So I’ve been itching to hit the open road lately – just me, my truck, and some proper windshield time. Heard folks talking about Arkansas Highway 55 being a gem for scenic drives, so last Tuesday I decided to check it out myself.
Prepping for the Ride
First thing I did was dust off my old paper maps. Yeah, call me old-school but screens ain’t the same for route planning. Spread ’em across the kitchen table with a cold brew. Traced Highway 55 with my finger from Corning all the way down to Lake Village near the Louisiana line. Took notes on little towns popping up along the route: Pocahontas, Newport, McGehee – names making me curious.
Grabbed my phone to cross-check drive times though. Plugged in segments because doing the whole stretch in one go would’ve been brutal. Surprised how much slower it gets through towns – like from Jonesboro to Walnut Ridge should be 20 minutes but turns into 40 with stoplights and tractors.
- Packed extra water and jerky
- Threw a rain jacket in even though skies looked clear
- Made sure my tire kit was ready after last month’s blowout
Rolling Out at Sunrise
Started in Blytheville before dawn. Cracked windows to smell that damp earth while dew still hung on cornfields. First golden light hit when I crossed the Cache River – water looked like liquid copper. Stopped to snap pics near Grubbs where the road gets twisty through thick woods. Pro tip: gas up in Wynne ’cause stations get scarce later.
Hit construction outside Bald Knob around 10am. Google said “minor delays” but we were crawling single-file behind a paver for 45 sweaty minutes. Should’ve taken the 367 detour like that minivan I watched speed past us. Learned my lesson – always have alternate routes marked!
Where the Magic Happened
After Stuttgart, the scenery shifted big time. Rice fields spreading like green oceans on both sides, herons standing statue-still in irrigation ditches. Got to Clarendon and pulled over by the White River bridge. Clock said 2 hours 17 minutes from start with stops, but the map app predicted 1hr50min – close enough I guess. Those river views were worth every extra minute.
Saw a hand-painted sign for “Pig Trail BBQ” outside DeWitt and took a chance. Ended up chatting with owner Billy who gave me pineapple-glazed ribs and told me about this backroad cutoff near Dumas that shaves 20 minutes off the trip to McGehee. Road was gravel but smoother than some paved sections near Pine Bluff!
Closing Thoughts
Final stretch into Lake Village took another hour as the sun dipped low. Whole route felt personal – not like those generic interstates. Would absolutely recommend Corning to Newport for mountain lovers, and Stuttgart southward if you want that Delta vibe. Just remember: paper maps plus phone estimates minus construction zones equals a dang fine road trip. Might try the western forks of 55 next month!