Route 65, Little Rock to Branson????...

[Glenn and Lorraine]

I have my route in the planning stages from Clearwater, FL to Branson MO.

One route my Streets and Trips recommends is US route 65 from Little Rock, AR to Branson, MO. Never been is this part of the country and I am wondering just what kinda hiway is US route 65.

OR is there a better way?

[jpf]

We drove that route last July to Branson, after working our way over from a stop over at the casinos in Tunica. We started out from Ft Myers Beach, FL.
As I recall 65 was an OK route, the only note we wrote was that it got a little "hilly" north of Little Rock, but nothing severe.
Since we had a few days to spend before our reservation in Branson we stopped at Parkers RV Park in Harrison, AR on 65 just south of the State line and were able to tour the area for a while. Beautiful lakes over in the Mountain Home area

[Cat320]

US 65 is not bad, a bit hilly and curvy, but okay. From Little Rock, if you did not use US 65 going to Branson, it would be a very long way around.

[adelmoll]

We are in Branson now Glenn and that is the route we took from Little Rock. It is a very nice and easy route with some pretty scenery. Be sure to stop at the Buffalo River National Park. it is only a couple of miles of the highway and is a beautiful stop. They also have a great campground that the Tana fits in nicely but no water and electric at that one. You can get to the visiters center very easy in the Tana but be sure to drive all the way down to the picnic area to see the river. It is only about 60 miles south of Branson. We stopped at the town right before and got Subway's at a gas station on the left and had a picnic lunch. Nice.

Helen

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Thanks all, looks like Streets and Trips picked the right route. I was hoping it was OK as I want to stop off in Flippin, AR to take a tour of the Ranger Boat plant. It looks to be about 30 miles off of 65 and there is a Pasport America park close by.

Speaking of Passport America, looks like our entire week going to Branson, May 6 to the 13th, we will be utilizing PPA parks. Nothing like saving a few bucks camping as I will need the extra $$$$$ for the fuel tank this summer.

[Countryfolks]

Glenn;
65 is 4 lane most of the way to Clinton, after that is is 2 lane. There are a couple of places that are fairly steep and is 2 lane after Clinton. There is some construction. It widens back to 4 lanes at Belle Vista which is just south of Harrison. It's about a 45 min-1 hour trip from the Belle Vista turn off [412] to Flippin, all easy 2 lane . There are a lot of RV parks in the area, private, COE and state. If y'all are interested in folk music, Mt View is about 50 miles south of Mt Home on highway 5 [2 lane]. Music at the city courtyard and the the Ozark Folk Center. There's a cave tour in the area also. 65 is probably the main N/S route in the area. We go up that way all the time to visit family and friends.

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