Arkansas Highway 7

Highway 7
Route information
Maintained by AHTD
Length:	297.27 mi[1] (478.41 km)
Existed:	1926 – present
Major junctions
South end:	LA 558, Louisiana state line
	US 63 / US 167 near El Dorado US 79 / US 278 in Camden US 67 in Arkadelphia I-30 in Caddo Valley US 64 in Russellville I-40 in Russellville US 65B / AR 43 in Harrison US 62 / US 65 / US 412 in Harrison
North end:	Lead Hill Public Use Area, Diamond City
Location
Counties:	Union, Ouachita, Dallas, Clark, Hot Spring, Garland, Perry, Yell, Pope, Newton, Boone
Highway system
Arkansas Highway System Interstate US State Business Spurs Scenic Heritage Trails ← AR 6 AR 8 →

Highway 7 (AR 7, Ark. 7, Hwy. 7, and partially Scenic 7 Byway) is a north–south state highway that runs across the state. As Arkansas's longest state highway, the route runs 297.27 miles (478.41 km) from Louisiana Highway 558 at the Louisiana state line north to Bull Shoals Lake at Diamond City near the Missouri state line.^[2][3] With the exception of the segment north of Harrison, Highway 7 has been designated as an Arkansas Scenic Byway and a National Forest Scenic Byway.^[4] The road passes through the heart of both the Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains, and features scenic views. It's the route favored by motorcycle riders touring the region.^[5]

Route description

AR 7 begins at the Louisiana state line near Lockhart, Louisiana. It runs north and meets US 63/US 167, which it forms a concurrency with until El Dorado. North of El Dorado AR 7 shoots a spur route named the Calion Cutoff. The route continues north to cross AR 335 before entering Smackover. Arkansas Highway 7 Business goes through downtown Smackover, while the main route runs around the town meeting AR 172.^[2] AR 7 continues northwest to enter Ouachita County. AR 7 runs roughly parallel to AR 376 until meeting the route south of Cullendale. The route continues north to Camden, when it intersects US 79/US 278 (formerly AR 4).^[6] AR 7 continues north through downtown and heads northwest to enter Dallas County.

Arkansas Highway 7 in historic Hot Springs National Park.

AR 7 enters Dallas County near Ouachita and continues north to meet AR 208 in Sparkman. The route continues north to AR 8/Dalark.^[7] AR 7 runs west after meeting AR 8, leading into Clark County. AR 7/AR 8 runs to meet AR 51/AR 128 east of Arkadelphia. In Arkadelphia, AR 7 meets US 67, which it follows north to Caddo Valley and Interstate 30.^[8] After crossing I-30, AR continues north through DeGray Lake Resort State Park, now entering Hot Spring County, where it meets AR 84 in Bismarck.^[9]

Highway 7 enters Garland County by crossing over Lake Hamilton and crossing through the community of Lake Hamilton. AR 7 continues into Hot Springs, crossing US 70/US 270. The route enters Hot Springs National Park with AR 128. The route meets AR 298 north of Hot Springs Village, running with it until an area near the Perry County line.^[10] The route runs through the Ouachita National Forest until the Fourche Junction meeting with AR 60.^[11]

The route continues in Yell County by running through Ola. The route meets AR 10 and AR 28 in Ola. AR 7 continues northeast to Centerville, meeting AR 154 and AR 247. AR 7 also meets AR 115 before Dardanelle.^[12] The route turns right at Union Street in Dardanelle, entering Pope County. The route continues through Russellville, meeting US 64 (Main Street) and O Street before leaving town. AR 7 also meets I-40 north of Russellville. Continuing north, AR 7 meets AR 164 in Dover.^[13] In the Ozark National Forest, AR 7 meets AR 16 and AR 123 before entering Newton County. AR 7 breaks north from AR 16 towards AR 74/Jasper.^[14] AR 7 crosses AR 206 upon entering Boone County. AR 7 enters Harrison, meeting AR 43, and having an officially designated exception over US 65 Business and US 62/US 65/US 412.^[15] It is after this point that the route is no longer designated scenic.^[3] The route continues to AR 14/Lead Hill before Diamond City, where the route terminates.

History

The route now known as Highway 7 first appears as a state maintained road in 1924, when the Arkansas General Assembly first created a federal aid system. Two main routes, State Road B-14 and State Road A-5 form a rough trail similar to the present-day Highway 7.^[16] Upon creation of the U.S. Route system in 1925, the north and south portions of the highway were replaced by U.S. Route 65 to Harrison and U.S. Route 167, respectively.^[17] Arkansas numbered its highways in 1926, and the route became Highway 7 (the north part of A-5 remains as Arkansas Highway 5).

Major intersections

Mile markers reset at concurrencies.

