# U.S. Route 278 in Arkansas

U.S. Highway 278 (US 278) runs west-east across the southern half of Arkansas for 258.8 miles (416.5 km). US 278 originates at a junction with U.S. Routes 59 and 71 in the town of Wickes and exits into Mississippi on the Greenville Bridge over the Mississippi River northeast of Shives, running concurrently with US 82.
For the vast majority of its route, US 278 is two-lane and rural, with the exception of portions in and around major towns and cities. The route connects small towns throughout southern Arkansas, with Hope and Camden being the largest population center along the route. As a result of its rural routing, US 278 has just one junction with an interstate highway, being I-30 at Hope. US 278 is planned to cross I-69 and even have a concurrency with it in the future.

## History

While US 278 was initially designated in 1951, it was not routed through the state of Arkansas until 1998. Up until that time, it ran to either Tupelo or a place near Amory. In 1998, it was routed to its current western terminus in Wickes, replacing a vast majority of Arkansas Highway 4, which remains a distinct albeit short highway in southeastern Desha County.

## Future

US 278 is planned to be rerouted onto the proposed Charles W. Dean Bridge. It is part of the plans to build Interstate 69 in Arkansas and in Mississippi.

## Major intersections

| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Polk | Wickes | 0.0 | 0.0 | US 59 / US 71 / Oak Street – Mena, De Queen | Western terminus; continues as Oak Street beyond US 59/71 |
| Polk | Wickes | | | I-49 – Fort Smith, Texarkana | Proposed |
| Howard | Umpire | 17.6 | 28.3 | AR 84 east – Athens | Western terminus of AR 84 |
| Howard | ​ | 28.9 | 46.5 | US 70 east – Newhope, Kirby | West end of US 70 overlap; New Hope signed eastbound, Kirby westbound |
| Howard | Dierks | 32.0 | 51.5 | US 70 west (Main Avenue) / West Fourth Street – De Queen | East end of US 70 overlap; De Queen signed westbound only |
| Howard | Center Point | 41.7 | 67.1 | AR 26 west / Texas Street – Lockesburg | West end of AR 26 overlap; Lockesburg signed eastbound |
| Howard | Center Point | 41.8 | 67.3 | AR 26 east – Murfreesboro, Highland | East end of AR 26 overlap; Murfreesboro signed eastbound, Highland westbound |
| Howard | ​ | 43.9– 44.0 | 70.7– 70.8 | AR 355 south – Mineral Springs | Northern terminus of AR 355 |
| Howard | ​ | 49.1 | 79.0 | US 371 north / Honeycutt Road – Lockesburg | West end of US 371 overlap; former AR 24 north |
| Howard | Nashville | 51.0 | 82.1 | AR 980 north (North Main Street) / North Main Street – Business District | Southern terminus of AR 980; Business District signed eastbound only |
| Howard | Nashville | 51.3 | 82.6 | US 371 south (Peachtree Street) / AR 27 north (Mine Street) – Prescott, Murfreesboro | East end of US 371 overlap; west end of AR 27 overlap; former AR 24 south; Prescott signed eastbound only |
| Howard | Nashville | 52.7 | 84.8 | AR 27 south – Mineral Springs | East end of AR 27 overlap; Mineral Springs signed eastbound only |
| Howard | Nashville | 52.8 | 85.0 | AR 27B north (East Russell Street) – Business District | Southern terminus of AR 27B; Business District signed westbound only |
| Hempstead | ​ | 58.4 | 94.0 | AR 332 west – Tollette, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Conservation Education Center | Eastern terminus of AR 332; Tollette signed eastbound only |
| Hempstead | Washington | 69.6 | 112.0 | AR 195 south / Franklin Street – Cross Roads | Northern terminus of AR 195; Cross Roads signed eastbound only |
