U.S. Route 62 in Arkansas

This article is about the section of U.S. Route 62 in Arkansas. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 62.

U.S. Highway 62 marker

U.S. Highway 62
Route information
Maintained by AHTD
Length: 329.9 mi (530.9 km)
Existed: 1930 – present
Major junctions
West end: US-62 at Oklahoma border near Summers
  I-49 / US 71 in Fayetteville
US 412 in Springdale
I-49 / US 71 in Bentonville
US 412 in Alpena
US 65 in Harrison
US 167 in Ash Flat
US 63 in Hardy
US 63 / US 412 in Imboden
US 67 from Pocahontas to Corning
US 49 in Piggott
East end: US 62 at Missouri border in St. Francis
Highway system
← US 61US 63 →

U.S. Route 62 is a U.S. highway running from El Paso, Texas northeast to Niagara Falls, New York. In the U.S. state of Arkansas, the route runs 329.9 miles from the Oklahoma border near Summers east to the Missouri border in St. Francis, serving the northern portion of the state. The route passes through several cities and towns, including Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Harrison, Mountain Home, Pocahontas, and Piggott. US 62 runs concurrent with several highways in Arkansas including Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 71 between Fayetteville and Bentonville, U.S. Route 412 through much of the state, U.S. Route 65 in the Harrison area, and with U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 67 in northeast Arkansas.

Route description

Northwest Arkansas

U.S. Route 62 enters Arkansas from Oklahoma and runs by the Bean Cemetery near Lincoln and the Borden House and Prairie Grove Battlefield Park in Prairie Grove.[1][2] The route then enters the Northwest Arkansas metro area, including the cities of Fayetteville, Rogers, and Bentonville. The route concurs with I-49/US 71 through these communities. In Benton County, the route passes Garfield Elementary School near the junction with Arkansas Highway 127 in Garfield before exiting Rogers.[3] The route continues east near the Pea Ridge National Military Park and the Missouri state line before entering Carroll County.[4]

US 62 in Carroll County west of Eureka Springs.

The Ozark Mountains

US 62 winds through the Ozarks, passing through sparsely populated scenic country and small towns. US 62 passes the Thorncrown Chapel, the Tall Pines Motor Inn, and the historic U.S. 62 White River Bridge near Eureka Springs. The route begins a concurrency with U.S. Route 412 in Alpena that continues west to Imboden. Also, US 62/US 412 meet U.S. Route 65 in Harrison. In Marion County, the route meets US 62S in Pyatt and the US 62 Bridge over Crooked Creek outside of town. During this stretch, US 62 crosses two of the nine Arkansas Scenic Byways, the Pig Trail and Scenic Highway 7. Continuing east, the route passes a former alignment of US 62 before entering Yellville. East of Yellville, the route enters Mountain Home in Baxter County and crosses over Norfolk Lake to enter rural Fulton County.

Bridge over Leatherwood Creek west of Eureka Springs.

After passing through Fulton County, US 62/US 412 enters Sharp County. In Ash Flat, US 62/US 412 serves as the northern terminus of U.S. Route 167. After passing around Cherokee Village, Arkansas, the route enters Hardy. In Hardy, US 62/US 412/US 63 Business passes four properties on the National Register of Historic Places in Arkansas: the Carrie Tucker House, the Sherman Bates House, the Fred Graham House, and Web Long House and Motel.[5] US 62/US 412 also meets U.S. Route 63, which is mostly a patchwork of concurrencies throughout the state. The routes continue together to Imboden, when US 63/US 412 break and continue south, where US 62/AR 115 continues over the St. Louis-San Francisco Overpass headed north into Randolph County and Crowley's Ridge.

Crowley's Ridge

In Randolph County, US 62 passes by cotton fields until Pocahontas, when the route meets US 67.[6] The route concurs with US 67 east until Corning in Clay County.[7] The route runs east to Piggott and enters Missouri near St. Francis.[7]

History

Spring Street in Eureka Springs was originally US 62 - City Route.

The route was originally a trail known as the Ozark Trail, which was the main series of routes in the area prior to the construction of U.S. Route 66. The Ozark Trails Association was responsible for maintaining and marking the routes, with William Hope Harvey in charge. Harvey wanted an auto trail from Oklahoma to his resort town Monte Ne, which he established after retiring from the railroad business.[8] He had grand visions of trails connecting Monte Ne with St. Louis, Kansas City, Wichita, Kansas, and Oklahoma City, and points west.[9] U.S. Route 62 from Gateway to Eureka Springs was also designated part of The Jefferson Highway, although the highway was not really marked and frequently shifted.[10] The highway was listed as a "Proposed Primary Federal Aid Road" on a state map in the first issue of "Arkansas Highways Magazine" (1924), but not numbered.[11]

