Arkansas Highway 35: Monticello to Dermott

Traveling through the heart of southeastern Arkansas, Arkansas Highway 35 offers a quiet, rural drive connecting the towns of Monticello and Dermott. This 21-mile stretch of two-lane blacktop showcases the region’s agricultural heritage and small-town charm, with just enough infrastructure to make it a viable connector while still maintaining its backroad feel. Starting on the east side of Monticello, this segment carries us southeast across future infrastructure corridors, through scattered communities, and into the Delta town of Dermott.

Our journey begins just east of Monticello, turning onto AR-35 from U.S. Highway 278. The landscape immediately transitions from the commercial outskirts of town to a more open, wooded environment. After just a few miles, we cross the future right-of-way for Interstate 69—currently a two-lane bypass that will eventually serve as a major north-south corridor through the Mid-South. It’s a subtle but meaningful crossing, hinting at the changing transportation landscape in this part of Arkansas. From here, the highway curves gently as we exit the Monticello city limits, entering a patchwork of forest, fields, and homesteads that define much of Drew County.

The first notable community we reach is Cominto, a small unincorporated area marked by its crossroads and agricultural backdrop. Just a few miles farther down the road, we pass through Baxter, another rural waypoint that still shows traces of its past through old barns, farmhouses, and modest homes. These settlements may not have gas stations or diners, but they offer a real sense of place—testaments to the way of life that still defines much of rural Arkansas. As we roll through the flat Delta landscape, large farm fields stretch to the horizon, broken only by stands of trees, irrigation ditches, and the occasional grain bin.

Approaching Dermott, the surroundings shift again as we ease back into a more residential setting. The west side of town greets travelers with a mix of homes, churches, and small businesses before the route makes its final turn onto Norwood Street. While the center of Dermott lies just a few blocks farther east, this is where our video ends—right on the edge of what could be considered the town’s downtown district. Dermott, once a larger hub in Chicot County, still holds onto its identity as a small Delta town with deep roots and a tight-knit community.