Best scenic route from Hot Springs AR to Fayetteville?

Alabama Jim wrote:
If you get a chance go by Magazine Mountain State Park. We visited there a few years ago and found it beautiful. It is the highest point in Arkansas.

X 2 on Mt Magazine. Awesome campground!
Mt Magazine

Concur with suggestions about AR 7. Just don't be in a hurry. From the tone of your post I imagine that is what you have in mind. We have towed this route several times with our 34' fifth wheel.

More recently we have spent a few nights at Petit Jean State Park which we enjoyed very much. In fact, we plan to go back this Fall.

All our Arkansas roads were in good shape, they just follow the contour of the land which means "up and down and all around." We enjoyed them far better then the freeway, but we did allow for the time difference. That is the key, I believe, to enjoyment of Arkansas state highways.

Last year we traveled highway 7 from Hot Springs on our way to Petit Jean(sp ?)state park. We were not impressed with scenery on 7 but doable with 38' fifth wheel. I 49 is I 540 north from I 40 to Fayetteville and is now mostly complete to Kansas City. We traveled on to KC and it was a good road.

If you get a chance go by Magazine Mountain State Park. We visited there a few years ago and found it beautiful. It is the highest point in Arkansas.

RoyF wrote:
Try Hwy 7 north from Hot Springs, then Hwy 10 west, then Hwy 23 to I-40.

Do NOT take Hwy 23 north past I-40 -- the road is closed because of damage after recent heavy rains. Take I-49 (shown on old maps as I-540) north to Fayetteville.

Hwy 7 has excellent views of the Ouachita Mountains, but be prepared for mountain driving. Hwy 10 takes you past Mt. Magazine, elev. 2800 feet. If you take a side trip to the top of the mountain, I would drop the fiver because the road up from Hwy 10 is very steep with tight curves. (The road up from the other direction is less steep and ok for RVs.)

I-49 between I-40 and Fayetteville has good views of the Ozark Mountains, with one long and steep uphill grade.

Thanks Roy,
I'll plan on taking this route. Any idea how long of a drive it will be? Also how is hwy 71 that runs parallel with 540? I can't find 49.

Try Hwy 7 north from Hot Springs, then Hwy 10 west, then Hwy 23 to I-40.

Do NOT take Hwy 23 north past I-40 -- the road is closed because of damage after recent heavy rains. Take I-49 (shown on old maps as I-540) north to Fayetteville.

Hwy 7 has excellent views of the Ouachita Mountains, but be prepared for mountain driving. Hwy 10 takes you past Mt. Magazine, elev. 2800 feet. If you take a side trip to the top of the mountain, I would drop the fiver because the road up from Hwy 10 is very steep with tight curves. (The road up from the other direction is less steep and ok for RVs.)

I-49 between I-40 and Fayetteville has good views of the Ozark Mountains, with one long and steep uphill grade.