Famous route

Talimena Scenic Drive

The Talimena Scenic Drive follows the ridges of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain between Mena, Arkansas, and Talihina, Oklahoma. It offers views over the Ouachita Mountains.

States: Arkansas, Oklahoma
Length: About 54 miles
Start / end: Mena, AR – Talihina, OK
Best season: Autumn foliage; any season
Open: Year-round per Forest Service

What should you know before visiting Talimena Scenic Drive?

Tolls and vignettes for a car: about $1 (OK).

According to the Forest Service the byway is open year-round and has no fee. Weather or forest closures occur, so check current alerts with the Ouachita National Forest.
Queen Wilhelmina State Park has 41 campsites, including 8 Class A and 27 Class B (the latter with water and 30 amp). The campground is open all year.
From December through February campsites have no water, and restrooms are open only from March 1 to November 30. Prepare accordingly for a winter visit.

The drive

The roughly 54-mile road follows the ridgelines of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain and shows the east-west ranges of the Ouachita Mountains. It links Mena, Arkansas, with Talihina, Oklahoma. Along the way are Queen Wilhelmina State Park, a visitor information station and, on the Oklahoma side, the Robert S. Kerr Memorial Arboretum (open spring through fall). The sources name no vehicle limits; the road is described as winding.

Camping

Queen Wilhelmina State Park offers 41 sites: 8 Class A, 27 Class B (water, 30 amp), 5 tent sites with water and one hike-in tent site. The page lists no site lengths, so ask when reserving. The lodge has 40 rooms. No rule on wild camping along the road was found; ask the Ouachita National Forest beforehand.

FAQs

Does the Talimena Scenic Drive cost anything?

The Forest Service listing says there is no fee and the byway is open year-round. Closures of individual forest roads and trails are posted in the Ouachita National Forest alerts.

Where can I stay overnight in a motorhome?

Queen Wilhelmina State Park has 41 sites, 27 of them with water and 30 amp. It lies on the byway and is open all year. Sites have no water from December through February; reserve through Arkansas State Parks.

Is there drinking water or toilets along the road?

The Forest Service page lists no restrooms or potable water for the byway itself; Travel Oklahoma names restrooms at several Oklahoma stops. It warns there are no gas stations on the drive, so fill up beforehand. Queen Wilhelmina State Park restrooms are open March 1 to November 30.

How much are the tolls on Talimena Scenic Drive?

Tolls and vignettes for a car: about $1 (OK). Estimate with typical rates; motorhomes pay more, and vehicles over 3.5 t often pay by distance.