Arkansas Highway 72 (AR 72) is a designation for two east–west

state highway A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either Route number, numbered or maintained by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered ...

s in

Benton County, Arkansas Benton County is a county in the Northwest region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Created as Arkansas' 35th county on September 30, 1836, Benton County contains thirteen incorporated municipalities, including Bentonville, the county seat, and ...

. One segment of runs from Highway 43 at Maysville east to Walton Boulevard in Bentonville. A second segment of runs from

Interstate 49 Interstate 49 (I-49) is a north–south Interstate Highway with multiple segments. The original portion is entirely within Louisiana with an additional signed portion extending from Interstate 220 (Louisiana), I-220 in Shreveport, Louisian ...

(I-49) in Bentonville east to

U.S. Route 62 U.S. Route 62 or U.S. Highway 62 (US 62) is an east–west United States Highway in the southern and northeastern United States. It runs from the Mexican border at El Paso, Texas, to Niagara Falls, New York, near the Canadian b ...

(US 62) north of Avoca. The route is one of the original Arkansas state highways.

Route description

Maysville to Bentonville

The route begins at Highway 43 in Maysville and runs east to Gravette. Highway 72 intersects Highway 59 in Gravette near the Kansas City Southern Railway Caboose No. 383 on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

. The highway continues east past the Banks House to the community of Hiwasse within Gravette, having an interchange with

I-49 Interstate 49 (I-49) is a north–south Interstate Highway with multiple segments. The original portion is entirely within Louisiana with an additional signed portion extending from I-220 in Shreveport to the Arkansas state line, three ne ...

just west of the community, where the highway passes the

Hiwasse Bank Building The Hiwasse Bank Building is a historic commercial building in the rural community of Hiwasse, Arkansas. It is located on Arkansas Highway 279, a short way south of its junction with Arkansas Highway 72, abutting a similar but slightly newer comm ...

. Upon reaching Hiwasse, Highway 72 has an

officially designated exception The Arkansas Highway System is made up of all the highways designated as Interstate highway, Interstates, U.S. Highway system, U.S. Highways and State Highways in the US state of Arkansas. The system is maintained by the Arkansas Department of T ...

of with Highway 279. The highway runs southeast into Centerton, having another interchange with I-49 southeast of Hiwasee. Highway 72 has a junction with Highway 102B before entering Bentonville. In Bentonville the highway becomes Central Avenue, running east through subdivisions until meeting Walton Boulevard (former US 71B) and terminating a few blocks west of the Bentonville town square.

Bentonville to Avoca

Highway 72 begins at

/ US 71 in Bentonville and runs northeast to Pea Ridge. The highway has an overlap with Highway 94 through Pea Ridge before turning southeast and runs through

Pea Ridge National Military Park Pea Ridge National Military Park is a United States National Military Park located in northwest Arkansas near the Missouri border. The park protects the site of the Battle of Pea Ridge, fought March 7 and 8, 1862. The battle was a victory for th ...

. South of the park, Highway 72 terminates at

US 62 U.S. Route 62 or U.S. Highway 62 (US 62) is an east–west United States Highway in the southern and northeastern United States. It runs from the Mexican border at El Paso, Texas, to Niagara Falls, New York, near the Canadian bo ...

History

Between Bentonville and Gravette, Highway 72 follows a former alignment of

U.S. Route 71 U.S. Route 71 or U.S. Highway 71 (US 71) is a major north–south United States highway that extends for over 1500 miles (2500 km) in the central United States. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Intersta ...

. In the late 1990s, Highway 72 was rerouted away from downtown Bentonville along US 71B, Highway 102, and Highway 112.

Major intersections

Bentonville spur

Arkansas Highway 72 Spur (AR 72B) is a former

spur route A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important road such as a freeway, Interstate Highway, or motorway. A Bypass route, bypass or beltway is not considered a spur route as it typically reconnects with another or the ...

in Bentonville. Its southern terminus was at an intersection with

US 71 U.S. Route 71 or U.S. Highway 71 (US 71) is a major north–south United States highway that extends for over 1500 miles (2500 km) in the central United States. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Intersta ...

with a northern terminus at an intersection with Highway 72 in Bentonville. Running a total distance of , it was an older alignment of US 71 and at one time was part of US 71B.

References

External links

{{commons category-inline, Arkansas Highway 72 072 Transportation in Benton County, Arkansas Bentonville, Arkansas Pea Ridge, Arkansas U.S. Route 71