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Union	​	0.00	0.00	LA 558 south – Lockhart	Louisiana state line
	​	9.19	14.79	US 63 south / US 167 south – Junction City, Ruston, LA	South end of US 63 / US 167 overlap
	El Dorado			US 82 / AR 15 south – Magnolia, Crossett, South Arkansas Regional Airport	Interchange; US 82 exit 22; south end of freeway
				US 82B / US 167B north (Hillsboro Street)
				US 63 north – Warren	North end of US 63 overlap
	​			Champagnolle Road
	El Dorado	0.00	0.00	US 167 north / US 167B south – Fordyce, Little Rock, El Dorado Business District	Interchange; north end of US 167 overlap; north end of freeway
	​	2.79	4.49	AR 7S south (North West Avenue)
	​	3.16	5.09	AR 335 north – Norphlet, South Arkansas Regional Airport
	​	6.39	10.28	AR 7B north – Smackover
	Smackover	8.82	14.19	AR 172 west – Lisbon
	​	9.96	16.03	AR 160 – Mount Holly, Smackover
	​	11.18	17.99	AR 7B south – Smackover
Ouachita	​	13.11	21.10	AR 376 west – Louann
	​	22.14	35.63	AR 376
	Camden	24.57	39.54	AR 376 east	South end of AR 376 overlap
		24.69	39.73	AR 376 west (Fairview Road) – Magnolia	North end of AR 376 overlap
		27.06	43.55	US 79 / US 278 to AR 24 – Hope, Pine Bluff, Little Rock, White Oak Lake State Park	Interchange
		28.33	45.59	US 79B south (Van Buren Street)	South end of US 79B overlap
	​	0.00	0.00	US 79B north – Fordyce	North end of US 79B overlap
Dallas	Ouachita	20.13	32.40	AR 207 north – Pine Grove
	Sparkman	25.33	40.76	AR 128 east (Main Street) – Holly Springs, Sparkman Business District
	​	34.03	54.77	AR 8 east – Manning, Fordyce	South end of AR 8 overlap
Clark	Gravel Junction	38.71	62.30	AR 128 west – Joan
	Daleville	46.17	74.30	AR 51 north – Joan	South end of AR 51 overlap
	Arkadelphia			US 67 south	South end of US 67 overlap
				AR 8 west / AR 51 south (Pine Street) to I-30 – Antoine, Amity	North end of AR 8 / AR 51 overlap
	Caddo Valley	0.00	0.00	US 67 north – Malvern	North end of US 67 overlap
		0.20	0.32	I-30 – Texarkana, Little Rock	I-30 exit 78
		0.33	0.53	AR 390 west – Arkadelphia Human Development Center, Lower Lake Recreation Area
		2.45	3.94	AR 283 north
Hot Spring	​	7.42	11.94	AR 128 east – Caney
	Bismarck	11.89	19.14	AR 84 – Amity, Malvern
Garland	Lake Hamilton	23.10	37.18	AR 290 east – Diamondhead, Lake Catherine State Park, Andrew H. Hulsey Fish Hatchery, Garvan Woodland Gardens
		24.82– 25.24	39.94– 40.62	Bridge over Lake Hamilton
	Hot Springs	26.29	42.31	AR 88 east (Higdon Ferry Road)
		28.46	45.80	US 70 / US 270 – Glenwood, Mount Ida, Malvern, Little Rock	Interchange; US 70 / US 270 exit 5
		29.73	47.85	AR 88 west (Higdon Ferry Road)
		31.12	50.08	US 70B / US 270B (West Grand Avenue)
				Whittington Avenue - Hot Springs National Park (West Mountain)
		34.22	55.07	AR 7S south (Gorge Road) – Hot Springs National Park (Campground)
	​	38.39	61.78	AR 5 north – Benton
	​	46.0	74.0	AR 192 west – Lake Ouachita State Park
	Blue Springs	48.38	77.86	AR 298 west – Story
Perry	Hollis	66.19	106.52	AR 314 west
	Fourche Junction	75.77	121.94	AR 60 – Plainview, Perryville, Nimrod WMA
Yell	Ola	83.62	134.57	AR 28 west – Plainview	South end of AR 28 overlap
		83.86	134.96	AR 10 east – Little Rock	North end of AR 28 overlap; south end of AR 10 overlap
		0.00	0.00	AR 10 west – Booneville	North end of AR 10 overlap
	Centerville	6.84	11.01	AR 154 – Mount George, Pontoon, Petit Jean State Park
	Elberta	11.95	19.23	AR 155 south to AR 154
	Dardanelle	13.71	22.06	AR 28 west – Mount George
		14.55	23.42	AR 27 south – Danville
		14.60	23.50	AR 22 west – Paris, Fort Smith, Mount Nebo State Park, Mount Magazine State Park
Arkansas River		15.32– 15.72	24.66– 25.30	Bridge
Pope	Russellville	16.31	26.25	AR 247 north to I-40 east – Pottsville
		17.38	27.97	AR 7S west (Lock & Dam Road) – Arkansas River Visitor Center
		17.53	28.21	AR 7T north (Bernice Avenue) / AR 326 west (South Boulder Avenue) – Norristown, Atkins, Lake Dardanelle State Park
		19.51	31.40	US 64 (Main Street)
		21.60	34.76	AR 124 east (O Street) – Moreland
				AR 326 west (West Lake Front Drive) – Lake Dardanelle State Park
		21.67	34.87	I-40 – Fort Smith, Little Rock	I-40 exit 81
	Dover	28.70	46.19	AR 164 east (Water Street) – Moreland
		28.74	46.25	AR 27 north (Camp Street) – Scottsville
	​	30.26	48.70	AR 333 south – Augsburg
	​	34.26	55.14	AR 164 west – Hagarville
	Pelsor	57.52	92.57	AR 16 east / AR 123 south – Dillen, Ben Hur	South end of AR 16 / AR 123 overlap
Newton	​	60.86	97.94	AR 123 north – Lurton	North end of AR 123 overlap
	​	61.66	99.23	To AR 123 north – Lurton (via AR 123Y)
	​	71.50	115.07	AR 16 west – Deer	North end of AR 16 overlap
	​	81.42	131.03	AR 374 east to AR 123 – Vendor
	Jasper	86.17	138.68	AR 74 east to AR 123	South end of AR 74 overlap
		86.30	138.89	AR 74 west – Ponca	North end of AR 74 overlap
	Marble Falls	96.53	155.35	AR 7S south
Boone	Elmwood Township	98.31	158.21	AR 206 – Gaither, Bellefonte
	Harrison	104.03	167.42	AR 43 south (Wilson Avenue) – Compton, Ponca
		104.80	168.66	AR 392 west (South Pine Street) – Capps
		105.00	168.98	US 65B south (Main Street)	South end of US 65B overlap
		105.42	169.66	US 62 east / US 65 south / US 412 east	North end of US 65B overlap; south end of US 62 / US 65 / US 412 overlap
		105.54	169.85	US 62 west / US 65 north / US 412 west – Branson, MO	North end of US 62 / US 65 / US 412 overlap
		107.57	173.12	AR 43 south
	​	115.90	186.52	AR 281 north – Omaha, Tucker Hollow Recreation Area
	​	124.78	200.81	AR 14 east – Yellville	South end of AR 14 overlap
	Lead Hill	126.00	202.78	AR 14 west – Omaha, Tucker Hollow Park	North end of AR 14 overlap
	Diamond City	129.72	208.76	Shore Line Drive - Lead Hill Public Use Area	Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Auxiliary routes

