U.S. 71

U.S. 71

U.S. 71 travels a total of 298.46 miles through western reaches of the Natural State, from the subtle terrain in the southwest corner to the Boston and Ozark Mountains in the northwest. The U.S. highway serves to connect western cities of Arkansas including Texarkana, Ashdown, De Queen, Mena, Fort Smith and the Fayettevile-Springdale-Bentonville regional area.

U.S. 71 enters the state from Ida, Louisiana along a rural two lane route, meeting I-49 near Doddridge. The highway proceeds northward to Fouke and southern Texarkana, remaining close to I-49. In Texarkana, U.S. 71 initially advances northwest along East Street into the neighborhood street grid before Hickory Street continues U.S. 71 beyond Nix Creek to one way couplets with U.S. 67-82. Following W Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard (north) and W 7th Street (south), U.S. 71 joins U.S. 67-82 for six blocks through downtown before turning north onto State Line Avenue. Straddling the Arkansas-Texas border, U.S. 71 overlays N State Line Avenue along a commercialized arterial between downtown and I-30 in the northern part of the city. U.S. 59 joins U.S. 71 at the exchange with I-30, and the two proceed north along a four lane highway, briefly dipping into Texas ahead of the Red River crossing. Beyond Ogden, U.S. 59-71 turn northwest to Ashdown, seat of Little River County.

U.S. 59-71 reduce to two lanes north of Ashdown as the pair advance northward through Wilton and Lockesburg. U.S. 59-71 meets U.S. 70 north of Lockesburg, and the three U.S. highways bee line west to the Sevier County seat of De Queen. While U.S. 70 proceeds west into Oklahoma, U.S. 59-71 turns north to Gillham and Grannis. Beyond the western end of U.S. 278 at Wickes, U.S. 59-71 angle northwest through the Cross Mountain range, bypassing Vandervoort to the west. At Cove, the U.S. highways turn northeast, passing through Hatfield and Old Potter en route to Mena, seat of Polk County. Staying north of Dallas Mountain, U.S. 59-71 enter Mena from the southwest following Pickering Avenue. Highway 8 (Reine Street) overlaps with U.S. 59-71 through the central business district before leaving on Morrow Avenue for Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport (MEZ). Leaving Mena, U.S. 59-71 turns back north along a linear stretch to U.S. 270 at Acorn, where U.S. 59 parts ways for eastern Oklahoma.

While U.S. 59 departs, U.S. 270 joins U.S. 71 for an overlap through Fourche Mountain to Y City before continuing eastward along Mill Creek Mountain for Pencil Bluff. U.S. 71 advances northward through Ross and Piney Mountains ahead of Waldron. U.S. 71 Business serves downtown while U.S. 71 bypasses the Scott County seat to the west. Continuing north from Waldron, U.S. 71 wedges between Poteau Mountain and Square Rock Ridge before turning westward for Mansfield. U.S. 71 angles back north at Mansfield, passing west of the White Oak and Washburn Mountains. North of Witcherville, U.S. 71 widens to four lanes. Staying west of Greenwood, U.S. 71 turns northwest again for Fort Smith and Fort Chaffee. Pockets of development surround U.S. 71 as the highway bypasses Fort Chaffee to the south en route to Interstate 540. U.S. 71 Business continues into downtown Fort Smith as U.S. 71 joins I-540 northward to Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM) and Van Buren. Crossing the Arkansas River into Van Buren, I-540/U.S. 71 advance north to a trumpet interchange with I-40. U.S. 71 Business returns ahead of the exchange with I-40 east to Little Rock and west to Oklahoma City.

U.S. 71 joins I-40 for a 5.5 mile overlap between the northern end of I-540 and a diamond interchange (Exit 13) east of I-49 near Alma. Turning north once more, U.S. 71 advances to Mountainburg near Lake Fort Smith before following a winding course into the Boston Mountains along a scenic route. U.S. 71 along with I-49 between Alma and Fayetteville form the Boston Mountain Scenic Loop, an 80 mile route through the mountain chain. Leveling out in terrain beyond West Fork, U.S. 71 enters the northwest regions metropolitan area, which includes Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville.

Midway between Greenland and Fayetteville, U.S. 71 branches northwest along the Fulbright Expressway, joining I-49 at a wye interchange. While U.S. 71 Business ties into downtown, I-49/U.S. 71 continues along the Fulbright Expressway on a bypass to the west. U.S. 62 joins I-49/U.S. 71 for an overlap to Bentonville. At Exit 67B, the Fulbright Expressway continues to U.S. 71 Business while I-49/U.S. 62-71 branch northward along a six to eight lane freeway west of central Springdale and Rogers. U.S. 62 departs east in northern reaches of Rogers as I-49/U.S. 71 arc northwest for Bella Vista. North of Bentonville, U.S. 71 Business ties back into U.S. 71 as I-49 parts ways along the Bella Vista Bypass. U.S. 71 (Bella Vista Way) angles northerly through Bella Vista en route to the Missouri state line.

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Page Updated Sunday October 24, 2021.