McGehee to Back Gate

Arkansas Highway 1 begins at U.S. Route 278 in downtown McGehee and runs northwest (along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks) for three blocks before turning northeast at an intersection with AR 159.^[4] The highway continues across US 65/US 165 and exits town in a northeastern direction, passing McGehee High School. AR 1 meets Arkansas Highway 4, which runs south to Arkansas City before curving north to Rohwer, which was a Japanese American internment camp during World War II.^[5] AR 1 passes the Kemp Cotton Gin Historic District, Rowher Relocation Center, and Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery. Continuing north, AR 1 ceases following the railroad at Watson and runs west to Back Gate, where a concurrency with US 165 begins.

DeWitt to Wynne

Entering Arkansas County, the routes pass through Gillett and rural Arkansas County.^[6] In south De Witt AR 1 splits east from US 165 and AR 1 Business.^[7] AR 1 bypasses southeast De Witt, and after reconnecting with AR 1B continues northeast. AR 1 runs east through St. Charles before entering Monroe County. AR 1 Spur enters St. Charles, and terminates near the site of the Battle of Saint Charles on the White River.^[8]

Arkansas Highway 1 enters southern Monroe County briefly. At Cross Roads, AR 1 is the southern terminus of AR 17.^[9] On the Monroe/Phillips County line, AR 1 has a junction with Arkansas Highway 39 and Arkansas Highway 316. The route continues northeast to Marvell, where AR 1 concurs with U.S. Route 49 east to Walnut Corner.^[10] At the corner, AR 1 turns north past the Richardson-Turner House and enters Lee County. The route has a junction with AR 121 at Cypress Corner and continues north to Marianna.^[11]

In Marianna, Highway 1 breaks west from AR 1 Business, which runs downtown through Marianna. After AR 1B rejoins the main route, there is a 0.2 miles (0.32 km) concurrency north with U.S. Route 79.^[12] Further north, AR 1 passes Lee County Senior High and becomes four lane briefly until Forrest City.^[1] Upon entering St. Francis County, AR 1 enters Forrest City. The business route runs downtown, while the main route skirts the southwest edge of town. There is a parclo interchange with U.S. Route 70 and an interchange with Interstate 40.^[13] The business route meets AR 1 in north Forrest City, and AR 1 enters Caldwell and Colt before entering Cross County.^[14] South of Caldwell, AR 1 is near the historic Little Telico Creek Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wynne to Missouri

AR 1 enters Wynne in Cross County. The highway has a junction with US 64, AR 284, AR 980, and US 64 Business, and also passes near Wynne High School.^[15] The highway continues north to Vanndale and Cherry Valley before entering Poinsett County.^[15] The route passes through marshes in southern Poinsett County before entering Harrisburg. Throughout the county, AR 1 is paralleled by AR 163 approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to the east and US 49 approximately 10 miles (16 km) to the west, with the Union Pacific Railroad also near.^[16] AR 1 passes the Bacon Hotel in south Poinsett County near Whitehall, and also passes the historic Modern News Building in downtown Harrisburg.

Entering Craighead County, AR 1 enters Jonesboro from the south. After intersecting AR 163, the route intersects Interstate 555 (concurrent at that freeway portion with US 49).^[17][18] Highway 1 becomes concurrent north with US 49 (and later US 62) until Piggott

The route leaves US 62 (Crowley's Ridge Parkway) in Piggott and runs east to Missouri supplemental route BB near Holcomb, Missouri, where the route terminates.^[2]