| Hempstead | ​ | 74.0 | 119.1 | AR 32 east / Airport Road – Oakhaven | Western terminus of AR 32 |
| Hempstead | ​ | 76.1 | 122.5 | AR 73 north – Saratoga, Millwood Dam | West end of AR 73 overlap |
| Hempstead | Hope | 77.7– 78.0 | 125.0– 125.5 | I-30 – Texarkana, Little Rock | I-30 exit 30 |
| Hempstead | Hope | 78.2 | 125.9 | US 278B east (North Hervey Street) / West Commerce Boulevard | Western terminus of US 278B |
| Hempstead | Hope | 79.0 | 127.1 | AR 29 north / AR 29B south (North Hazel Street) to I-30 – Blevins | West end of AR 29 overlap; northern terminus of AR 29B; To I-30 signed westbound only |
| Hempstead | Hope | 81.4 | 131.0 | US 67 (East Third Street) / US 278B west | Eastern terminus of US 278B |
| Hempstead | Hope | 82.1 | 132.1 | AR 29 south (Bill Clinton Drive) / Henry C. Yerger Street – University of Arkansas Community College at Hope | East end of AR 29 overlap; college and hospital signed westbound only |
| Hempstead | ​ | 83.3 | 134.1 | AR 32 east – Bodcaw | Western terminus of AR 32 |
| Nevada | ​ | 95.1 | 153.0 | AR 53 – Bodcaw, Prescott | |
| Nevada | Rosston | 100.5 | 161.7 | US 371 north (Rosston Highway) – Prescott | West end of US 371 overlap; Prescott signed eastbound only |
| Nevada | Rosston | 101.0 | 162.5 | AR 200 east – Cale | Western terminus of AR 200 |
| Nevada | Rosston | 101.4 | 163.2 | US 371 south – Magnolia | East end of US 371 overlap |
| Nevada | ​ | 108.9 | 175.3 | AR 76 west – Waterloo | Eastern terminus of AR 76 |
| Ouachita | ​ | 114.4 | 184.1 | AR 57 – Stephens, Chidester, Poison Spring W.M.A. | |
| Ouachita | ​ | 124.4 | 200.2 | AR 376 east to US 79 | Western terminus of AR 376 |
| Ouachita | ​ | 127.3 | 204.9 | AR 24 west (Chidester Road) – Prescott | Eastern terminus of AR 24 |
| Ouachita | Camden | 128.0 | 206.0 | US 278B east (West Washington Street) | Western terminus of US 278B |
| Ouachita | Camden | 129.9– 130.0 | 209.1– 209.2 | US 79 south / US 79B north – Magnolia | West end of US 79 overlap; interchange; southern terminus of US 79B |
| Ouachita | Camden | 130.7– 130.8 | 210.3– 210.5 | AR 7 – El Dorado, Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources | Interchange |
| Ouachita | ​ | 132.2– 132.6 | 212.8– 213.4 | Ouachita River | Ouachita River |
| Ouachita | ​ | 135.0– 135.5 | 217.3– 218.1 | US 79 north / US 79B south – Little Rock, Fairgrounds | East end of US 79 overlap; northern terminus of US 79B; partial interchange; airport signed westbound only |
| Ouachita | East Camden | 136.0 | 218.9 | AR 274 east – East Camden, SAU Tech, Arkansas Fire Training Academy, Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy | Western terminus of AR 274; East Camden, training academies signed eastbound only |
| Calhoun | Hampton | 154.4 | 248.5 | AR 203 north | Southern terminus of AR 203 |
| Calhoun | Hampton | 154.6 | 248.8 | US 167 (Lee Street) – El Dorado, Fordyce | Destinations signed westbound only |
| Calhoun | Hampton | 155.4 | 250.1 | AR 274 north – Tinsman | Southern terminus of AR 274 |
| Calhoun | Harrell | 159.3 | 256.4 | AR 160 east (Southeast Central) – Jersey | Western terminus of AR 160 |
| Bradley | Banks | 168.6 | 271.3 | AR 275 north / CR 12 – Tinsman | Southern terminus of AR 275 |
| Bradley | ​ | 178.6 | 287.4 | US 278B east – Warren | Western terminus of US 278B; hospital signed eastbound only |
| Bradley | Warren | 180.8 | 291.0 | US 63 / AR 8 – El Dorado, Warren | AR 8 signed westbound only |
| Bradley | Warren | 183.4 | 295.2 | US 278B west (East Church Street) / Lura Lea Lane – Warren | Eastern terminus of US 278B |
| Bradley | ​ | 184.5 | 296.9 | AR 189 north – Pine Bluff, Fordyce | Southern terminus of AR 189; Fordyce signed westbound only |
