Arkansas
Ozarks
Arkansas Byways
Arkansas established a state scenic byways program with the designation of the Scenic 7 Byway in 1993. From Civil War battlefields, regional wildlife habitats, and charming towns, Arkansas’ scenic byways display the state’s visual and cultural beauty. Arkansas is home to 11 scenic byways, three of which are federally designated, including the Great River Road, an All-American Road. The Great River Road was established as a parkway alongside the Mississippi River and stretches 362 miles through Arkansas. Travelers can experience the impressive natural landscape while better understanding the
Mississippi River’s role in shaping the nation.
Key Points
- Arkansas boasts 11 scenic byways, including three national scenic by-ways and eight state scenic byways.
- Travel and tourism are the second largest industry in Arkansas and a 2019 report shows that travel generated $1.42 billion in payroll, sup-porting 68,955 jobs.
- The same report identifies roadways and the physical beauty of the state as some of the key drivers for the success of the industry.
Arkansas Byways
Map Key:
- All-American Roads
- National Scenic Byways
- State Scenic Byways
All-American Roads
National Scenic Byways
Byways Provide Access to Public Lands
Arkansas byways provide access to the state’s most spectacular public lands, including one national park, 36 state parks, three national historic sites, three national forests, and one national recreational trail.
About the National Scenic Byways Program
The National Scenic Byways Program, established by Congress in 1991, recognizes historic, scenic, and culturally important roads, all of which promote economic development and tourism in communities around the U.S. There are more than 1,200 byways in all 50 states.
All scenic byways exhibit one or more of six core intrinsic qualities — scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, archaeological, or natural. For a road to be named a national scenic byway, it must first be designated a state, tribal, or federal agency scenic byway. Once achieving that, a road may apply for national scenic byway designation, but its intrinsic quality must be of regional significance. All-American Roads are the very best of the national scenic byways, demonstrating at least two intrinsic qualities of national significance.