Join us as we roll east for about 41 scenic miles along Arkansas Highway 16, linking the rugged beauty around Witts Springs to the inviting small-town charm of Clinton. This stretch of AR-16 is a true taste of the Ozarks, winding through forests, hills, and scattered communities where time feels a little slower and the scenery does all the talking.
We kick off our journey just east of Witts Springs, easing eastward until we reach the junction with AR-377. A quick right keeps us hugging Highway 16 as it meanders toward Tilly, a small dot on the map that feels like a secret tucked into the hills. At Tilly, we swing west for a bit on Arkansas Highway 27, a detour that lifts us straight into the Ozark National Forest’s heart. Here, the road cuts through thick stands of hardwood and pine — perfect if you love those leafy tunnels that feel like they’re wrapping the road in green. After about four and a half miles of gentle forest curves, we reconnect with AR-16 and point our wheels east again.
Back on the mainline of AR-16, the next leg is a relaxing 32-mile stretch that threads through rural pockets and homesteads. Keep an eye out for the old barns and rolling clearings around Rupert, Alread, and Crabtree. These are communities more defined by the land than by bustling storefronts, so watch for roadside churches and community halls instead of gas stations — this is the real countryside Arkansas folks know and love. Wildlife watchers might spot deer grazing at dawn or dusk, and spring travelers are treated to roadside wildflowers that give the green hills a splash of color.
As we roll closer to Clinton, the road gently descends out of the higher hills and eases us back toward civilization. Clinton is a small but lively town known as a gateway to the Ozarks — with plenty of places to stretch your legs, grab a bite, and stock up before venturing deeper into the mountains or heading south toward the Greers Ferry Lake region. We wrap up our drive at the busy intersection with U.S. Highway 65, right in Clinton’s core.
Whether you’re road-tripping through Arkansas’s hidden hill country or just soaking up a slower side of life, this run down AR-16 packs plenty of scenery and a taste of authentic Ozark living in just over 40 miles.
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