The Talimena Scenic Drive, Oklahoma to Arkansas

Route description

Start at Robbers Cave State Park north of Wilburton, where sandstone bluffs and a cave are tied to outlaw legends; it has lakes, trails and cabins. Back roads then lead south-east through farm valleys to Talihina, the western gateway to the byway.

The Talimena Scenic Drive (OK-1, becoming AR-88 at the state line) runs 54 miles along the crest of the Winding Stair and Rich Mountains. Pull-offs look over layered forest ridges; October brings the best color, and fog can settle on the ridge in any season.

The road is well paved but has steep grades and sharp bends, so larger RVs should go slowly and use low gear downhill. Near the eastern end, Queen Wilhelmina State Park sits on top of Rich Mountain with a stone lodge and campground, before the road drops into Mena.

From Mena, US-270 crosses the Ouachita National Forest past Lake Ouachita to Hot Springs, about two and a half hours away. Allow time for the bathhouses and a walk on the Grand Promenade at the end of the trip.