Come along with us as we travel 13 scenic miles northbound on Arkansas Highway 109, starting at the small crossroads community of Midway and rolling all the way into the heart of Clarksville. This stretch of road offers a fine cross-section of the Arkansas River Valley, blending quiet wooded hills with open farm country and ending with a commanding view from the Ada Mills Bridge over the mighty Arkansas River.
Our journey kicks off where Arkansas Highway 109 splits off from Arkansas Highway 22 in Midway. Right away, the tone is set by gentle curves and shady tree tunnels, typical of this part of Logan County. As we ease northward, small hills and roadside forests flank the pavement, reminding us how rural Arkansas keeps its green crown year-round, even in the heat of summer. It’s a peaceful stretch where you’ll likely share the road with local trucks, the occasional tractor, and the slow crawl of time itself.
A few miles up the way, the landscape begins to open up. Nearing Scranton, the tight tree cover gives way to wide patches of farmland. You’ll spot grazing cattle, fields of hay, and more than a few classic barns and grain silos off in the distance. This is farm country, and Highway 109 doesn’t shy away from showing off its agricultural backbone. As we bend and twist through these fields, we come upon the junction with Arkansas Highway 228, a short spur serving local farms and homes to the west.
Entering Scranton, Highway 109 winds through this compact town at a leisurely pace. Scranton might be small in size, but it’s big on charm — with a classic post office, a pair of churches, and that unmistakable hush you only get in a town where everyone knows your name. Right in the middle of town, we cross paths with Arkansas Highway 197, which heads off toward nearby communities and river access points. Once through Scranton proper, the road resumes its meandering pace, hugging fields and scattered clusters of homes as we aim north once more.
Leaving Scranton behind, Highway 109 cuts toward the Arkansas River. Before we reach the water, we pass through Morrison Bluff — an unincorporated community that serves as the southern anchor for one of the region’s more impressive river crossings. We cross Arkansas Highway 393 here, another minor local connector. From Morrison Bluff, the road gently climbs onto the approach for the Morrison Bluff Bridge, officially named the Ada Mills Bridge. This long, two-lane span is an iconic sight for local travelers. Rising above the broad river below, it offers sweeping views of the water, distant hills, and, on clear days, the outline of Clarksville waiting on the north bank.
Crossing the Ada Mills Bridge is worth the drive alone — it’s a true highlight. Depending on the season, you might see fishermen working the banks, pleasure boats cruising beneath, or the Arkansas River at full flood stage, reminding everyone who’s really in charge in these parts.
Once across, we find ourselves in Clarksville, the seat of Johnson County and a major local hub along Interstate 40. But we stick with Highway 109 for just a bit longer. The final mile brings us through an area that’s grown over the years — warehouses, a large distribution complex, and a few businesses line the roadside. Soon, we roll past Crawford Street, a busy local connector, and glide north through the city fringe until Highway 109 meets its end at U.S. Highway 64. From here, you can swing west toward Ozark or east back toward the interstate and downtown Clarksville.
This drive along Arkansas Highway 109 is a quick, rewarding slice of river valley life — from wooded hills to open farms and finally across one of the state’s signature river crossings. It’s the kind of everyday route that local folks take for granted, but for visitors and curious drivers, it’s a perfect backroad detour between Midway and the banks of the Arkansas River.
🗺️ Route Map
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