Take a ride through the wooded foothills of Clark County as we follow a short but vital stretch of Arkansas Highway 7 from Mt. Olive to Arkadelphia. This 14-mile route follows one of the state’s most celebrated highways as it rolls northward through timberlands and rural junctions before delivering us into a historic southern Arkansas college town. Though not long, this leg of Highway 7 marks the transition between deep country roads and a regional hub at the edge of the Ouachita foothills.
We begin at the T-junction in Mt. Olive, where Arkansas Highway 8 merges with Highway 7 for a northbound concurrency. This area is rural and lightly populated, lined with pine stands, gravel drives, and the occasional weathered outbuilding set back from the road. The terrain undulates gently, offering a rhythm of shaded curves and open clearings. While Mt. Olive might not offer services for travelers, it represents a classic Southern crossroads — quiet, resilient, and shaped by the land around it.
As we travel north, the highway remains largely rural, punctuated by intersections with county roads and the occasional glimpse of agricultural activity. The shoulders are narrow here, and the trees press in close, a hallmark of southern Arkansas roads. Closer to Arkadelphia, the road begins to widen slightly and show signs of modernization. It’s here that Arkansas Highway 51 joins our route, forming a brief but notable triple concurrency with AR-7 and AR-8. This convergence reflects the area’s growing transportation role, where smaller state highways funnel into larger corridors feeding into the city and beyond.
Soon we enter the southern edge of Arkadelphia, where the once-quiet rural road transitions into an urban corridor. Strip malls, gas stations, and fast food joints mark our arrival, followed quickly by a junction with U.S. Highway 67 — a key north-south route running parallel to I-30. This highway cluster forms the southern gateway to Arkadelphia, and it’s also where this drive concludes. While the concurrency ends here, Highway 7 continues north through town and into some of the most scenic sections of the state, including the famed Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway.
Of note: Since the video was filmed, a new bridge and realignment project has shifted a portion of the highway slightly west of its former alignment, improving safety and drainage. Travelers today will find smoother curves and updated infrastructure that enhance this otherwise rustic drive while retaining its rural charm.
Whether you’re heading into town or just passing through, this short stretch of AR-7 offers a glimpse into the kind of understated transitions that define much of Arkansas’s highway network — where pinewoods yield to pavement, and crossroads lead to opportunity.
🎵 Music:
Smooth Sailing (with Guitar) by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
🗺️ Route Map
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