# Arkansas Highway 7

Arkansas Highway 7 (AR 7) is a north–south state highway in Arkansas. As Arkansas's longest state highway, the route runs 297.27 miles (478.41 km) from the Louisiana state line north to Diamond City. With the exception of the segment north of Harrison, Highway 7 has been designated as an Arkansas Scenic Byway and a National Forest Scenic Byway. The road passes through the heart of both the Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains, and features scenic views. It's the route favored by motorcycle riders touring the region.

## Route description

Highway 7 begins at the Louisiana state line as a continuation of Louisiana Highway 558. It runs north and meets US 63/US 167, which it forms a concurrency with until El Dorado. North of El Dorado, Highway 7 shoots a spur route named the Calion Cutoff. The route continues north to cross Highway 335 before entering Smackover. Highway 7B runs through downtown Smackover, while the main route runs around the town meeting Highway 172. Highway 7 continues northwest to enter Ouachita County. Highway 7 runs roughly parallel to Highway 376 until meeting the route south of Cullendale. The route continues north to Camden, when it intersects US 79/US 278 (formerly Highway 4). Highway 7 continues north through downtown and heads northwest to enter Dallas County.
Highway 7 enters Dallas County near Ouachita and continues north to meet Highway 208 in Sparkman. The route continues north to Highway 8 and Dalark. Highway 7 runs west after meeting Highway 8, leading into Clark County. Highway 7/Highway 8 runs to meet Highway 51/Highway 128 east of Arkadelphia. In Arkadelphia, Highway 7 meets US 67, which it follows north to Caddo Valley and I-30. After crossing I-30, Highway 7 continues north through DeGray Lake Resort State Park, now entering Hot Spring County, where it meets Highway 84 in Bismarck.
Highway 7 enters Garland County by crossing over Lake Hamilton and crossing through the community of Lake Hamilton. Highway 7 continues into Hot Springs, crossing US 70/US 270. The route enters Hot Springs National Park with Highway 128. The route meets Highway 298 north of Hot Springs Village, running with it until an area near the Perry County line. The route runs through the Ouachita National Forest until the Fourche Junction meeting with Highway 60.
The route continues in Yell County by running through Ola. The route meets Highway 10 and Highway 28 in Ola. Highway 7 continues northeast to Centerville, meeting Highway 154 and Highway 247. Highway 7 also meets Highway 115 before Dardanelle. The route turns right at Union Street in Dardanelle, entering Pope County. The route continues through Russellville, meeting US 64 and Highway 124 before leaving town. Highway 7 also meets I-40 north of Russellville. Continuing north, Highway 7 meets Highway 164 in Dover. In the Ozark National Forest, Highway 7 meets Highway 16 and Highway 123 before entering Newton County. Highway 7 breaks north from Highway 16 towards Highway 74 and Jasper. Highway 7 crosses Highway 206 upon entering Boone County. Highway 7 enters Harrison, meeting Highway 43, and having an officially designated exception over US 65B and US 62/US 65/US 412. It is after this point that the route is no longer designated scenic. The route continues north to Highway 14 and Lead Hill before entering Diamond City, after which it continues as Diamond Boulevard.

## History

The route now known as Highway 7 first appears as a state maintained road in 1924, when the Arkansas General Assembly first created a federal aid system. Two main routes, State Road B-14 and State Road A-5 form a rough trail similar to the present-day Highway 7. Upon creation of the U.S. Route system in 1925, the north and south portions of the highway were replaced by US 65 to Harrison and US 167, respectively. Arkansas numbered its highways in 1926, and the route became Highway 7 (the north part of A-5 remains as Highway 5).

