivers and streams also find their headwaters: the White River, the Kings River, The Mulberry River and Big Piney Creek. Traveling up and down several hundred feet along its route, the Ozark Highlands Byway is a particular fave in the fall of the year.

Mount Magazine Scenic Byway

Havana to Mount Magazine State Park near Paris

While the old Marvin Gaye tune features a lovesick crooner saying there ain’t no mountain high enough to keep him from getting to the one he loves, it would have to be a heck of a relationship to make one scale Mt. Magazine, Arkansas’s highest peak, at 2,753 feet. The 45-mile Mount Magazine Scenic Byway takes North Arkansas drivers on a pilgrimage to the mountain, travelling along State Highway 309 and climbing down from the Ozarks and into the Ouachitas before arriving at Mt. Magazine State Park, which features hiking, mountain biking, camping and -- for those with more refined tastes -- the magnificent Lodge at Mount Magazine, with luxury accommodations, an indoor pool, an on-site restaurant, and commanding views of the surrounding countryside.