Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway
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Scenic 7: Among the Most Scenic Drives in America
Route: 290 miles
Arkansas’ first scenic byway starts at the state’s southern border near El Dorado and runs roughly 290 miles north to Harrison. Nearly spanning the entire state and passing through four geographic regions, Scenic 7 Byway is one of the most scenic drives in America.
The route begins within the dense pine and cypress of the West Gulf Coastal Plain, a region that saw an oil boom beginning in 1921 near El Dorado. The highway passes the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in nearby Smackover, where visitors can learn more about the South Arkansas oil boom.
The road continues north to Camden and, near Arkadelphia, enters the rolling peaks and valleys of the Ouachita Mountains. This region is famous for its quartz crystals and clear mountain streams. Here, the route passes 13,400-acre DeGray Lake, home to Arkansas' only resort state park.
At Hot Springs, AR 7 passes through the historic downtown and in front of the famed Bathhouse Row of Hot Springs National Park. This resort town is known for its thermal waters, wellness culture, and historic and modern spas. With five lakes in the region, it’s also a popular destination for fishing, boating and water sports. Resorts and marinas are located on the lakes for lodging, boat rentals, bait, tackle, snacks and more. Mountain bike trails are prevalent here too.
The route snakes through the Ouachita National Forest, the South's oldest and largest national forest at 1.8 million acres. Hiking trails and campgrounds developed by the U.S. Forest Service make the scenic points in these woodlands accessible.
From the Ouachitas, the byway winds its way into the Arkansas River Valley, featuring rich farmland and patches of woodlands. To the west, Mount Nebo can be seen in the distance as you head into the cities of Dardanelle and Russellville. Shopping and dining are plentiful along this stretch, and Lake Dardanelle State Park is located just off the scenic byway.
Leaving the valley, Scenic 7 climbs into the Ozark Mountain region, known for spring-fed rivers, clear lakes and towering limestone bluffs. The Ozark National Forest and its rugged ridgelines dominate the drive, with dogwood, maple, redbud, serviceberry and witchhazel setting the hillsides ablaze each spring and fall.
Popular with motorcyclists, this section of the route sharply twists, particularly as it wends its way beside the incredible vista known as the “Grand Canyon of the Ozarks” right before it reaches the small town square of Jasper. Located near the Buffalo National River, the area is full of natural beauty and outdoor opportunities like hiking, canoeing, caving, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
About 20 miles to the north, hanging baskets of flowers and awnings accentuate old brick storefronts lining Harrison’s downtown square, part of a national historic district anchored by the 1909 Boone County Courthouse and the restored 1929 Hotel Seville. The official end point of Scenic 7 Byway, Harrison pairs that history with a growing contemporary side of local eateries, clothing boutiques, art galleries, antique dealers and lodging.
While its official northern point is Harrison, there are plenty of beautiful pastoral views if you follow AR 7 north another 20 miles, where it ends at the lakeside community of Diamond City.
Scenic Connections
Scenic 7 can be connected to two other Arkansas scenic byways: the West-Northwest Scenic Byway (it intersects in Ola) and the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway (at Jasper take AR 74 to Ponca, then AR 43 to the top of the route).