Arkansas Highway 105: Caglesville to Hector

Let’s hit the road together and roll north along Arkansas Highway 105, covering about five miles of simple yet charming countryside between Caglesville and Hector. This short stretch might not make many “must-drive” lists, but it has its own subtle charm for anyone who appreciates the easy pace of Arkansas backroads.

We kick things off just east of Caglesville, where Highway 105 branches north from Arkansas Highway 124. Right from the turn, it’s a gentle ride through rolling farmland and scattered woods — a glimpse of the rural heart of Pope County. Fields stretch out on either side, dotted with hay bales, small ponds, and the occasional farmhouse that seems to stand watch over the road. It’s the sort of drive where you roll the windows down and let the breeze do the talking, especially during planting or harvest season when these backroads showcase Arkansas agriculture in action.

A mile or so up the road, we cross the second junction with AR-124, which loops north and east toward Hattieville and Atkins. But we stick to Highway 105, cruising steadily north. As we near Hector, the scenery shifts subtly: more trees edge up to the roadside, and distant ridges start to peek through the treetops. Hector itself is a modest but welcoming small town — the kind where you’ll find a couple of local diners, a school, and maybe a pickup or two parked under the shade of the courthouse trees. For many travelers, Hector is a waypoint to bigger adventures in the Ozark National Forest or a quick stop before heading deeper into the hills.

Our journey along Highway 105 officially wraps up as we roll into Hector and meet the northern end of the highway at Arkansas Highway 27. From here, the options widen up: stay north on AR-27 and you’ll wind into the heart of the Ozarks, or loop back south for another lazy cruise through Pope County’s farmland and forests. Even on a short run like this, Arkansas Highway 105 delivers that easy-going mix of country scenery and small-town warmth that makes driving these lesser-known routes worthwhile.