| Bradley | ​ | 185.4– 185.8 | 298.4– 299.0 | S.M. Dixon Bridge over Saline River | S.M. Dixon Bridge over Saline River |
| Bradley | ​ | 186.9 | 300.8 | AR 172 east – New Hope | Western terminus of AR 172 |
| Drew | ​ | 193.1 | 310.8 | AR 530 north to AR 35 – Rye | Current southern terminus of AR 530; future I-530 |
| Drew | Monticello | 198.1 | 318.8 | US 425 (AR 35 north) – Hamburg, Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas at Monticello | West end of AR 35 overlap; University signed eastbound only |
| Drew | Monticello | 198.5 | 319.5 | Hyatt Street | Begin one-way segment |
| Drew | Monticello | 198.8 | 319.9 | AR 83 (Main Street) | |
| Drew | Monticello | 199.3 | 320.7 | US 278 west (East McCloy Street) / East Gaines Avenue | End one-way segment |
| Drew | Monticello | 199.8 | 321.5 | AR 138 east (Winchester Road) – Winchester | Western terminus of AR 138 |
| Drew | Monticello | 200.7 | 323.0 | AR 35 south – Dermott | East end of AR 35 overlap |
| Drew | Monticello | 200.8 | 323.2 | AR 980 | To Monticello Municipal Airport |
| Drew | ​ | 204.7 | 329.4 | US 278 Byp. west | Eastern terminus of US 278 Byp.; future I-69 |
| Drew | ​ | 212.6 | 342.1 | AR 293 north / Selma-Collins Road – Selma | Southern terminus of AR 293 |
| Drew | ​ | 213.7 | 343.9 | AR 277 north – Tillar | Southern terminus of AR 277 |
| Desha | McGehee | 223.2 | 359.2 | AR 159 north (Chicksaw Road) | Southern terminus of AR 159 |
| Desha | McGehee | 224.2 | 360.8 | AR 159 south (Masonville Road) – Masonville | Northern terminus of AR 159 |
| Desha | McGehee | 225.0 | 362.1 | AR 1 north (North First Street) to US 65 – Pine Bluff | Southern terminus of AR 1 |
| Desha | McGehee | 226.6 | 364.7 | US 65 north / US 165 north / AR 4 east – Pine Bluff, Arkansas City | West end of US 65 / 165 overlap; western terminus of AR 4 |
| Desha | ​ | 228.3 | 367.4 | AR 159 north – Masonville | Southern terminus of AR 159 |
| Chicot | Dermott | 230.8 | 371.4 | US 165 south – Dermott, Montrose | East end of US 165 overlap |
| Chicot | Halley Junction | 232.1 | 373.5 | AR 35 – Halley, Y.B. Port | Destinations signed westbound only |
| Chicot | Bellaire | 234.1 | 376.7 | AR 208 west / Black Pond Road | Eastern terminus of AR 208 |
| Chicot | McMillan Corner | 242.9 | 390.9 | AR 144 west / AR 257 south – Lake Chicot State Park | Eastern terminus of AR 144; northern terminus of AR 257; state park signed eastbound only |
| Chicot | ​ | 246.5 | 396.7 | AR 980 west (Airport Road) | Eastern terminus of AR 980 |
| Chicot | Lake Village | 247.0 | 397.5 | US 82 west / AR 144 east (St. Mary's Street) – Montrose, Hamburg | West end of US 82 overlap; western terminus of AR 144 |
| Chicot | Chanticleer | 249.4 | 401.4 | AR 159 south – Jennie | West end of AR 159 overlap |
| Chicot | Chanticleer | 249.5 | 401.5 | AR 159 north (South Lakeshore Drive) – Lake Village Business District | East end of AR 159 overlap; business district signed westbound only |
| Chicot | ​ | 251.7 | 405.1 | US 65 south – Eudora | East end of US 65 overlap |
| Chicot | Shives | 256.2 | 412.3 | AR 142 south / Old US 82 – Lakeport, Lakehall, Lakeport Plantation Home | Northern terminus of AR 142 |
| Mississippi River | Mississippi River | 256.6– 259.2 | 413.0– 417.1 | Greenville Bridge; Arkansas–Mississippi state line | Greenville Bridge; Arkansas–Mississippi state line |
| Mississippi River | Mississippi River | 256.6– 259.2 | 413.0– 417.1 | US 82 east / US 278 east – Greenville | Continuation into Mississippi |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus ||||||