Motorcycling Guide to Arkansas

Arkansas has highly rewarding motorcycling experiences in store for every rider. With the mountain curves of the Ozarks and the Ouachitas, a spiderweb of dirt forest roads, and a large collection of scenic byways, the Natural State is ready to thrill paved tourers and ADV enthusiasts alike.

Along those first-class roads, you’ll find welcoming small towns, hot springs, historical sights, and eye-popping pullouts behind almost every corner. Prepare for one of the most scenic rides of your life, ensconced in the green mountains or cruising by the flowing Mississippi.

In this motorcycling guide, I’ll take you on a ride through Arkansas and tell you everything you need to know for your tour.

Geography of Arkansas

On the grand scale, Arkansas’ geography splits into two halves. There’s a simple mnemonic for it: highlands in the west, lowlands in the rest.

The highlands consist of the Ozark Mountains in the northwest and the Ouachita Mountains in the west. Separating them from each other is the Arkansas River, which carves a path through the mountains on its way southeast to join with the Mississippi.

Arkansas’ eastern half’s defining feature is the Mississippi alluvial plain, which is also known as the Arkansas Delta. This area is mostly flat agricultural land, but things do get more undulating in the south and northeast.

Zooming in on Arkansas, these two general areas each split into three separate regions. In the highlands are the Ozarks, the Arkansas River Valley, and the Ouachitas. Meanwhile, the lowlands consist of the aforementioned Delta, the Gulf Coastal Plain, and Crowley’s Ridge.

In Arkansas, the Ozarks are made up of the Boston Mountains range and the Springfield Plateau. This northwestern area’s defining features include dense hardwood forests, rugged plateaus interspersed with deep valleys, and caves and unique waterfall structures, like Glory Hole Falls. Many great curvy roads zigzag through this incredibly scenic region.

South of the Ozarks is the Arkansas River Valley, a roughly 40-mile-wide natural trough. Its mostly broad flatlands and rocky foothills house big cities along this major waterway.

On the other side of the river rise the pine-covered Ouachita Mountains. This mountain range is formed of unusual east-west-oriented ridges rising up to 2,700 feet. The Ouachitas are very rocky and ragged, with thermal springs bubbling between the peaks. The roads in this area aren’t as twisty as in the Ozarks, but the north-south routes still get curvy.

Moving to the lowlands, the eastern reaches of the state are made up of the Arkansas Delta. This plain’s fertile and rich soil makes it prime agricultural land, and picturesque farmland scenery abounds in this region. The terrain is admittedly very flat, but closer to the Mississippi you’ll find photo-worthy bayous and marshes.

The Gulf Coastal Plain covers the southern and southwestern reaches of Arkansas. It’s part of the Piney Woods region of the U.S., so expect plenty of pine forests and smoothly rolling hills. This area is also rich in natural resources, like lumber and oil. Keep an eye out for work vehicles and trucks on the narrow backroads.

Crowley’s Ridge finishes our geographic overview. Located in northwestern Arkansas, this narrow strip of hills rising to 200-500 feet splits the Delta region. It was once an island between enormous ancient rivers. With forests similar to the Ozarks, the hills make for a welcome break from the Delta’s flatlands.

Top Routes and Destinations in Arkansas

The Ozarks are Arkansas’ prime motorcycle playground. These twisty roller coaster roads lead to stunning panoramas of the surrounding green or blazing orange mountains. As such, it’s no shocker that the most riding routes in Arkansas are located within the Ozarks.

Arguably the best-known motorcycle route in the region is the Pig Trail. This 120-mile ride out of Ozark along SR 23 crosses the mountains and terminates on the Missouri border. Over those miles, the road has sharp twists and sudden elevation changes in store to test your ability. Read more in our Pig Trail Classic Roads article.

Another renowned route in the region is the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway. Located east of the Pig Trail on SR 21 between Clarksville and Ponca, it has much of the same on offer: curves and slopes aplenty with a heaping helping of natural beauty thrown into the mix. Thanks to their proximity, you can easily link the OHSB and Pig Trail into one scenic loop. The OHSB is also one of the best fall rides in the country.

In the northern Ozarks, you can ride our 350-mile City Escape loop out of Eureka Springs. This slithering snake of a ride makes for an excellent spring or fall tour to open or close the riding season. If you only have time for a quick ride in the Ozarks, hit the Arkansas Dragon for the maximum curves.

For a longer, multi-day tour through the Ozarks, you can follow or draw inspiration from our Shamrock Tours® in the area. Both Jasper and Fayetteville make for top-notch home bases from which to delve into the surrounding greenery (and get a taste of the area’s distinctive cuisine). Harrison is another great overnight destination for a summertime tour. Finally, although the 2024 eclipse is gone and done, the Arkansas tour we planned for seeing it still works for meandering around the Ozarks.

But enough of the Ozarks! There’s wonderful riding on offer in the Ouachitas as well. The prime riding route in these mountains is the Talimena Scenic Byway, a 50-mile route west from Mena to Talihina, OK. The viewpoints along the route are so gorgeous that you can’t appreciate them all over one ride. For more details, read our Talimena National Scenic Byway overview.

