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Arkansas’ location in the south-central U.S. places it along major transportation routes. Important
highways in the state equip the traveler with the most common mode of transportation. Interstate 40
crosses Arkansas from Tennessee west to Little Rock before heading northward to Oklahoma. Interstate
30 crosses from Texas and ends in Little Rock. Highways such as I-540 and U.S. 71 provide scenic
routes through the Ozark Mountains.
Little Rock National Airport, the largest
airport in Arkansas, serves over 2.1 million passengers annually. Other important airports in the
Natural State include the Northwest Arkansas Regional
Airport in Bentonville; the Fort Smith
Regional Airport in Fort Smith; and the Texarkana
Regional Airport in Texarkana. Numerous smaller airports provide charter or commuter flights
throughout the state.
Rail service in Arkansas is possible via Amtrak on
the Texas Eagle, which travels from
Dallas to Chicago with stops in stations at Walnut Ridge, Little Rock, Malvern, Arkadelphia, and
Texarkana.
Water travel primarily occurs via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS). A system of pools and
locks comprises this waterway, enabling vessels to overcome a 420 foot (128 meter) elevation
difference from the Mississippi River to the head of navigation in Catooosa, Oklahoma. Much of the
445 mile (716 kilometer) system, designed for ease of navigation by multi-barge tows, is made of the
downstream portion of the Arkansas River.
Because of its emphasis on highway systems, and without many large metropolitan areas, Arkansas
offers few public transit options for commuters. The Central
Arkansas Transit Authority of North Little Rock offers bus service, shuttles, and a streetcar.
Residents of West Memphis also have access to the Memphis
Area Transit Authority (MataTransit).
Intercity bus service in Arkansas is provided by Greyhound
and Jefferson Lines.
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