Arkansas Highway 66: Leslie to Mountain View

Join us on a 30-mile journey through the heart of the Ozarks as we travel east along Arkansas Highway 66 from the historic town of Leslie to the lively folk music capital of Mountain View. This two-lane highway might not be the most direct route in the region, but it’s certainly one of the most scenic and serene. Winding through quiet forests, rural hamlets, and rolling ridgelines, Highway 66 gives travelers a front-row seat to the natural beauty and small-town charm of north central Arkansas.

We begin our drive in Leslie, a small but storied town located at the intersection of Highway 66 and U.S. Route 65. Leslie itself is worth a quick detour before heading east—its downtown is dotted with preserved early-1900s buildings, antique shops, and the remnants of its once-thriving timber and railroad industries. As we leave town, the road quickly ascends into the hills, trading the grid layout of Leslie for the twisting, rising terrain that defines the Ozark Plateau. The curves come quickly, and the scenery becomes increasingly wooded as we roll through Searcy County.

About 10 miles into the journey, we pass through the rural community of Oxley. This tiny hamlet marks a subtle shift in the route’s direction, turning us northward toward the AR-74 junction near Alco. This area is mostly forest and farmland, with occasional breaks that open to wide views of the rolling hills. The intersection with AR-74 provides access west toward Marshall.

Continuing on, Highway 66 curves southeast toward the community of Timbo, a crossroads village that might be easy to miss if not for its musical heritage—this was once home to legendary folk musician Jimmy Driftwood. Just south of Timbo, we cross AR-263, which leads north toward Big Flat and Fifty-Six. Past Timbo, the highway begins a more easterly course as we close in on our destination. The terrain here is pure Ozarks—dense forests line the road, and you may catch glimpses of creeks and bluffs depending on the season.

As we enter Stone County, the pace of the road and life itself begins to shift. Soon enough, we reach the outskirts of Mountain View, where Highway 66 becomes Main Street. Known for its devotion to preserving Ozark culture and its nightly music gatherings in the town square, Mountain View is both a destination and a doorway into deeper exploration. Here, AR-66 meets Arkansas Highway 87 before reaching its eastern terminus at the intersection with Arkansas Highway 9 in the center of town.

Mountain View is an ideal place to wrap up the trip—with its folk music scene, Ozark Folk Center State Park, and nearby access to Blanchard Springs Caverns and the White River, there’s no shortage of things to see and do. Whether you’re just passing through or spending the night, this stretch of Arkansas Highway 66 offers a great balance of nature, culture, and scenic driving.

🎵 Music: Track List