Travel with us along U.S. Highway 62 as we explore 24 scenic miles from historic Pea Ridge to the charming Victorian town of Eureka Springs, deep in the heart of the Arkansas Ozarks.
We kick things off right by the gates of Pea Ridge National Military Park — a place worth stopping if you’re interested in Civil War history and sweeping battlefield vistas. From here, we head east on U.S. Highway 62, quickly rolling through the small community of Garfield. This portion of the route runs atop gentle ridges and dips into hollows typical of this corner of the Ozarks, offering glimpses of farmsteads and wooded clearings along the way. Don’t be surprised if you see deer grazing near the tree lines — it’s a common sight here, especially in the early morning or late evening.
Continuing on, we swing northward toward Gateway — a tiny town that lives up to its name, as it marks your gateway into the deeper folds of the Ozark hills. At Gateway, Highway 62 intersects with Arkansas Highway 37, which can lead you north towards Missouri if you’re up for a side trip. But we stay the course eastward, twisting and turning as the highway snakes through thick hardwood forests and rocky outcrops that feel like a gentle rollercoaster — a signature trait of driving the Ozarks.
Before long, we pass through the small crossroads of Busch, where Arkansas Highway 187 branches off. This connector can take you on a scenic loop to the Beaver Dam and the old one-lane Beaver Bridge — both photogenic spots if you’ve got some time to detour. Back on 62, the road soon delivers us across the White River on a graceful bridge crossing that offers a peek at the clear waters feeding Beaver Lake just upstream.
As we near our destination, holiday cabins and roadside inns pop up — a sign we’re getting close to Eureka Springs’ unique blend of mountain town hospitality and old-world charm. The final stretch winds into the town’s limits, with thick woods giving way to historic stone buildings and quirky shops nestled into steep hillsides. We wrap up this drive at the intersection with AR-23, also known as the “Pig Trail Scenic Byway” for riders and drivers wanting even more Ozark curves.
Whether you’re road tripping for the history, the hills, or just a quiet weekend in one of Arkansas’s most beloved mountain towns, this stretch of U.S. Highway 62 is a beautiful approach to Eureka Springs — a perfect introduction to its winding streets, hillside homes, and timeless charm.
🗺️ Route Map
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