Planning a Route Through the Ozarks
08-02-2023, 12:05 PM
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Planning a Route Through the Ozarks
Hey guys it has been a long time since I've posted. I DDed an 03 S2000 for almost a decade before it met with an untimely end. At the time I found a great deal on a 350Z and switched over to that for awhile. I recently purchased a 13 FR-S to test out until the car market hopefully settles down a bit. The FR-S defiantly has me seeing why the S2000 was always better than the Z. The light weight and improved handling is far superior to the extra power. The FR-S has great handling characteristics like the S2000 but the engine is pretty sad comparatively. Where the S2000 builds to a crescendo this car has a torque dip and a red line.
The handling has me thinking about when I used to go on the BMT with a lot of you guys so I figured I would plan a route and test out the FR-S. It has been awhile since I have been to the Ozarks so I am unsure of the state of the roads out their, if there are any I should try and skip or some I shouldn't miss. I will most likely want to make my way to Ponca first but then I am not exactly sure where I want to go. I will probably head over to Jasper from there should I go to Deer then Pelsor or Vendor to Pelsor? From Pelsor do I head to Witts Springs or Dover?
The handling has me thinking about when I used to go on the BMT with a lot of you guys so I figured I would plan a route and test out the FR-S. It has been awhile since I have been to the Ozarks so I am unsure of the state of the roads out their, if there are any I should try and skip or some I shouldn't miss. I will most likely want to make my way to Ponca first but then I am not exactly sure where I want to go. I will probably head over to Jasper from there should I go to Deer then Pelsor or Vendor to Pelsor? From Pelsor do I head to Witts Springs or Dover?
08-02-2023, 12:13 PM
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Arkansas state highways are typically well maintained. The county roads can be hit and miss. Last I recall, the road that goes through the little town of Parthenon was pretty rough, bad enough to forego.
08-03-2023, 12:22 PM
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So far this is what I am thinking
Day 1
https://goo.gl/maps/CY5qNdmn3igYz6pC7
Day 2
https://goo.gl/maps/E9nv3ioaUa72cyRF8
Day 1
https://goo.gl/maps/CY5qNdmn3igYz6pC7
Day 2
https://goo.gl/maps/E9nv3ioaUa72cyRF8
08-03-2023, 12:58 PM
#4
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Dude, that looks awesome! 
NFM 28 is the road I was thinking is typically pretty rough but if you're only going a short way in and going back the same way, the roughness should be minimal. Just watch out for any big dips, holes, and bumps.
NFM 28 is the road I was thinking is typically pretty rough but if you're only going a short way in and going back the same way, the roughness should be minimal. Just watch out for any big dips, holes, and bumps.
08-04-2023, 06:17 AM
#5
Get yourself the Butler Motorcycle Map for AR, MO, and OK. Then simply pick your poison. This map is amazing. My favorites are the roads in SW MO between Rolla and directly north of Eureka Springs. I have several routes up there on my way to & from the BMT when it is based out of Eureka Springs. Here is a link for the map: Butler Moto Map - AR
08-04-2023, 06:20 AM
#6
I saw your routes and would advise to stay away from I40 and 412. There are so many great roads you can take to get overthere. check out Hwy 62 from Tahlequah over to Westville. Hwy 10 is also good.
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JulieU (08-04-2023)
08-04-2023, 06:55 AM
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I must have remapped it I had it going through Westville at point. I went to NSU and would always take my S2000 up to Westville all the time.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I will be making corrections to my routes !
Yeah that road is just to get to somewhere to stretch my legs a bit and see something cool. Thanks for the heads up though.
Last edited by hariku821; 08-04-2023 at 07:26 AM.
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08-04-2023, 07:23 AM
#8
Very cool. I also went to NSU from 89-94. Spent many afternoons hammering my old 77 280Z east of Tahlequah.
Here is my main route to/from BMT from Edmond with the roads in SW MO I was telling you about. These roads were suggested from Kent Willer & Jack Ogle and they are incredible!!! :
Route to BMT
Here is my main route to/from BMT from Edmond with the roads in SW MO I was telling you about. These roads were suggested from Kent Willer & Jack Ogle and they are incredible!!! :
Route to BMT
08-20-2023, 01:33 PM
#9
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Here is some info I provided the S2KCA event organizer for S2K Days. He asked for some 2-hour route options starting in Eureka Springs with possible lunch stops which I realize isn't what you're looking for but maybe you can pick out some little pieces from this:
Originally Posted by JulieU
Branson, MO. https://goo.gl/maps/83cEHYDgr6gLsWiT7
Branson is a busy little tourist town but there are lots of restaurant options and fun roads in between.
I'm not sure if this will show my preferred route but it would be to take Hwy 23 north into Missouri to Hwy 86, Hwy 86 east to Hwy 65. You could always take a different route back.
Cassville, MO. https://goo.gl/maps/S9o4Dj3zwTp7uYzN6
North on Hwy 23, west on Hwy 86, west on Hwy F (possible stop at Roaring River State Park, maybe stop to feed the fish at the hatchery if it's not sweltering hot like it typically is in July, there' s a neat little cave behind the hatchery that you can walk up to), north on Hwy 112. I'm sure there are a few other restaurant options but I only recall eating at Geraldi's; it's been a few years but they have really good pizza. They have pasta and sandwiches too.
