Go Off The Beaten Path On This Stunning Arkansas Highway
By J.B. VanDyke|Published July 18, 2017
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J.B. VanDyke
Author
J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread.
Highway 7 was Arkansas’s very first scenic byway to be designated by the state, and that’s because it’s a real looker. The route begins in south Arkansas, near El Dorado. Highway 7 travels through four of Arkansas’s most scenic geographical regions. This incredibly scenic drive really does show you the best of the Natural State. With some great little towns along the way and breathtaking views of the Natural State’s best features, driving this road makes for one spectacular tour of Arkansas. I recommend giving yourself a few days to enjoy all its wonders.
Please note, Cliff House Inn is temporarily closed.
To see the highway on a map and plan your route, click here.
Highway 7 begins on Arkansas’s West Gulf Plain, right near the old southern Arkansas boomtown, El Dorado. The highway then winds through the gorgeous Ouachitas, taking you through some of the prettiest forested mountains in Arkansas.
If you’re looking to explore downtown Hot Springs, part of Highway 7 will take you through there as well. In fact, if you’re thinking of driving this highway as a road trip, that would be a good place to stop for the night.
There are some spots out in the Ouachitas that will make you feel like you’re way off the beaten path. This bridge near Arkadelphia, for example, is so very picturesque.
Near Russellville, Highway 7 begins to pass through a third geographical region, the Arkansas River Valley. If you stay on relatively slow-going Highway 7, you’ll pass through several towns between long stretches of lovely views, and this section is a good place to check out Feltner’s Whattaburger in Russellville.
The next region the road enters is the Ozarks, where you’ll drive a stretch through the gorgeous Ozark National Forest. You’re headed away from big towns and back out into the wild, where you really can feel a million miles away from it all.
You’re going to find the gorgeous small town of Jasper hiding along Highway 7, but before you get to that incredible Buffalo River town, you’re going to see a real showstopper—the Arkansas Grand Canyon.
I can't recommend the Arkansas Grand Canyon highly enough. I would also suggest staying the night at the Cliff House Inn, so you can catch a sunrise like this:
Speaking of the Buffalo National River, you’re going to pass by it on your journey, so you might as well stop and check it out, right? You can stop near the town of Pruitt to see the river. This picture was taken near Pruitt:
There are some truly incredible towns and natural wonders along the highway on Scenic 7, and you can feel a million miles away from it all as you explore.
