Arkansas Travel: Ozarks vs Hot Springs vs Route 7

My daughter and I will be traveling across country on I-40 in May and would like to take a sightseeing detour in Arkansas. We%26#39;re debating between going south from Little Rock to Hot Springs, north from Russellville on Route 7, or north through the Ozarks to Eureka Springs. We%26#39;ll only have a day (dawn to sunset) to meander. Which route is the more interesting/scenic in that amount of time? We are looking for scenic beauty as well as ';down home'; charm. If the better choice is to go through the Ozarks, which route? Thanks!

Arkansas Travel: Ozarks vs Hot Springs vs Route 7

The mountainous scenery north from I-40 at Russellville along Highway 7 is breathtaking. Eureka Springs is a very interesting little town, very unique, and the mountains surrounding it are gorgeous. Lots of good restaurants along the way. Halfway to Eureka Springs on Highway 7 is a little motel called Cliff House Inn (only 8 rooms) hanging off the mountainside. It is 5 miles south of Jasper. They have a restaurant with food to die for! They also have a very nice gift shop. Harrison is the next stop along the way, then on to Eureka Springs. This is a very hilly little town and everywhere you look are quirky houses, unique gift shops, unusual homey place. You will feel like you are back in the %26#39;40s. On the western edge of Eureka Springs is a beautiful chapel called Thorncrown Chapel just off Highway 62 a couple of blocks. Lovely place to visit.

Another place right on Highway 40 west of Russellville is Wiederkehr Wine Cellars. You can tour the wine cellar, interesting place, tour their retail store at the end, attend their wine tasting, and they also have a German restaurant on the grounds that is outstanding.

Arkansas Travel: Ozarks vs Hot Springs vs Route 7

You might also note that Wiederkehr Wine Cellars is near Altas, AR. Altas is where the first Simple Life was filmed.

If you are looking for a scenic drive, north of Russellville on Hwy 7 would probably be your best bet. I recommend stopping by Long Pool (National Park) along the way. Long Pool is really a unique place to visit if you like to see nature. I grew up north of Russellville. The drive really starts to get scenic once you head north of Dover on Hwy 7.

Too LongPool: From Dover, AR, Travel 6 miles north on State 7, then west on State 164 for 3 miles, then northeast on Forest Road 1801, 3 miles, then northwest on paved Forest Road 1804, 2 miles.

If you prefer to shop and stay in a city, Hot Springs probably has the most interesting downtown area. The Historic Bath Houses are really interesting to tour. People used to travel all over the would to bathe in the natural hot springs.

Southpaw is giving good advice. You will never forget the drive to Eureka or the quaint town which meets you. Thorncrown Chapel is memorable as well. You also might consider checking out the new Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock. Even non-Clinton fans seem to give it good reviews.

I second the Route 7 drive to Eureka. It will be a couple hours off the interstate but it is nice. The winery would be interesting, but if you are a wine drinker and being from California, Southern wine is not the same. Very sweet. it is still interesting to sample though.

If you want to drive up one way and down a different route you could get off I-40 at Ft. Smith and take the highway that goes north into Fayetteville. there are some side roads that will then take you to Eureka. You could then come south of Hwy. 7 to get back to I-40.

If you happen to be stopping in Memphis on your trip head to the Memphis site and ask away. I can recommend all day for Memphis.