Arkansas Highway 7 has six total auxiliary routes.^[1] AR 7 business in Smackover runs into town while the city is bypassed by the parent route. El Dorado, Hot Springs, and Russellville all have short spur routes serving as connectors. AR 7 Truck also serves as a bypass in Russellville, where AR 7S near Marble Falls serves former amusement park Dogpatch USA.

See also

• List of longest state highways in the United States

References

Route map: Bing / Google

1. "Arkansas State Highways 2009 (Database)" (ZIP). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Planning and Research Division. April 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
2. General Highway Map - Union County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (3-7-2010 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
3. General Highway Map - Boone County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (3-17-2010 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
4. "Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway". Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
5. Landon Hall (September–October 2006). "Destinations: Arkansas' Highway 7". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
6. General Highway Map - Ouachita County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (3-31-2008 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
7. General Highway Map - Dallas County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (1-29-2009 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
8. General Highway Map - Clark County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (2-26-1998 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
9. General Highway Map - Hot Spring County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (11-29-2007 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
10. General Highway Map - Garland County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (4-15-2009 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
11. General Highway Map - Perry County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (1-4-2008 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
12. General Highway Map - Yell County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (8-27-2002 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
13. General Highway Map - Pope County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (6-6-2006 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
14. General Highway Map - Newton County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (1-10-2003 ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
15. Route and Section Map - Boone County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Cartography by Planning and Research Department. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. January 9, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
16. Map of State of Arkansas Showing System of Primary and Secondary Federal Aid Roads and Connecting State Roads and Progress of Improvements (Map). Arkansas State Highway Department. December 31, 1924. Archived from the original (TIF) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
17. Map of State of Arkansas showing System of State Highways (Map). Arkansas State Highway Department. 1926. Archived from the original (TIF) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.