Arkansas Grand Prairie Loop
2016-07-21For those living in the mountains, the pancake-flat prairie is a curious attraction. This rural Arkansas motorcycle route is not one of those front-wheel-says-hi-to-the-rear-tire, hairpin curve type rides. It offers instead a nice relaxing trip through the farmland found between the Arkansas and White rivers.
There are numerous small farming communities here, like Scott on US 165. It’s representative of the area close around the Arkansas River with its swampy areas thick with cypress growth. Cotham’s Mercantile, a famous general store-turned-burger joint, sits on the bank of Horseshoe Lake and is a perfect lunch stop during motorcycle road trips in the area.
Continuing through England and up to Carlisle, you’ll pass through more river-bottom farmland. The area is also replete with creeks and streams.
Just past the US 70/63 junction is DeValls Bluff, a scenic little town on the edge of the White River. The community has a population of a little over 600 but is known far and wide as a great place for barbecue and homemade pies. Be sure and stop at Craig's Brothers Cafe, Ms. Lena’s Pies and The Family Pie Shop. The ride down US 79 to Pine Bluff takes you through Stuttgart, which attracts duck hunters from across the country in the fall.
After an afternoon of motoring around the Grand Prairie, take I-530 back to Little Rock for a relaxing evening in the River Market District. Great Arkansas motorcycle road trips like this are something to celebrate.
Courtesy of Arkansas Motorcycling
