Ozarks Questions?
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
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From: Coastal Carolina
Ozarks Questions?
My group is planning a trip to the Ozarks this summer. We will be riding the area for 3 full days with a base lodging somewhere in the area.
First Question: Is Eureka Springs, AR the best place to get lodging? Or is there a better "center of operations" for our day rides? (We like the idea of renting a cabin rather than staying in a hotel.) We need to decide this relatively soon so that we can reserve a spot.
Second Question: With 3 days to work with, what are the must-do roads? If anyone has circuit routes that they have done and recommend, I'd love to see your ideas!
Thanks in advance!
First Question: Is Eureka Springs, AR the best place to get lodging? Or is there a better "center of operations" for our day rides? (We like the idea of renting a cabin rather than staying in a hotel.) We need to decide this relatively soon so that we can reserve a spot.
Second Question: With 3 days to work with, what are the must-do roads? If anyone has circuit routes that they have done and recommend, I'd love to see your ideas!
Thanks in advance!
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 497
Likes: 187
From: Dallas area
Eureka would be a good place to stay. Lots of roads in NW AR and SW MO to
ride. It's pretty much pick a road and it will be good. Harrison, AR would also make a good base.
Here's one suggestion based in Eureka.
https://rideplanner.harley-davidson....2&locale=en_US
AR23 (Pig Trail) is a good ride. You could ride it south for as far as you like then come back. AR7 from Hot Springs to Harrison is good.
Enjoy the ride!
ride. It's pretty much pick a road and it will be good. Harrison, AR would also make a good base.
Here's one suggestion based in Eureka.
https://rideplanner.harley-davidson....2&locale=en_US
AR23 (Pig Trail) is a good ride. You could ride it south for as far as you like then come back. AR7 from Hot Springs to Harrison is good.
Enjoy the ride!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,792
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From: PNW
Kurt - Eureka Springs is the perfect place to set up camp. It has great restaurants, tons of lodging, and access to a LOT of great riding. I did a road report awhile back that details a lot of the roads here - https://www.hdforums.com/forum/road-trips/773062-bob-and-cheryl-explore-the-grr-and-ozarks.html Ozarks
Naturally I have my favorite roads. Hwy 12 to Beaver Lake is short but sweet. Hwy 123 is amazing as well. But honestly, it's very hard to go wrong.
Naturally I have my favorite roads. Hwy 12 to Beaver Lake is short but sweet. Hwy 123 is amazing as well. But honestly, it's very hard to go wrong.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 328
Likes: 133
From: St Joseph, MO
"If" this makes any difference to your group, a great number of counties in AR are dry counties. Eureka and Harrison are both wet. Cannot purchase on Sunday.
We like staying in Harrison quality inn is very bike friendly and about $75 per night and then do day trips from there.
123 south thru Mt Judea is a fun challenging road. 125 in MO south to AR and across Peel Ferry then over to Mt home south across Push Mt to Mt View. Don't forget Oark for a great burger and fantastic pie! But you can't go wrong on any of the roads, just depends on how challenging or how scenic you want.
We like staying in Harrison quality inn is very bike friendly and about $75 per night and then do day trips from there.
123 south thru Mt Judea is a fun challenging road. 125 in MO south to AR and across Peel Ferry then over to Mt home south across Push Mt to Mt View. Don't forget Oark for a great burger and fantastic pie! But you can't go wrong on any of the roads, just depends on how challenging or how scenic you want.
Advanced
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 7
From: Arizona
if you plan to try and make it to Missouri make sure to take a helmet. the have a universal which means everyone wears a helmet. we went down for a ride in Harrison ar, only about an hour from Eureka Springs, last year for ride the ozarks. great trip heres some maps of different routes that they had. If you get a chance to get up to Bull Shoals its a very scenic ride.
https://www.harrisonarkansas.org/c_upe_view.php?id=342, and they have google maps links.
https://www.harrisonarkansas.org/c_upe_view.php?id=342, and they have google maps links.
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
if you plan to try and make it to Missouri make sure to take a helmet. the have a universal which means everyone wears a helmet. we went down for a ride in Harrison ar, only about an hour from Eureka Springs, last year for ride the ozarks. great trip heres some maps of different routes that they had. If you get a chance to get up to Bull Shoals its a very scenic ride.
https://www.harrisonarkansas.org/c_upe_view.php?id=342, and they have google maps links.
https://www.harrisonarkansas.org/c_upe_view.php?id=342, and they have google maps links.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 927
Likes: 256
From: North Arkansas
https://www.arkansas.com/motorcyclin...tetype=On-Road
lot of ideas here.
look up 'arkansas bucket list' thread in this forum.
Lot of info there and places worth stopping. As I told my brother once on our single day to ride, we are zooming past some fantastic places to visit, but he did not rent a bike to go hiking
lot of ideas here.
look up 'arkansas bucket list' thread in this forum.
Lot of info there and places worth stopping. As I told my brother once on our single day to ride, we are zooming past some fantastic places to visit, but he did not rent a bike to go hiking
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,499
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From: Long Island, New York
Eureka is a perfect spot to home base. Go to the local HD Stealership, they had a rack right inside the front door with at least a dozen different ride routes. Someone here I am sure may have them, but it was a serious amount of riding from 2 hour trips to day trips, all looping back to Eureka.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Coastal Carolina
Two "must ride" roads that came up in numerous responses (and the online research I have been doing) are Push Mountain Road and the Pig Trail Scenic Byway. I am incorporating other suggested roads in the two loop routes that I am planning to do each of those stretches. So thanks again to everyone who responded.
Is there another road that falls into the "must ride" category that I am missing? I'd hate to get back and have someone say, "Did you ride XYZ Road? It's the best in the region" and have completely missed it.
Is there another road that falls into the "must ride" category that I am missing? I'd hate to get back and have someone say, "Did you ride XYZ Road? It's the best in the region" and have completely missed it.