The road brought lots of traffic through the hills of Arkansas, previously resistant to development. Eureka Springs was a popular stop on the route, with many motor inns and a vibrant downtown. Nearby Arkansas Highway 23 (The Pig Trail) further added tourists to the community.[12] Further east, cities of Mountain Home, Cotter, and Flippin grew significantly with US 62's traffic.[13] Rough terrain interspersed with large waterways caused the need for large bridges, including the Cotter Bridge (which replaced a ferry system) and the St. Louis-San Francisco Overpass.[14] A 1981 study indicated a need of 31 climbing lanes from Harrison to Hardy (approx. 110 miles (180 km)) necessary for safety purposes, indicative of the rough terrain.[14]

Some historic alignments of the old road still exist with original pavement. One section, built between 1932 and bypassed in 1952, is located between Busch and Eureka Springs on either side of the White River. On the north side of the river Carroll County Route 109 follows the alignment to the former river crossing, where only concrete bridge piers remain to be seen. On the south side County Route 107 continues southward, eventually rejoining the modern alignment. This section was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.[15]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmikmDestinationsNotes
Washington 0.00.0 US-62 west – MuskogeeOklahoma state line
Summers AR 59 north – Siloam Springswest end of AR 59 overlap
  AR 59 south – Van Bureneast end of AR 59 overlap
Lincoln1016 AR 45 south – Canehill
  US 62B east – Prairie Grove
Prairie Grove US 62B west – Prairie Grove
 1727 AR 170 east
Farmington2134 AR 170 west (South Hunter Street)
Fayetteville23.938.5 I-49 south (US 71) / AR 180 east (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard / AR 16 east) to US 71B – Fort Smith, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville National Cemeterywest end of I-49 / US 71 / AR 16 overlap; US 62 west follows exit 62
see I-49
BentonBentonville44.671.8 I-49 north (US 71) / AR 102 west (Southeast 14th Street) – Bella Vista, Bentonville, Centertonnorth end of I-49 / US 71 overlap; US 62 east follows exit 86
Rogers51.082.1 AR 94 east – Rogers Business Districtwest end of AR 94 overlap
51.482.7 AR 12 east / AR 94 west (North Second Street) – Little Flock, Pea Ridge, Historic District, Hobbs State Park Conservation Area, Prairie Creek Park, Rogers Historical Museumeast end of AR 12 / AR 94 overlap
 57.893.0 AR 72 west – Pea Ridge
Garfield62.8101.1 AR 127 – Beaver Lake, Lost Bridge Park
Gateway66.7107.3 AR 37 north – Seligman, MO
Carroll  AR 187 north – Beaver, Holiday Island
  AR 187 south – Beaver Dam, Beaver Lake
 79.5127.9 AR 187 north
Eureka SpringsHistoric Loop - Eureka Springs Business Districtformer US 62B east
AR 23 north – Holiday Island, Beaverwest end of AR 23 overlap
AR 23 south – Huntsvilleeast end of AR 23 overlap
 92.2148.4 AR 143 north / AR 980 – Grandview, Airport
Berryville95.0152.9 US 62S
96.1154.7 AR 221 south (West Carl Avenue)west end of AR 221 overlap
AR 21 north / AR 221 northeast end of AR 221 overlap; west end of AR 21 overlap
AR 21 south – Kingston, Boxleyeast end of AR 21 overlap
  AR 103 south – Rule
Green Forest AR 103 north – Oak Grove
AR 311 north (Carroll Avenue)
Tyson Avenue (AR 311 south)
BooneAlpena114183 US 412 west – Huntsville, SpringdaleWest end of US 412 overlap
 116187 AR 392 east – Batavia
 119192 US 65 north – Branson, MO, Springfield, MOinterchange; west end of US 65 overlap
Harrison122196 AR 980 – Boone County Regional Airport
124200 AR 43 north
124200North Main Street - Business Districtformer US 65B south
AR 7 north – Bergman, Lead Hill, Diamond Citywest end of AR 7 overlap
US 65B south / AR 7 south – Jasper, Russellville, Business Districteast end of AR 7 overlap
US 65B north (South Main Street) – Harrison Business District, Northark College South Campus
Bellefonte131211 AR 206 west
 132212 US 65 south – Little RockEast end of US 65 overlap
Marion 143.9231.6 AR 125 south – Eros, Brunowest end of AR 125 overlap
Pyatt144.4232.4 US 62S – Pyatt Business District
 150.1241.6 AR 125 north – Dodd Cityeast end of AR 125 overlap
 153.0246.2 AR 202 east – Summit
Yellville154.5248.6 US 62B east
154.7249.0 AR 14 west – Summit, Lead Hillwest end of AR 14 overlap
154.7249.0 AR 14 east – Ozark Folk Center State Park, Blanchard Springs Caverns, Buffalo National River Buffalo Pointeast end of AR 14 overlap
 159.9257.3 AR 178 east – Flippin, Bull Shoals, Bull Shoals White River State Park
 162.5261.5 AR 101 south – Rea Valley
 163.1262.5 US 62B east – Cotter
BaxterCotter165.9267.0 US 62B west / CR 1 (Denton Ferry Road) – Cotter Business District
Gassville167.3269.2 AR 345 south (Cotter Road)
168.0270.4 AR 345 north (Lakeview Drive)
168.3270.9 AR 126 north – Ozark Regional Airport
 171.3275.7 AR 126 south – Buffalo City
Mountain Home173.6279.4 US 62B east – Mountain Home
174.2280.3 AR 201 – Arkansas State University Mountain Home Campus
 176.5284.0 AR 5interchange
 178.2286.8 AR 178 (Buzzard Roost Road)
Mountain Home179.3288.6 US 62B west – Mountain Home
 183.6295.5 AR 101 north – Gamaliel
Fulton 193.7311.7 AR 87 – Vidette, Elizabeth
Viola201.6324.4 AR 223 – Moody, MO, Bexar
Salem210.4338.6 US 62B east
211.0339.6 AR 395 south
211.4340.2 AR 9 to AR 395 north – Business District, Mammoth Spring, Melbourne
Glencoe219.0352.4 AR 289 south – Horseshoe Bend
 226.2364.0 AR 289 north – Saddle, Mammoth Spring
SharpAsh Flat228.6367.9 US 167 south (Ash Flat Drive) – Batesville
Cherokee Village232.3373.9 AR 175S north – Cherokee Village
237.4382.1 AR 175 south (Stone Creek Road) to AR 289 – Cherokee Villagewest end of AR 175 overlap
238.2383.3 AR 342 east (West Riverview Drive) – Harold E. Alexander WMA
Hardy238.9384.5 US 63B south – Hardy, Historic Districtwest end of US 63B overlap
240.2386.6 US 63 north – Mammoth Springeast end of US 63B overlap; west end of US 63 overlap
US 63B north – Hardy
245.3394.8 AR 175 north – Wirtheast end of AR 175 overlap
 250.4403.0 AR 58 west – Williford
 252.4406.2 AR 58E west – Williford
LawrenceRavenden256.8413.3 AR 90 east – Ravenden Springs
Randolph
 No major junctions
Imboden260.9419.9 AR 115 south – Smithville, Cave City
261.5420.8 US 63 south / US 412 east – Imboden Business District, Black Rock, Hoxieeast end of US 63 / US 412 overlap
Spring River261.7421.2St. Louis-San Francisco Overpass
RandolphPocahontas272.1437.9 AR 166 south – Old Davidsonville State Park
274.1441.1 US 67 south – Walnut Ridgewest end of US 67 overlap
274.1441.1 AR 90 north (Broadway Street) to AR 115 – Ravenden Springs, Pocahontas Business District, Historic Courthouse
276.6445.1 AR 166 north – Engelberg
 285.2459.0 US 67B north – Biggers
Reyno289.2465.4 AR 328 west – Reyno
ClayDatto291.6469.3 US 67B north – Datto
 293.7472.7 AR 211 north – Success
 296.7477.5 AR 980 – Airport
Corning300.3483.3 US 67 north – St. Louis, MOeast end of US 67 overlap
 304.3489.7 AR 135 south – Paragould
McDougal309.0497.3 AR 141 south – Boydsville
Pollard316.2508.9 AR 139 north – Qulin, MO
Piggott322.3518.7 US 49 south / AR 1 south – Paragouldwest end of AR 1 overlap
 324.0521.4 AR 139 south – Holly Island
 324.3521.9 AR 1 north – Holcomb, MOeast end of AR 1 overlap
 329.9530.9 US 62 east – MaldenMissouri state line (St. Francis River)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