## Major intersections

Mile markers reset at some concurrencies.
| County | Location | mi | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
| Union | ​ | 0.00 | 0.00 | | LA 558 south – Lockhart | Continuation into Louisiana |
| Union | ​ | 9.19 | 14.79 | | US 63 south / US 167 south – Junction City, Ruston LA | Southern end of US 63/US 167 concurrency |
| Union | El Dorado | | | | US 82 – Magnolia, Crossett, South Arkansas Regional Airport | Exit 22 on US 82 |
| Southern end of freeway section |||
| Union | El Dorado | | | 15 | US 82B / US 167B north (Hillsboro Street) | Southern terminus of US 167B |
| Union | El Dorado | | | 16 | US 63 north – Warren | Northern end of US 63 concurrency |
| Union | El Dorado | | | 17 | Champagnolle Road | |
| Union | El Dorado | 0.00 | 0.00 | 19 | US 167 north / US 167B south – Fordyce, Little Rock, El Dorado Business District | Northern end of US 167 concurrency; northern terminus of US 167B |
| Northern end of freeway section |||
| Union | ​ | 2.79 | 4.49 | | AR 7S south (North West Avenue) | Northern terminus of AR 7S |
| Union | ​ | 3.16 | 5.09 | | AR 335 north – Norphlet, South Arkansas Regional Airport | Southern terminus of AR 335 |
| Union | ​ | 6.39 | 10.28 | | AR 7B north – Smackover | Southern terminus of AR 7B |
| Union | Smackover | 8.82 | 14.19 | | AR 172 west – Lisbon | Eastern terminus of AR 172 |
| Union | ​ | 9.96 | 16.03 | | AR 160 – Mount Holly, Smackover | |
| Union | ​ | 11.18 | 17.99 | | AR 7B south – Smackover | Northern terminus of AR 7B |
| Ouachita | ​ | 13.11 | 21.10 | | AR 376 west – Louann | Eastern terminus of AR 376 |
| Ouachita | ​ | 22.14 | 35.63 | | AR 376 | |
| Ouachita | Camden | 24.57 | 39.54 | | AR 376 east | Southern end of AR 376 concurrency |
| Ouachita | Camden | 24.69 | 39.73 | | AR 376 west (Fairview Road) – Magnolia | Northern end of AR 376 concurrency |
| Ouachita | Camden | 27.06 | 43.55 | | US 79 / US 278 to AR 24 – Hope, Pine Bluff, Little Rock, White Oak Lake State Park | Interchange |
| Ouachita | Camden | 28.33 | 45.59 | | US 79B south (Van Buren Street) | Southern end of US 79B concurrency |
| Ouachita | ​ | 0.00 | 0.00 | | US 79B north – Fordyce | Northern end of US 79B concurrency |
| Dallas | Ouachita | 20.13 | 32.40 | | AR 207 north – Pine Grove | Southern terminus of AR 207 |
| Dallas | Sparkman | 25.33 | 40.76 | | AR 128 east (Main Street) – Holly Springs, Sparkman Business District | Western terminus of AR 128 |
| Dallas | ​ | 34.03 | 54.77 | | AR 8 east – Manning, Fordyce | Southern end of AR 8 concurrency |
| Clark | Gravel Junction | 38.71 | 62.30 | | AR 128 west – Joan | Eastern terminus of AR 128 |
| Clark | Daleville | 46.17 | 74.30 | | AR 51 north – Joan | Southern end of AR 51 concurrency |
| Clark | Arkadelphia | | | | US 67 south | Southern end of US 67 concurrency |
| Clark | Arkadelphia | | | | AR 8 west / AR 51 south (Pine Street) to I-30 – Antoine, Amity | Northern end of AR 8/AR 51 concurrency |
| Clark | Caddo Valley | 0.00 | 0.00 | | US 67 north – Malvern | Northern end of US 67 concurrency |
| Clark | Caddo Valley | 0.20 | 0.32 | | I-30 – Texarkana, Little Rock | Exit 38 on I-30 |
