Crowley's Ridge Parkway
A 212-mile drive along Crowley's Ridge, a narrow band of hills that rises above the flat Mississippi Delta from Missouri to Helena, Arkansas.
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length212 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout 5.5 hours of driving[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsNot verified
- Start and endNear Helena-West Helena, AR and near Malden, MONearest towns to the ends of the U.S. DOT route line
- Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]State parks along the way may charge for some activities.
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
Crowley's Ridge is a strip of rolling, wooded hills that stands above the flat farmland of the Mississippi Delta. The parkway follows it for 212 miles, from southeast Missouri down through eastern Arkansas to the St. Francis National Forest near Helena.
FHWA describes a mix of plant communities and wildlife along the ridge, with wildflowers from spring through fall. State parks make good breaks: Crowley's Ridge State Park near Walcott, Village Creek north of Forrest City, and Parkin Archeological State Park.
Plan on about five and a half hours of driving for the whole route, longer with stops.
Stops along the way
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Crowley's Ridge State Park
State park near Walcott with a lake, cabins and camping.
Official information · 36.04393, -90.66315 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
-
Parkin Archeological State Park
Site of a Mississippian-era village.
Official information · 35.27816, -90.55674 · about 8.4 mi from the route line
-
Village Creek State Park
Large park set on the ridge, north of Forrest City.
Official information · 35.15977, -90.70808 · about 1.3 mi from the route line
-
St. Francis National Forest
Forest at the south end of the ridge near Helena.
Official information · 34.66571, -90.68638 · about 0.5 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Forrest City Farmers MarketForrest City, AR · about 0.2 mi from the route
- Paragould Farmers' MarketParagould, AR · about 1.1 mi from the route
- Cross County Farmer's MarketWynne, AR · about 1.8 mi from the route
- ASU Regional Farmers' MarketJonesboro, AR · about 2.1 mi from the route
- Tuesday MarketBernie, MO · about 8.0 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Crowley's Ridge Parkway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Crowley's Ridge State Park (Arkansas State Parks) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Village Creek State Park (Arkansas State Parks) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Parkin Archeological State Park (Arkansas State Parks) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).