Fayetteville, ArKansas

Learn that Arkansas doesn't capitalize the K. Weird you're using an alter to post on the Travel Board.

What am I altering?

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Fayetteville, ArKansas

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Watch your CoRnhole!

You won't hit Petit Jean if you come up from Dallas (assuming you go up 35).

Devil's Den is nice, as someone else said.

Crystal Bridges is world class and worth visiting for the architecture and setting, even if you're not into the art.

Doubtful that you're into mountain biking, but the IMBA World Summit is also being held in Bentonville that weekend, and Danny Mcaskill as well as a bunch of other amazing riders will be in town putting on demos and such, which should be fun to watch.

If you take the most direct route for the most part you will be well out into Oklahoma with not much to see. If you go that route then I'd just plan on spending my time in NWA visiting places such as Devil's Den, Crystal Bridges, etc., as has been suggested.

Another option is to think Talihina and Mena as in the Talimena Scenic Byway. Here's a good LINK Visiting relatives in Plano I've actually gone this route.

When you get to Mena then you've got other options. You can take US 71 up to Fort Smith and then you'll get on Interstate 40 heading East toward Alma. Near Alma you can take Interstate 49 to Fayetteville or US 71 which parallels 49 and takes you by Devils Den. US 71 is more scenic. Or you can continue on I 40 past Alma until you intersect Highway 23 near Ozark and take what is known as the Pig Trail Scenic Byway LINK Highway 23 intersects with Highway 16 and you'll head West on 16 taking you into Fayetteville. Or, you can stay on 23 heading North and that will eventually take you to Eureka Springs which I discuss more below. At a minimum I would choose one of these options with the Pig Trail route probably being the best and regardless it will be primarily driving and hopefully taking in some Fall foliage with the color changes site linked here. LINK

Depending on the time you have another good option from Mena is just North of there 71 intersects US HIghway 270 and you can head East taking you through the Ouachita National Forest into Hot Springs. From there you can get onto US Highway 7 heading North and travel a part of another scenic byway. LINK

When you get to Russellville along on I40 then you've got more choices. If you head West on I40 then that takes you where you near Ozark again where you can pick up the Pig Trail. Another option is to continue North on 7 crossing over I40 and it takes you through Dover, Jasper, and Harrison. At Harrison 7 intersects with Highway 412 and heading West you will come to Eureka Springs LINK mentioned by another poster, a funky town where you could spend some time. Eureka is only about an hour from Fayetteville--45 South/412 is probably the best way to get to Fayetteville from Eureka.

And a link for the scenic byways including those I've mentioned just for good measure. LINK Phew that was a chore.