Arkansas River Valley: Petit Jean, Mount Nebo and Mount Magazine
Three mountain state parks above the Arkansas River between Little Rock and Fort Smith, with waterfalls, CCC lodges and the highest point in Arkansas.
- Distance
- 261 km (162 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 54 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- States
- AR
- Updated
- May 7, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 261 km (162 mi) with 7 stops, from Little Rock to Fort Smith. About 2 h 54 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Arkansas
Route description
Pinnacle Mountain State Park lies just west of Little Rock off AR-10, a good warm-up with a steep climb to the summit. Then take AR-10 and AR-9 or I-40 to Morrilton and climb AR-154 to Petit Jean State Park. The Cedar Falls Trail descends to a pool below the falls, and Mather Lodge, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, has a view over the canyon.
From Petit Jean follow AR-154 west and AR-7 north to Dardanelle, then AR-155 up to Mount Nebo State Park. The road has tight hairpins and a steep grade; long trailers and motorhomes should skip it or park below. The top has cabins, a small campground and overlooks at Sunset Point and Sunrise Point. Lake Dardanelle State Park below is easier for big rigs.
Continue west on AR-22 along the river to Paris, then south on AR-309, the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway, to Mount Magazine State Park. Walk the short trail to Signal Hill, the highest point in Arkansas. The lodge has a restaurant with a view, and the campground has full hookups. Winter can bring ice and fog to the summit road, and the byway is steep in places, so check your brakes.
Drop back to Paris and follow AR-22 west to Fort Smith, about 1 hour 30 minutes from the mountain. The Fort Smith National Historic Site has the courtroom of Judge Parker and a reconstructed gallows. The town’s Belle Grove historic district has Victorian houses, and the riverfront park has a trail along the Arkansas River. Spring and autumn are the best seasons in the valley.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Little Rock
AR - 225 km
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
NatureLittle Rock, ARA cone-shaped peak just west of Little Rock with steep rocky trails to the summit and views over the Arkansas River valley. The west summit trail is easier; an arboretum loop at the base is flat.
- 362 km
Petit Jean State Park
NatureMorrilton, ARArkansas’s first state park, with the 29 m Cedar Falls in a canyon below a CCC stone lodge. The Cedar Falls Trail is 3.2 km round trip with a steep climb back, and the lodge overlooks the valley.
- 437 km
Mount Nebo State Park
ViewsDardanelle, ARA flat-topped mountain with overlooks at Sunset Point and Sunrise Point over the Arkansas River valley and Lake Dardanelle. The access road AR-155 climbs with hairpin turns and is not recommended for long trailers or big motorhomes.
- 544 km
Mount Magazine State Park
ViewsParis, ARThe highest point in Arkansas (839 m), with a short trail to Signal Hill, hang-gliding cliffs and wide views over the Petit Jean River valley. It is reached on the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway, AR-309.
- 690 km
Fort Smith National Historic Site
HistoryFort Smith, ARRuins of two frontier forts and the courtroom and gallows of Judge Isaac Parker, the hanging judge of Indian Territory, on the Arkansas River. Also a stop on the Trail of Tears.
- 73 km
Fort Smith
AR
FAQs
How long is Arkansas River Valley: Petit Jean, Mount Nebo and Mount Magazine?
3-day road trip of about 261 km (162 mi) with 7 stops, from Little Rock to Fort Smith. About 2 h 54 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Arkansas River Valley: Petit Jean, Mount Nebo and Mount Magazine?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 54 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Arkansas River Valley: Petit Jean, Mount Nebo and Mount Magazine start and end?
It starts in Little Rock and ends in Fort Smith.
Which states does Arkansas River Valley: Petit Jean, Mount Nebo and Mount Magazine pass through?
Arkansas.
