I-40 and Arkansas

• Fort Smith
• Van Buren
• Russellville
• Little Rock
• West Memphis

Fort Smith

All signs point to Fort Smith (at least around here). It even has its own freeway, I-540 (interchange at exit 7). At exit 12, near Alma, is another I-540 interchange – this one for the stretch connecting I-40 with Fayetteville (home of the University of Arkansas), Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville (home of Wal-Mart) and other northwestern Arkansas communities.

Visitors' Center - FtSmithCVB.

Miss Laura's Visitor Center - This is the above Visitors' Center at the Arkansas River at the foot of 'B' Street. Originally a hotel and brothel, the place has a lot of colorful history. It has been restored for the umpteenth time (last time because it was heavily damaged by the 1996 tornado) and is the only former house of prostitution on the National Register of Historic Places.
  Stop by the visitors' center (you were going to do that anyway, right?) and take a tour. The only thing left from the brothel days: emblazoned on the transoms of the doors are the names of the girls who 'worked' there in the brothel days. Fond recognitions?
  For more information contact the visitors' center.

Fort Smith Trolley Museum - From the 1920's through World War II, streetcars were popular in most cities. On display is an unusually complete collection of old railroad passenger cars and locomotives, busses and other transportation equipments used over the years in Fort Smith buses and many other transportation artifacts.
  The Fort Smith Trolley Museum also operates a fully-restored ca. 1926 electric streetcar. Regular half-mile runs between the Fort Smith National Cemetery and the Varsity Sports Grill or Garrison Avenue (Main Street) give you a good tour of the older part of Fort Smith as well as a fun ride in one of these romantic, old trolleys. 
  From May through October, inclusive, open Monday through Friday 10a to 5p; Sundays 1 to 5 p. From November through April, inclusive, open Saturdays 10a to 5p and Sundays 1 to 5p. Fare $21; children $1.
  For schedules and boarding locations, phone 1-479-783-0205 or 1-479-783-1237. They also have a web page at: FSTrolley.
  From I-40 get on I-540 south at exit 7. Follow I-540 to Grand Avenue (exit 6). Exit and turn right following Grand to US-64 (which is also 10th Street). Carefully, follow the US-64 signs and you will soon be on Garrison Street. Drive down Garrison Street (still on US-64) to 4th Street. Turn left on 4th and drive another 2 blocks to the Trolley Museum. (address: 100 South Fourth Street)

Lawbreakers and Peacemakers - Just can't say goodbye to Fort Smith without mentioning this very entertaining group. This small theatre troupe puts on short enactments about Arkansas and Oklahoma territories; frontier days. Characterizations of the famous (or infamous?) Judge Isaac Parker, the 'Hanging Judge' who sentenced at least 79 to hanging would seem to be very heavy drama. This troupe devised a way to mix the drama and tragedies of this hectic era with laughter. Sometime you won't know if your should laugh or... Anyway, it is a fun diversion and a welcome break from driving down the Interstate.
  Their schedules seem to be very erratic. Phone 1-479-471-5150 - or e-mail them at burden2@swbell.net.

Van Buren

Visitors' Center - From I-40 get on I-540 south at exit 7. Follow I-540 to US-64 (2A which is the first exit). Follow US-64 westbound into Van Buren where it becomes Main Street. Just after you pass 12th street, US-64 branches off to the left (that will be Broadway) but you continue straight ahead on Main Street. Just ahead, about 300 yards) is the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce at 813 Main Street. This is an old (but restored) railroad depot.
  For more information, phone 1-800-332-5889 (toll free). Web site: VanBurenCoC.  

Arkansas & Missouri Railroad - The Visitors' Center is in this restored - and active -railroad depot so we'll assume you're already here.
  For just $45 (per person, Fridays and Saturdays, April through September) you can get your ticket for a 134 mile round trip to Springdale ($30 to Winslow). Now you can view all this beautiful scenery in 'the Nature State' - there are even a few tunnels so you can rest your eyes - without having to watch the road. A train can be wonderfully relaxing - and you get to stand up, walk around and stretch your legs. Tickets are a little more during the leaf-looking season (October & November). Children 4 to 16 and seniors get their tickets at a slight discount.
  For more information phone 1-800-687-8600 (toll free). See their web site: TrainRide. Schedules and fares: TrainSchedules.

The Wild Goose - This wild goose is a jet-powered, high speed airboat which will zip you across the Arkansas River. So we call this one the call of the wild goose.
  Get tickets and board at the marina at the end of Main Street.
  For more information phone 1-479-474-9898 or contact the Visitors' Center.

Main Street Van Buren - Just steps from the Visitors' Center Main Street bends and extends to the Arkansas River. This ten blocks has been completely restored to the way it looked (or may have looked) in the late 1800s. Even the street lights have been replaced by the old-timey style lamps (really cool after dark!). You would probably enjoy a brief walk up and down, peeking into the store fronts. This is like something out of a Dickens novel.

