Arkansas Highway 612: Lowell to Elm Springs

Driving west across northwest Arkansas, Arkansas Highway 612—also signed as the Springdale Northern Bypass—is a short but significant connector between the city of Lowell and the community of Elm Springs. While it’s only four miles long for now, this stretch is the first constructed portion of a larger plan to transform AR-612 into the future alignment of U.S. Route 412 as a full controlled-access freeway. In the meantime, it offers a quick and modern drive through Benton and Washington Counties with minimal traffic interference and impressive views of the surrounding Ozark foothills.

We begin our journey at the eastern terminus of Highway 612, which currently ties into a massive yet partially complete stack interchange with Interstate 49 just northwest of downtown Lowell. From here, we head westward on a smooth, divided highway designed with the future in mind—featuring wide shoulders, modern interchanges, and limited access points. This entire corridor was built to freeway standards and is mostly elevated above the rolling terrain, providing sweeping views of the rural countryside that still defines much of this part of the region. While there are no direct exits between I-49 and AR-112, the bypass functions as a critical bypass route for freight and through traffic looking to avoid congestion in Springdale.

As we continue west, the route gradually shifts into more rural surroundings. Despite the booming urban growth just to the south in Springdale and Tontitown, the immediate area around the bypass remains mostly undeveloped for now—though that may soon change. Large fields and pockets of woods dominate the landscape, but the potential for commercial and residential expansion looms just beyond the corridor’s edges. This drive provides a rare opportunity to experience a brand-new highway before it becomes fully enveloped by Northwest Arkansas’ rapid development.

Our drive ends at the interchange with Arkansas Highway 112 in Elm Springs, just north of Springdale. While the interchange is complete and functional, the roadway itself is expected to extend west toward Tontitown and beyond as funding becomes available. In its future form, Highway 612 will serve as a major east-west freeway across northern Arkansas, helping to connect the Tulsa metro area to Northwest Arkansas and points east. Until then, this four-mile segment offers a glimpse into the region’s infrastructure ambitions and provides a fast, scenic shortcut across the northern outskirts of Springdale.