If you’re looking for a peaceful, scenic drive that winds through some of the most serene parts of western Arkansas, then Arkansas Highway 298 between Story and Hot Springs Village is a route worth exploring. Stretching 29 miles through the heart of the Ouachita National Forest, this stretch of pavement offers solitude, beauty, and a true backroads escape from the hustle of busier highways.
We begin our journey in the small community of Story, located at the junction with Arkansas Highway 27. Story is about as quiet as towns come, serving mostly as a gateway to the forests and waters of the Ouachita Mountains. From here, AR-298 heads east, immediately pulling you into a heavily wooded landscape. The road loosely hugs the northern edge of Lake Ouachita, one of Arkansas’s largest and cleanest lakes. Although you won’t get lakeside views for much of the trip, there are a few pull-offs and forest roads that offer access to hidden campsites, fishing holes, and hiking trails along the lake’s upper reaches.
As we press further east, the highway becomes a true forest drive. For much of the 29-mile journey, you’re enveloped by towering pines, gentle curves, and the kind of deep, wooded silence that can only be found in national forest territory. This is Ouachita National Forest at its most remote—no towns, no gas stations, no cell towers, and barely any signs of human activity aside from the occasional forest service road. If you’re a fan of scenic byways that feel like they exist in their own world, AR-298 delivers. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife; deer are common, and it’s not unusual to spot wild turkeys or the occasional fox.
The road itself is narrow and winding, but well-paved and generally in good condition. It’s a fun drive whether you’re in a car, on a motorcycle, or pulling a small camper—though larger RVs might want to think twice due to the curves and lack of shoulder. Around halfway through the drive, you’ll pass near the Crystal Springs Campground and recreation area (via Forest Service roads), a great detour if you’re looking for a picnic spot or a place to spend the night. Otherwise, the drive continues through untouched forestland, with the occasional break in the trees revealing rolling hills or quiet meadows.
Eventually, the road begins a subtle descent as it nears Hot Springs Village, one of the largest gated communities in the United States. While AR-298 doesn’t enter the gated portion, it skirts the western edge of the development, ending at a junction with the ever-popular Scenic Arkansas Highway 7. Highway 7 is a major north-south corridor through the state and a scenic route in its own right, offering a natural connection for travelers heading toward Hot Springs, Jessieville, or even further north toward the Ozarks.
For those looking to pair nature with a touch of civilization, this drive is the perfect lead-in to a day spent in Hot Springs National Park, just a few miles southeast via Highway 7. Whether you’re driving it for the scenery, the solitude, or as a cut-through to bigger destinations, AR-298 between Story and Hot Springs Village is a quiet gem tucked into the Ouachitas.
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