U.S. Route 62 (US 62) is a U.S. highway running from El Paso, Texas northeast to Niagara Falls, New York. In the U.S. state of Arkansas, the route runs 329.9 miles from the Oklahoma border near Summers east to the Missouri border in St. Francis, serving the northern portion of the state. The route passes through several cities and towns, including Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Harrison, Mountain Home, Pocahontas, and also Piggott. US 62 runs concurrent with several highways in Arkansas including Interstate 49 and U.S. Route 71 between Fayetteville and Bentonville, U.S. Route 412 through much of the state, U.S. Route 65 in the Harrison area, and with U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 67 (Future Interstate 57) in northeast Arkansas.

Quick Facts Route information, Length ...

U.S. Highway 62
US 62 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by AHTD
Length	329.9 mi (530.9 km)
Existed	1930–present
Major junctions
West end	US 62 at Oklahoma border near Summers
Major intersections	I-49 / US 71 in Fayetteville US 412 in Springdale I-49 / US 71 in Bentonville US 412 in Alpena US 65 in Harrison US 167 in Ash Flat US 63 in Hardy US 63 / US 412 in Imboden Future I-57 / US 67 from Pocahontas to Corning US 49 in Piggott
East end	US 62 at Missouri border in St. Francis
Location
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Counties	Washington, Benton, Carroll, Boone, Marion, Baxter, Fulton, Sharp, Lawrence, Randolph, Clay
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided Arkansas Highway System Interstate US State Business Spurs Suffixed Scenic Heritage
← US 61 → US 63

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The route was originally a trail known as the Ozark Trail, which was the main series of routes in the area prior to the construction of U.S. Route 66. The Ozark Trails Association was responsible for maintaining and marking the routes, with William Hope Harvey in charge. Harvey wanted an auto trail from Oklahoma to his resort town Monte Ne, which he established after retiring from the railroad business.^[8] He had grand visions of trails connecting Monte Ne with St. Louis, Kansas City, Wichita, Kansas, and Oklahoma City, and points west.^[9] U.S. Route 62 from Gateway to Eureka Springs was also designated part of The Jefferson Highway, although the highway was not really marked and frequently shifted.^[10] The highway was listed as a "Proposed Primary Federal Aid Road" on a state map in the first issue of "Arkansas Highways Magazine" (1924), but not numbered.^[11]

The road brought much traffic through the hills of Arkansas, previously resistant to development. Eureka Springs was a popular stop on the route, with many motor inns and a vibrant downtown. Nearby Arkansas Highway 23 (The Pig Trail) further added tourists to the community.^[12] Further east, cities of Mountain Home, Cotter, and Flippin grew significantly with US 62's traffic.^[13] Rough terrain interspersed with large waterways caused the need for large bridges, including the Cotter Bridge (which replaced a ferry system) and the St. Louis-San Francisco Overpass.^[14] A 1981 study indicated a need of 31 climbing lanes from Harrison to Hardy (approx. 110 miles (180 km)) necessary for safety purposes, indicative of the rough terrain.^[14]

Some historic alignments of the old road still exist with original pavement. One section, built between 1932 and bypassed in 1952, is located between Busch and Eureka Springs on either side of the White River. On the north side of the river Carroll County Route 109 follows the alignment to the former river crossing, where only concrete bridge piers remain to be seen. On the south side County Route 107 continues southward, eventually rejoining the modern alignment. This section was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.^[15]