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Russellville

I-40 follows the Arkansas River with the Boston Mountains visible to the north. Though not ‘high’ mountains (Magazine Mountain at 2753 feet is the highest mountain in Arkansas), they are beautiful and interlaced with many scenic wonders – especially waterfalls. (see www.Waterfalls-Guide.com)

Visitors' Center - Visitors' Center - If you are eastbound on I-40, there are two ways to get to the Visitors' Center: the Scenic Route and the Quick Route. If you are westbound, take the Quick Route.
  The Scenic Route (especially during the 'Leaf Looking' season) - Take exit 74 and follow US-64 east, along the Arkansas River, to Russellville. On the way, you’ll cross the Lake Dardanelle impoundment on a causeway providing spectacular views of the lake and bordering forest. US-64 becomes Main Street in town and at 708 West Main is the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce.
  The Quick Route - Take exit 81, turn left on Aspen and again on AR-7 (Arkansas Ave) and follow AR-7, around Arkansas Tech University (that's it on your right), over the tracks, to Main Street (which is also US-64). Turn right and at 708 West Main is the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce.
  For more information phone 1-479-968-2530 or visit their web site: RussellvilleCoC.

A great place to eat - At 315 West Main, on the south side, is the Italian Gardens Café. They open for lunch at 11a. They also serve dinner but if you arrive after 5:30p you may have to wait a bit for a table – especially during tourist season. Not only is this place popular with the locals, but many of the tourists now know about it.

Boston Mountains and the Buffalo National River
AR-7 is more than just the access to Russellville. It is also the portal to one of the most scenic drives in Arkansas.
  Head north on 7 and you’ll wind through the Boston Mountains and, then cross the Buffalo River, a National River protected under federal law. The Buffalo River is the destination of many hikers and equestrians. Here you can experience many very rewarding sights (especially waterfalls).
(For more about waterfalls, see Waterfalls) 
(For more about the drive, see LeafLookers)  

Little Rock

The drive through North Little Rock (the major northern suburb of Little Rock) is not nearly as bad as one would expect. I-40 stays north of the Arkansas River which is across the river from the city of Little Rock. Hence, you miss much of the Little Rock traffic. Of course, rush hours are still rush hours with the usual traffic problems but at other times the traffic flow is very smooth and swift.
  The two primary routes (controlled access freeways) from I-40 (and North Little Rock) into Little Rock are I-30 (I-40 exit 153-B) and I-440 (I-40 exit 159) both of which merge south of downtown Little Rock. I-30 eventually terminates in Dallas, TX.

Visitors' Center - Visitors Center - From I-40 take exit 153-B northeast of Little Rock and follow I-30, over the Arkansas River, to exit 141-A (first exit after the bridge). Continue straight from the exit ramp which becomes Ferry Street (stay to the right so you don't get on the on-ramp). Turn right on Capitol Avenue (4 blocks from the exit) and the Little Rock Convention And Visitors Bureau is in the imposing Curran Hall, an antebellum mansion which has been completely restored at a cost of some $1.4 million.
  For more information phone 1-800-844-4781 (toll free). Web site: LittleRockCVB.

Museum of Discovery - Rockets to Robots, Planes to trains (models, that is), though not called a children's museum it certainly fits the bill. They are also very involved in nature and ecology and not just ancient dinosaurs. One of the exhibits when we were there explained the food chain and the importance of 'balance of nature' and the interdependence of life.
  The favorite exhibit among our crowd was their very sophisticated model railroad layout. This is not the little tiny 'TT' gauge, or even the larger 'HO' gage but the 'O' gauge. Some 700 sq ft of layout including Arkansas specific scenery and models of about everything you might expect to see in reality (even airplanes). Our young companions would have been content to ignore everything else in the museum (but we didn't let them).
  For more information phone 1-800-880-6475 (toll free). Web site: AMOD.
  From I-40 take exit 153-B and follow I-30, over the Arkansas River, to exit 141-A (first exit after the bridge). At the end of the off-ramp turn right on AR-20 and right again on Sherman Street. Go 1 block to the end and the Museum is across Markham slightly to your left.
  About parking - yes, it is is frequently a problem. Their recommendation is as follows:
From I-30 westbound, take exit 141-A (first exit after the bridge). Follow the 2nd and Ferry sign. Bear right onto 2nd Street. Public parking will be located on your right (north). If this lot is full, continue down 2nd Street and another public parking lot will be located on your left (south). The museum is 1 block north of 2nd Street between Commerce and Sherman Streets.

Leaving North Little Rock on I-40 you also leave the mountains and forests of western Arkansas, trading them for the Mississippi River flats and the many marshes. Before the construction of all the Arkansas River flood control dams upstream, this area had, frequently, been entirely covered with water.

West Memphis

Exit 277 is the I-55 North interchange. As you drive toward Tennessee on I-40 you’ll see a large city. No, you're not at Memphis Tennessee, yet; this is West Memphis Arkansas. At exit 279 in West Memphis is the interchange for I-55 south that connects with I-240 on the south side of Memphis. One can skirt around central Memphis using this route. We recommend staying on I-40, however, which routes you through the northern portion of the city.

contributed by Bob Masters

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