Travel with us for about 15 miles along one of northwest Arkansas’s quiet yet picturesque corridors: Arkansas Highway 59 from the small community of Summers all the way up to bustling Siloam Springs. This short but rewarding drive showcases the subtle beauty of Washington and Benton counties, connecting wide-open farmland, shady woodlands, and a few rural hamlets along the way. It’s a great example of how even lesser-known state highways can deliver a slice of authentic Arkansas backroad charm.
We begin our northward journey by turning onto Arkansas Highway 59 directly from U.S. Highway 62, right in the heart of Summers. This is a typical tiny Arkansas crossroads town, where a handful of homes, a gas station, and an old general store mark the landscape. Leaving Summers behind, we quickly find ourselves rolling through gently undulating farmland. About four miles up the road, we pass through the unincorporated community of Cincinnati—blink and you might miss it—but it’s worth noting that this area has deep roots in local history as an early settlement along the Butterfield Overland Mail route.
North of Cincinnati, Highway 59 continues to offer a pleasant mix of pastoral scenery and shady forest. Keep an eye out for grazing cattle, rows of hay bales in summer, and clusters of hardwoods that frame the highway with a canopy of green in warmer months. Roughly five miles north of Cincinnati, we intersect Arkansas Highway 244, which heads east toward highway 16 and Fayetteville. Staying on Highway 59, the road gently winds through more countryside, offering occasional glimpses of farm ponds and rustic barns that feel like they belong in a postcard.
As we approach Siloam Springs, the rural feel slowly gives way to hints of suburban growth. Newer homes dot the landscape, and traffic picks up a bit as local residents use this corridor to commute or reach town services. Soon enough, we pass under the interchange with U.S. Highway 412—a major east-west route that connects this region to Springdale and Tulsa. Just past this interchange, we wrap up our drive at the westbound on-ramp for US-412, about a block or two north of the highway crossing. From here, Siloam Springs offers travelers plenty to see and do, from its vibrant historic downtown to the peaceful city parks along Sager Creek.
Whether you’re exploring rural northwest Arkansas or just connecting between backroads and the major highways, Arkansas Highway 59 provides an easy, scenic route with a laid-back vibe. Next time you’re in the area, consider taking the slower road and seeing a side of the Natural State that’s easy to miss from the big interstates.
🗺️ Route Map
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