Interstate 30: Little Rock to Texarkana – Arkansas

Take a scenic ride through the central and southwestern reaches of Arkansas as we follow Interstate 30 from Little Rock to Texarkana. This 129-mile stretch carries travelers from the urban pulse of the capital into the piney woods of the state’s southwest corner, a corridor that has long connected Arkansas to the Lone Star State. While the route today has seen modern upgrades—especially near Benton—this video captures the I-30 of yesterday, a “lost highway” segment that preserves a now-vanished era of pavement and signage.

Our journey begins just southwest of downtown Little Rock at the interchange with Interstate 430, where I-30 peels away from the city’s loop and strikes out southwest. Within minutes, we’re passing through the fast-growing suburbs of Bryant and Benton. This section, once congested and plagued with outdated interchanges, has since undergone a massive overhaul—new bridges, ramp configurations, and widened lanes now mark the landscape. But in the footage, we get a rare look at the old configuration, a slice of Arkansas freeway history that no longer exists in its original form.

South of Benton, urban sprawl gives way to open landscapes and rolling terrain as we descend into Saline County’s rural heart. The road stretches broadly, flanked by woods and fields, before reaching Malvern around mile marker 98. Known historically for its brick industry, Malvern is also a key gateway to Hot Springs National Park, accessible just to the northwest via U.S. Highway 270. The route here rides comfortably through gentle terrain, a rhythm that defines much of I-30’s midsection.

Leaving Malvern behind, the road glides through a mix of farmland and pine forest, typical of the Ouachita foothills region. We soon reach Arkadelphia, a small city with an outsized reputation thanks to its pair of universities—Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist—as well as its proximity to DeGray Lake Resort State Park, one of the few state parks in the country with its own full-service resort and marina. It’s also a great mid-point stop, nestled between Little Rock and Texarkana and rich in both nature and history.

From Arkadelphia, I-30 bypasses a string of smaller towns: Gurdon, birthplace of the eerie Gurdon Light; and Prescott, home to the Nevada County Depot & Museum and once a center of cotton shipping. The landscape remains consistent—stretches of dark-green pine, scattered farmland, and the occasional water tower rising over distant rooftops. The drive is smooth, lightly populated, and emblematic of rural Arkansas highway travel.

As we near the Texas state line, the highway skirts the northern edge of Hope, a city made famous as the birthplace of President Bill Clinton. While the interstate only clips the edge of town, travelers willing to detour can find the Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site just minutes away. Beyond Hope, the landscape stays wooded and flat, offering little visual hint that we’re closing in on a significant urban center.

Finally, we approach Texarkana, a unique twin city straddling the Arkansas–Texas border. The interstate hugs the city’s north side, passing beneath U.S. 71 at the State Line Avenue overpass—the final symbolic marker before crossing into Texas. From here, Interstate 30 continues westward toward Dallas, but for us, the journey ends where the states meet, under the shadow of Texarkana’s dual-state welcome signs and its blend of southern cultures.

Interstate 30 from Little Rock to Texarkana is more than a thoroughfare—it’s a spine that ties together Arkansas’s capital, its historic small towns, and its gateway to Texas. Captured here before the full wave of modern upgrades, this stretch of road offers a look back at a time when the interstate still bore the scars and stories of its past.

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