Take a scenic ride through the Arkansas River Valley as we follow a charming and lightly traveled stretch of U.S. Route 64 from Morrilton to Conway. This 21-mile journey carries us through a mix of historic small towns, rolling countryside, and growing suburbs—each mile offering a subtle glimpse into the heart of central Arkansas life.
We begin our trip in the heart of downtown Morrilton, where U.S. 64 follows West Broadway Street past a collection of turn-of-the-century brick storefronts and civic buildings. Morrilton, the county seat of Conway County, has long served as a local hub thanks to its location along both the highway and the nearby Arkansas River. As we make our way east, the road becomes known as the Old Conway Highway—aptly named, since it has connected these two towns for generations, predating the construction of Interstate 40. Soon the town yields to farmland and fields, a familiar sight in the Arkansas River Valley, with long stretches of open road flanked by hay bales, farm equipment, and the occasional aging barn.
Rolling eastward, we soon arrive in the small town of Plumerville. This quiet community, once a stagecoach stop and later a stop on the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad, still clings to its rural roots. Though smaller than its neighbors, Plumerville hints at its historic past with older homes and scattered remnants of days when rail travel and riverboats were the primary modes of transportation. The terrain gently undulates here, with small creeks and wooded patches breaking up the otherwise pastoral landscape.
Continuing east, we pass through Menifee, a town of just a few hundred residents. Though small in size, Menifee carries a rich cultural history as one of Arkansas’s historically African American-founded communities, incorporated in the 1950s. The highway through Menifee is quiet but dignified, with churches and modest homes lining the route, embodying the resilient spirit of the town’s early residents. From here, the road straightens and flattens as we near the Conway city limits, gradually exchanging fields and forests for neighborhoods, shopping centers, and traffic signals.
As we enter Conway from the northwest, U.S. 64 transitions into Harkrider Street, a busy north-south thoroughfare that traces the path of the old railroad through the heart of the city. We pass by Hendrix College, a private liberal arts college founded in 1876, whose leafy campus and stately architecture add a collegiate charm to the drive. At the intersection with Oak Street, U.S. 64 veers east again, taking on the character of a commercial corridor lined with restaurants, businesses, and gas stations—typical of a growing college town with strong ties to both Little Rock and the surrounding rural counties. A few short blocks later, we reach our destination: the junction with Interstate 40, a modern arterial that now shoulders most of the through traffic once funneled down this very road.
As we conclude our drive, it’s easy to appreciate the quiet dignity of this slice of U.S. 64. While many travelers opt for the speed of the interstate, this slower path rewards patience with a sense of continuity and connection. It’s a road that still breathes with the rhythm of local life—one that links not just places, but generations of stories, farms, families, and small-town pride.
🗺️ Route Map
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