The Ozark National Forest is located in the northwestern corner of Arkansas, about a two-hour ride northwest from Little Rock. It’s also about the same distance from Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Dallas, and Oklahoma City. That makes this an accessible weekend getaway for motorcycle riders in six major cities in six states.
Outdoor activities abound
Spread across 1.2 million acres in the rugged Ozark Mountains, this national forest offers a wonderful escape from big city life. You’ll enjoy a number of outdoor activities—including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, boating, and a motorcyclist’s favorite—scenic rides.
The forest puts on display a wonderful nature show with a variety of spring wildflowers, redbuds, and dogwood trees all along the ride. The mix of upland hardwood trees creates colorful fall foliage contrasted by the green of scattered pine trees. Spring, summer, or autumn, a motorcycle ride through the Ozark National Forest is a refreshing respite from our high-tech modern world.
How to get there
Arkansas Highway 16 (AR16) runs east-west through most of the Ozark National Forest. It connects with several other scenic roads in the forest for more riding fun, so you’ll want to make sure to keep your tank full.
Riding from the east, you can connect with AR16 from U.S. Route 65 in Clinton. Clinton offers gas, food, and lodging and can serve as a base for your adventure.
If you’re riding from the west, you can connect with AR16 from Interstate 49 just south of Fayetteville. The distance from Fayetteville to Clinton is about 165 miles and is a good half-day’s ride, not counting sightseeing and other stops.
With all it has to offer, you could easily spend the whole day riding in the Ozark National Forest—or better yet, make it a weekend adventure.
Contact information:
Ozark National Forest
605 West Main
Russellville, AR 72801
Phone: 479-964-7200
Till next time, ride safe!
Related links:
The Ozark National Forest is just one of a handful of rides in Arkansas. While visiting, you might want to check out these other rides:
Pig Trail Scenic Byway
Arkansas’s Grand Canyon
Check out some other places to visit across the country in our Rides section.
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