As I mentioned earlier, the Ouachita Mountains are also renowned for their hot springs, mostly located around the town of Hot Springs. A multitude of fun roads surround the town, and you can return to soak your road-weary muscles at the end of the day in a warm natural bath. Read our Hot Springs Destination page for more information. 

If you’ve had your fill of the mountains, head east to the Arkansas Delta and the Mississippi. Here, you can follow the Great River Road, which meanders with the mighty river. As the route covers the Mississippi’s entire length, it’s easy to extend your ride north or south as well.

But you want to take all of Arkansas in over one tour, you say? Then you shouldn’t miss our Arkansas: A State of Mind, Body, and Soul route. This long-distance ride takes you from the Arkansas River Valley to the Ouachitas, the Delta, Crowley's Ridge, and finally to the Ozarks, allowing you to appreciate everything Arkansas’ nature has to offer.

A sad part of Arkansas history involves the Cherokee Trail of Tears. The Cherokee people passed through the state on their forced march away from the East Coast and to Oklahoma. You can follow the Arkansas portion of their arduous journey or cover the whole trail on two wheels.

Finally, I should mention a couple of quirkier rides in the state. The Arkansas SR 369 is a bizarre, chopped-up road with huge distances between its sections—one of which is among the shortest roads in America. You could also ride to Possum Grape, a small town where you can discover the backstory of one of the country’s oddest town names.

ADV Motorcycle Routes in Arkansas

Arkansas has a multitude of unpaved roads in its rural regions and mountains that are waiting for your wheels. The Ozark and Ouachita national forests both have extensive forest and gravel road networks where motorcycles are allowed. Simply by wandering around, you’ll find hundreds of miles of dual sport loops.

If you’d like a more structured tour, you can follow our route through the northern Ozarks. This romp through the mountains takes you to panoramic viewpoints, Civil War hideouts, road art displays, and tigers—oh my!

Arkansas is also famous among ADV riders due to its section of the Trans America Trail. Covering 450 miles, this route is renowned for being among the best sections of the entire TAT, even rivaling Colorado.

Should you happen to be riding around Hot Springs in the Ouachita Mountains, pay a visit to the Hot Springs Off-Road Park. This private off-road area has a wide variety of trails for all skill levels.

Tips for Motorcycling in Arkansas

The best times of year to ride in Arkansas are in earlier spring (April-May) or fall (September-October). At these times, the mountain scenery is at its peak, with either blooming vegetation and wild waterfalls due to snowmelt or blazing fall leaves. 

In spring and fall, the temperatures suit riding (expect daytime highs around 70-80), and the tourist crowds are smaller in spring. Fall, however, can get packed with leaf peepers. Summer rides are doable, but you’re better off hitting the road in the morning before the humidity goes up.

Whichever season you choose, prepare for its characteristic adverse conditions. Springtime can experience sudden, heavy showers that may turn forest trails slick or muddy. There may also still be winter debris on the roads. Summer in Arkansas can get extremely hot and humid, making proper heat management vital. Arkansas fall foliage is jaw-droppingly gorgeous in the trees, but the same leaves can become a slippery hazard as they coat the road.

Wildlife is the number-one traffic risk in the Ozarks and Ouachitas. Deer and turkeys thrive in the region, and both can dart in front of you unexpectedly from the dense roadside woods. In the lowlands, open-range cattle may wander onto roads. Ride defensively and employ the best wildlife avoidance practices.

In the highlands, cell service is unreliable. A satellite emergency communicator may not be a bad companion on your mountain rides. Also, be aware that small-town diners and restaurants can close early, so plan your food stops ahead of time.

Helmets are only required for riders under 21 under Arkansas law, but your skull certainly doesn’t get harder with age. Lane splitting is not allowed; although not explicitly illegal, riders must operate vehicles in “a safe and controlled manner within one lane,” which the police interpret as prohibiting lane splitting.  Lane sharing allowed for up to two motorcycles.

Arkansas motorcycle events include: 

• Spring Fling Bike Rally (spring)
• Steel Horse Rally (spring)
• Ozark Escape (spring)
• CMA National Rally (summer)
• Bikes, Blues & BBQ (fall)

Off-Bike Activities in Arkansas

Arkansas has a great variety of tourist attractions to occupy you when you need to get blood flowing back in your legs. The national forests and many state parks offer first-class outdoor activities, while the  cities have many historical and cultural destinations for you to explore.

Popular tourist attractions in Arkansas include:

• Mount Magazine State Park (highest point of Arkansas)
• Glory Hole Falls
• Eureka Springs, AR
• Thorncrown Chapel
• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
• Buffalo National River
• Pea Ridge National Military Park
• War Eagle Mill
• Fort Smith National Historic Site
• Hot Springs, AR
• Bathhouse Row
• Crater of Diamonds State Park
• Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village
• Johnny Cash Boyhood Home
• Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
• Clinton Presidential Center