Take a drive across the Arkansas Delta and into the heart of Central Arkansas as we follow U.S. Highway 70 from Brinkley to North Little Rock. This 67-mile journey spans rich farmland, quiet river towns, and the evolving landscape of east-central Arkansas—linking small-town Americana with the edges of a growing metro.
We begin in downtown Brinkley, where US-70 and US-49 briefly share pavement through the historic heart of this railroad crossroads. Once known for its cotton economy and proximity to the Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park, Brinkley still holds onto its heritage with red-brick storefronts and rail-side charm. As we turn southwest to leave the town, US-49 peels away to the south, and we settle into a long, flat run across the delta. The fields spread wide to the horizon, punctuated by silos and stands of trees, as we approach Biscoe, a small community once known as Fredonia. Here, US-70 bends again, turning southerly to begin one of the more scenic stretches of the route.
Just outside Biscoe, we cross the wide, meandering White River, an impressive floodplain spanned by a low bridge that offers sweeping views of swampy hardwood bottoms and backwater channels. On the far side sits De Valls Bluff, a quiet riverside town that once served as a key Civil War shipping point. Just west of town, we pass remnants of its historic role—weathered buildings, aging river levees, and stretches of road that hint at old alignments. The route straightens as we head toward Hazen, passing a pair of staggered intersections with US-63, which now functions more like a business loop here. Hazen’s grain elevators and old depots whisper of the town’s agricultural backbone, while a modern school complex reminds us that time hasn’t stood still.
Continuing west, Carlisle comes next—a larger community nestled along the southern edge of Interstate 40. While I-40 now carries the bulk of high-speed traffic, US-70 remains the through-town alternative, passing through residential streets and quiet commercial zones. The terrain begins to change slightly, with more trees and a gentle undulation of land as we close in on Lonoke. Known for its namesake county and rice farming heritage, Lonoke offers a mix of small-town amenities and historic architecture. US-70 threads its way along the northern side of town before making an S-curve west of downtown, a remnant of older road planning conforming to property lines and railroad paths.
As we leave Lonoke, suburban sprawl slowly begins to replace farmland. The highway passes through Galloway, a junction community framed by warehouses, truck stops, and rail crossings. This is where the feel of the road starts to shift—from rural route to urban arterial. Interstate 440 provides a major link to the Little Rock metro, and our route now finds itself running along the northeast edge of North Little Rock. We curve southwest briefly, reaching the northern terminus of U.S. 165, a lesser-known but important feeder road that ties in from the southeast. Back on our westward heading, the pace picks up and traffic increases as we approach the final leg.
Crossing Interstate 30, we enter the denser grid of North Little Rock proper. Here, US-70 is signed locally as Broadway Street, though Google Maps shows it as US-70B, a nod to older route designations. We conclude at the intersection with Arkansas Highway 365, where the road bends south to cross the Arkansas River into downtown Little Rock. Though the official endpoint of this journey stops short of the river crossing, the skyline beckons just beyond the bend—signaling both the end of the road and the start of something new.
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