| Clark | Caddo Valley | 0.33 | 0.53 | | AR 390 west – Arkadelphia Human Development Center, Lower Lake Recreation Area | Eastern terminus of AR 390 |
| Clark | Caddo Valley | 2.45 | 3.94 | | AR 283 north | Southern terminus of AR 283 |
| Hot Spring | ​ | 7.42 | 11.94 | | AR 128 east – Caney | Western terminus of AR 128 |
| Hot Spring | Bismarck | 11.89 | 19.14 | | AR 84 – Amity, Malvern | |
| Garland | Lake Hamilton | 23.10 | 37.18 | | AR 290 east – Diamondhead, Lake Catherine State Park, Andrew H. Hulsey Fish Hatchery, Garvan Woodland Gardens | Western terminus of AR 290 |
| Garland | Lake Hamilton | 24.82– 25.24 | 39.94– 40.62 | Bridges over Lake Hamilton | Bridges over Lake Hamilton | Bridges over Lake Hamilton |
| Garland | Hot Springs | 26.29 | 42.31 | | AR 88 east (Higdon Ferry Road) | Western terminus of AR 88 |
| Garland | Hot Springs | 28.46 | 45.80 | | US 70 / US 270 – Glenwood, Mount Ida, Malvern, Little Rock | Exit 5 on US 70/US 270 |
| Garland | Hot Springs | 29.73 | 47.85 | | AR 88 west (Higdon Ferry Road) | Eastern terminus of AR 88 |
| Garland | Hot Springs | 31.12 | 50.08 | | US 70B / US 270B (West Grand Avenue) | |
| Garland | Hot Springs | 34.22 | 55.07 | | AR 7S south (Gorge Road) – National Park Campground | Northern terminus of AR 7S; former US 70B |
| Garland | ​ | 38.39 | 61.78 | | AR 5 – Benton, Glenwood, Mount Ida | Roundabout |
| Garland | Hot Springs Village | 46.0 | 74.0 | | AR 192 west – Lake Ouachita State Park | Eastern terminus of AR 192 |
| Garland | Blue Springs | 48.38 | 77.86 | | AR 298 west – Story | Eastern terminus of AR 298 |
| Perry | Hollis | 66.19 | 106.52 | | AR 314 west | Eastern terminus of AR 314 |
| Perry | Fourche Junction | 75.77 | 121.94 | | AR 60 – Plainview, Perryville, Nimrod WMA | |
| Yell | Ola | 83.62 | 134.57 | | AR 28 west – Plainview | Southern end of AR 28 concurrency |
| Yell | Ola | 83.86 | 134.96 | | AR 10 east – Little Rock AR 28 ends | Southern end of AR 10 concurrency; northern terminus of AR 28 |
| Yell | Ola | 0.00 | 0.00 | | AR 10 west – Booneville | Northern end of AR 10 concurrency |
| Yell | Centerville | 6.84 | 11.01 | | AR 154 – Mount George, Pontoon, Petit Jean State Park | |
| Yell | Elberta | 11.95 | 19.23 | | AR 155 south to AR 154 | Northern terminus of AR 155 |
| Yell | Dardanelle | 13.71 | 22.06 | | AR 28 west – Mount George | Eastern terminus of AR 28 |
| Yell | Dardanelle | 14.55 | 23.42 | | AR 27 south – Danville | Northern terminus of AR 27 |
| Yell | Dardanelle | 14.60 | 23.50 | | AR 22 west – Paris, Fort Smith, Mount Nebo State Park, Mount Magazine State Park | Eastern terminus of AR 22 |
| Arkansas River | Arkansas River | 15.32– 15.72 | 24.66– 25.30 | Bridge | Bridge | Bridge |
| Pope | Russellville | 16.31 | 26.25 | | AR 247 north to I-40 east – Pottsville | Southern terminus of AR 247 |
| Pope | Russellville | 17.38 | 27.97 | | AR 7S west (Lock & Dam Road) – Arkansas River Visitor Center | Eastern terminus of AR 7S |
| Pope | Russellville | 17.53 | 28.21 | | AR 7T north (Bernice Avenue) / AR 326 west (Boulder Avenue) – Norristown, Atkins, Lake Dardanelle State Park | Southern terminus of AR 7T; counterclockwise terminus of AR 326 |
