For the majority of its routing through Arkansas, I-40 follows the historic alignment of two separate U.S. Highways. From Oklahoma to Little Rock, I-40 generally follows U.S. Highway 64 through the Ozark Mountains. East of Little Rock, the route generally follows the routing of US 70 until the Tennessee state line.
Now in Pulaski County, I-40 heads toward the south-southeast as it heads to the town of Maumelle. It continues toward this direction until it reaches I-430, which provides access along the westside of Little Rock.[10] Further southeast near the Arkansas River, the route has a high volume interchange as the northern terminus of I-30 as well as concurrent routes with US 67/US 167; US 65 turns south at this intersection, breaking the concurrency formed in Conway.[10] I-40 (now concurrent with US 67 and US 167) continues east for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) before the latter two routes branch off to the northeast with I-57. From this point onward, I-40 begins to parallel US 70 rather than US 64, which was a more or less a parallel route until Conway. The Interstate continues to the east to intersect I-440 before entering Lonoke County.[10] Passing through Lonoke, the route runs through rural Arkansas with straight alignments and relatively few junctions, forming an overlap with US 63 in Hazen until meeting US 49/AR 17 in Brinkley.[11][12][13] Upon entering St. Francis County, I-40 runs northeast to Forrest City, where it intersects with AR 1.[14] Continuing northeast, I-40 enters Crittenden County, where it intersects with US 79 at Shearerville and enters West Memphis.[15]
The highway continues to the northeast to an interchange with I-55, and the two routes form a concurrency east for 3.1 miles (5.0 km). I-40 continues east onto the Hernando de Soto Bridge over the Mississippi River. The Tennessee border is at the midpoint of the river, and Memphis, Tennessee, begins at the eastside of the bridge.[15]
History
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^Planning and Research Division (2010). "Arkansas Road Log Database". Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original(Database) on June 23, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
^ abGeneral Highway Map, Crawford County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2011. Archived from the original(PDF) on February 26, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, Washington County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2010. Archived from the original(PDF) on May 25, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, Benton County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2010. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, Franklin County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2011. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 22, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, Johnson County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2010. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 22, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, Pope County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2006. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 22, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, Conway County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2008. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^ abGeneral Highway Map, Faulkner County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2009. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^ abcGeneral Highway Map, Pulaski County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2009. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, Lonoke County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2010. Archived from the original(PDF) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, Prairie County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2008. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, Monroe County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2009. Archived from the original(PDF) on January 26, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^General Highway Map, St. Francis County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2007. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 13, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
^ abGeneral Highway Map, Crittenden County, Arkansas(PDF) (Map). 1:62500. Cartography by Planning and Research Division. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2009. Archived from the original(PDF) on February 26, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
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