Trip Routing Advice Needed

[Johnww]

Planning a fall trip using RV Trip Wizard. One section requires going from Texarkana, TX to Ft. Smith, AR. Trip Wizard wants to route me from Texarkana via IH-30 to Little Rock, AR then IH-40 to Ft. Smith, AR. This adds 75 miles to the trip. Any reason I can't take US59/US71 through Mena pulling my 5th wheel trailer? Thanks in advance for advice

[livinthelife]

Planning a fall trip using RV Trip Wizard. One section requires going from Texarkana, TX to Ft. Smith, AR. Trip Wizard wants to route me from Texarkana via IH-30 to Little Rock, AR then IH-40 to Ft. Smith, AR. This adds 75 miles to the trip. Any reason I can't take US59/US71 through Mena pulling my 5th wheel trailer? Thanks in advance for advice

I use Sygic for routing. The only difference I can see, the road (US59/71) north is fairly winding. Where the I30/I40 is a bit straighter (probably a bigger highway).

[Hoopy Frood]

Personally I would take the two lane highways. I've got a 38' toyhauler and wouldn't hesitate to take that route.

[Second Chance]

US 71 and US 59 are both US highways - should be fine. Google maps shows the difference going through Little Rock is over 100 miles. I certainly wouldn't go that way.

Rob

[JohnnyBadger]

Planning a fall trip using RV Trip Wizard. One section requires going from Texarkana, TX to Ft. Smith, AR. Trip Wizard wants to route me from Texarkana via IH-30 to Little Rock, AR then IH-40 to Ft. Smith, AR. This adds 75 miles to the trip. Any reason I can't take US59/US71 through Mena pulling my 5th wheel trailer? Thanks in advance for advice

John, when I plugged these start/end points into my RV Trip Wizard (with my metrics programmed in), it gives me the same preferred route, with a second “RV Safe” alternative (I-30 west to Hwy 41, then north to 59/71 in Dequeen). The route you prefer is classified as a “Automobile” route.

My speculation is there could be a stretch of the 59/71 route south of Dequeen that has a height, weight, and/or length conflict. I believe Trip Wizard ranks RV Safe alternatives based on estimated times, not total miles, of each of the routes. The “preferred” route in this situation is slightly faster, even though it is 100 miles longer.

But, again, this is just speculation on my part.

John

[Steven@147]

Planning a fall trip using RV Trip Wizard. One section requires going from Texarkana, TX to Ft. Smith, AR. Trip Wizard wants to route me from Texarkana via IH-30 to Little Rock, AR then IH-40 to Ft. Smith, AR. This adds 75 miles to the trip. Any reason I can't take US59/US71 through Mena pulling my 5th wheel trailer? Thanks in advance for advice

John, I just plugged in Texarkana to Ft Smith AR and used Alma RV Park in Ft Smith as a stopover. Trip Wizard with our settings routed me on 59/71 direct at a distance of 196 miles with no hazards. Using my rig specs of 13.6 height and 53 feet length, 16800 GVWR carrying propane and using RV routing. So you shouldn't have a problem. I have driven US 59 from Livingston TX (Houston) up to Texarkana, up that far its 4 lane divided good highway.

[Hoopy Frood]

I set up a route in BaseCamp from Texarkana to Ft. Smith using the hiways you've mentioned. The difference was right at 100 miles, and an hour longer using the interstates. I've driven most of the roads down in that area of Arkansas, and I don't believe you would have an issue. I'd do it in a heartbeat. Besides two lanes are just more relaxing.

[Johnww]

Many thanks to those who have replied. I'm thinking, as some have suggested, I will confirm the 59/71 route with a Truckers Map to be sure I'm not overlooking something. Again, many thanks to our forum members.

[Coach W]

Texarkana to Mena is an easy route. Two lane, many small towns. Just don't get in a hurry. The route all the way to Ft. Smith is not a problem. It is a typical Arkansas two lane road. It is a really pretty drive. There are no RV restrictions that I can think of and have pulled a trailer on it many times.

[AustexGP]

Planning a fall trip using RV Trip Wizard. One section requires going from Texarkana, TX to Ft. Smith, AR. Trip Wizard wants to route me from Texarkana via IH-30 to Little Rock, AR then IH-40 to Ft. Smith, AR. This adds 75 miles to the trip. Any reason I can't take US59/US71 through Mena pulling my 5th wheel trailer? Thanks in advance for advice

Just remember the roads of Arkansas are very curvy with a lot of blind spots. We drove from Fayetteville to Eureka Springs using HWY45 to HWY23 was not a bad road, but we averaged under 30mph (got great gas mileage though). So be prepared to drive slow, stop at a lot of little towns traffic signals and lots of curvy roads. Take your time and have fun looking at the beautiful country side.