| Pope | Russellville | 19.51 | 31.40 | | US 64 (Main Street) | |
| Pope | Russellville | 21.60 | 34.76 | | AR 326 west (Lake Front Drive) – Lake Dardanelle State Park | Clockwise terminus of AR 326 |
| Pope | Russellville | 21.67 | 34.87 | | I-40 – Fort Smith, Little Rock | Exit 81 on I-40 |
| Pope | Dover | 28.70 | 46.19 | | AR 164 east (Water Street) – Moreland | Western terminus of AR 164 |
| Pope | Dover | 28.74 | 46.25 | | AR 27 north (Camp Street) – Scottsville | Southern terminus of AR 27 |
| Pope | ​ | 30.26 | 48.70 | | AR 333 south – Augsburg | Northern terminus of AR 333 |
| Pope | ​ | 34.26 | 55.14 | | AR 164 west – Hagarville | Eastern terminus of AR 164 |
| Pope | Pelsor | 57.52 | 92.57 | | AR 16 east / AR 123 south to AR 164 – Dillen, Ben Hur | Western terminus of AR 16; northern terminus of AR 123 |
| Newton | ​ | 60.86 | 97.94 | | AR 123 north – Lurton | Southern terminus of AR 123 |
| Newton | ​ | 61.66 | 99.23 | | To AR 123 north – Lurton | Access via AR 123Y |
| Newton | ​ | 71.50 | 115.07 | | AR 16 west – Deer | Eastern terminus of AR 16 |
| Newton | ​ | 81.42 | 131.03 | | AR 374 east to AR 123 – Vendor | Western terminus of AR 374 |
| Newton | Jasper | 86.17 | 138.68 | | AR 74 east to AR 123 | Southern end of AR 74 concurrency |
| Newton | Jasper | 86.30 | 138.89 | | AR 74 west – Ponca | Northern end of AR 74 concurrency |
| Newton | Dogpatch | 96.53 | 155.35 | | AR 7S south – Marble Falls | Northern terminus of AR 7S |
| Boone | Elmwood Township | 98.31 | 158.21 | | AR 206 – Gaither, Bellefonte | |
| Boone | Harrison | 104.03 | 167.42 | | AR 43 south (Wilson Avenue) – Compton, Ponca | Northern terminus of AR 43 |
| Boone | Harrison | 104.80 | 168.66 | | AR 392 west (South Pine Street) – Capps | Eastern terminus of AR 392 |
| Boone | Harrison | 105.00 | 168.98 | | US 65B south (Main Street) | Southern end of US 65B concurrency |
| Boone | Harrison | 105.42 | 169.66 | | US 62 east / US 65 south / US 412 east US 65B ends | Southern end of US 62/US 65/US 412 concurrency; northern terminus of US 65B |
| Boone | Harrison | 105.54 | 169.85 | | US 62 west / US 65 north / US 412 west – Branson, MO | Northern end of US 62/US 65/US 412 concurrency |
| Boone | Harrison | 107.57 | 173.12 | | AR 43 south | Northern terminus of AR 43 |
| Boone | ​ | 115.90 | 186.52 | | AR 281 north – Omaha, Tucker Hollow Recreation Area | Southern terminus of AR 281 |
| Boone | ​ | 124.78 | 200.81 | | AR 14 east – Yellville | Southern end of AR 14 concurrency |
| Boone | Lead Hill | 126.00 | 202.78 | | AR 14 west – Omaha, Tucker Hollow Park | Northern end of AR 14 concurrency |
| Boone | Diamond City | 129.72 | 208.76 | | Diamond Boulevard | Continuation north |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus |||||||

## Auxiliary routes

Highway 7 has six total auxiliary routes. Highway B in Smackover runs into town while the city is bypassed by the parent route. El Dorado, Hot Springs, and Russellville all have short spur routes serving as connectors. Highway 7T also serves as a bypass in Russellville, where Highway 7S near Marble Falls serves former amusement park Dogpatch USA.