Route map: Bing / Google

  1. ↑ "Area Attractions - City of Lincoln, AR." Website. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park." Area Profile. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Schools of Arkansas - Northwest Region." Schools profile. Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Pea Ridge National Military Park." National Park Service. Park Profile. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Sharp County, Arkansas." National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service. Listings. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  6. ↑ Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. AHTD Randolph County map Retrieved on June 17, 2010.
  7. 1 2 Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. AHTD Clay County map Retrieved on June 17, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Lynn McWhorter Mabry Collection: William Hope "Coin" Harvey." University of Arkansas Libraries - Special Collections. ABOUT WILLIAM HOPE COIN Article. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Highway A-7, Tyronza Segment, Tyronza, Poinsett County." Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Article. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Culture and history of Eureka Springs, Arkansas." Eureka Springs Historic Profile. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  11. ↑ Paul Gabriel, ed. (January 1924). "Before you, Citizens of the "Wonder State", are your "Arkansas Highways"" (PDF). Arkansas Highways (Little Rock, AR: Arkansas Highway Department) 1 (1): 11. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  12. ↑ "Culture and history of Eureka Springs, Arkansas." In Eureka. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  13. ↑ Arkansas. (1981). "The Effects of ferry replacement and bypass construction on U.S. 62 in Baxter County. Little Rock, Ark." Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department.
  14. 1 2 Arkansas. (1981). A Corridor study U.S. 62 Harrison to Hardy. Little Rock, Ark: The ASHTD.
  15. ↑ "NRHP nomination for Old US 62, Busch Segment" (PDF). Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
U.S. Route 62
Previous state:
Oklahoma		 Arkansas Next state:
Missouri
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