Harrison, AR. https://goo.gl/maps/5TAjUis1Q3Ebq5TD8
Hwy 62 east to Alpena, Hwy 412 east to Hwy 65 south. This is a less exciting route but Harrison has lots of lunch options. There's a Japanese restaurant across from Walmart that's pretty good. Colton's is a popular option.
However, most of the REALLY good roads are south of Eureka Springs but you'd have to go a little farther and therefore longer than two hours to find a decent lunch stop, although it's been my experience that Google map times are a little longer than your typical spirited S2000 driving times if you know what I mean. With that in mind...
Jasper, AR. https://goo.gl/maps/VakjFi9F7zUCxRyX8
The link will probably show you the quickest and most direct route (1 hour, 21 minutes - Hwy 62 east to Alpena, Hwy 412 east through Harrison or Hwys 392/206 to bypass Harrison, south on Hwy 7) but, on BMTs at least, we typically take this route https://goo.gl/maps/653k54Vu4f4qB57S8 (1 hour, 45 minutes - Hwy 62 east, right on Rock House Road, Hwy 221 east to Berryville, Hwy 62 east, Hwy 103 south, Hwy 412 east, Hwy 103 south, Hwy 43 south, Hwy 74 east).
Wiederkehr Wine & Restaurant https://goo.gl/maps/Vn8X5LifELiseC3V8
It's less than but almost two hours each way on Hwy 23 but totally worth it because 1) Pig Trail Scenic Byway and 2) Wiederkehr Restaurant.
I strongly discourage heading west towards Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, Fayetteville because that area has so much heavy traffic. There is one exception to heading west, however...
Pineville, MO https://goo.gl/maps/vY8pThBA7uMv5P6R8
Hwy 62 west, Hwy 37 north, Hwy 90 west, Hwy K west. There's a restaurant called Haven 55 that I've driven by many times; I've never tried but have been wanting to! Parking looks kind of minimal in case that matters. If that's a deal breaker then you could head little farther west to...
Lanagan, MO https://goo.gl/maps/yjMjKuSc56ZBoAD28
Hwy 62 west, Hwy 37 north, Hwy 90 west, Hwy K west, Business Hwy 71 north, Hwy EE west, Hwy 59 south. The Cave Bar & Grill is a restaurant in an actual cave which is a great way to escape the July heat! Only downside is that their parking lot is gravel. I just noticed that there is a bank with ample paved parking within walking distance; maybe they would let you park there?
Branson is a busy little tourist town but there are lots of restaurant options and fun roads in between.
I'm not sure if this will show my preferred route but it would be to take Hwy 23 north into Missouri to Hwy 86, Hwy 86 east to Hwy 65. You could always take a different route back.
Cassville, MO. https://goo.gl/maps/S9o4Dj3zwTp7uYzN6
North on Hwy 23, west on Hwy 86, west on Hwy F (possible stop at Roaring River State Park, maybe stop to feed the fish at the hatchery if it's not sweltering hot like it typically is in July, there' s a neat little cave behind the hatchery that you can walk up to), north on Hwy 112. I'm sure there are a few other restaurant options but I only recall eating at Geraldi's; it's been a few years but they have really good pizza. They have pasta and sandwiches too.
Harrison, AR. https://goo.gl/maps/5TAjUis1Q3Ebq5TD8
Hwy 62 east to Alpena, Hwy 412 east to Hwy 65 south. This is a less exciting route but Harrison has lots of lunch options. There's a Japanese restaurant across from Walmart that's pretty good. Colton's is a popular option.
However, most of the REALLY good roads are south of Eureka Springs but you'd have to go a little farther and therefore longer than two hours to find a decent lunch stop, although it's been my experience that Google map times are a little longer than your typical spirited S2000 driving times if you know what I mean. With that in mind...
Jasper, AR. https://goo.gl/maps/VakjFi9F7zUCxRyX8
The link will probably show you the quickest and most direct route (1 hour, 21 minutes - Hwy 62 east to Alpena, Hwy 412 east through Harrison or Hwys 392/206 to bypass Harrison, south on Hwy 7) but, on BMTs at least, we typically take this route https://goo.gl/maps/653k54Vu4f4qB57S8 (1 hour, 45 minutes - Hwy 62 east, right on Rock House Road, Hwy 221 east to Berryville, Hwy 62 east, Hwy 103 south, Hwy 412 east, Hwy 103 south, Hwy 43 south, Hwy 74 east).
Wiederkehr Wine & Restaurant https://goo.gl/maps/Vn8X5LifELiseC3V8
It's less than but almost two hours each way on Hwy 23 but totally worth it because 1) Pig Trail Scenic Byway and 2) Wiederkehr Restaurant.
I strongly discourage heading west towards Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, Fayetteville because that area has so much heavy traffic. There is one exception to heading west, however...
Pineville, MO https://goo.gl/maps/vY8pThBA7uMv5P6R8
Hwy 62 west, Hwy 37 north, Hwy 90 west, Hwy K west. There's a restaurant called Haven 55 that I've driven by many times; I've never tried but have been wanting to! Parking looks kind of minimal in case that matters. If that's a deal breaker then you could head little farther west to...
Lanagan, MO https://goo.gl/maps/yjMjKuSc56ZBoAD28
Hwy 62 west, Hwy 37 north, Hwy 90 west, Hwy K west, Business Hwy 71 north, Hwy EE west, Hwy 59 south. The Cave Bar & Grill is a restaurant in an actual cave which is a great way to escape the July heat! Only downside is that their parking lot is gravel. I just noticed that there is a bank with ample paved parking within walking distance; maybe they would let you park there?
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