Scenic byway · Ouachita National Forest · est. 1907
Talimena National Scenic Byway
Cedar Lake's 35-ft dry-camp loop is the USFS anchor on a 54-mile ridge byway that crosses Arkansas into Oklahoma — dispersed legal along the spurs, winter ice closes the high section without warning.
Max RV length
35 ft
Hookups
None (dry)
Dump station
Yes
Dispersed camping
Allowed per MVUM
RV season
April – November (high ridge winter ice closes byway)
Access road
Paved 2-lane National Scenic Byway, 54 mi AR+OK
About this area
Fifty-four miles of paved ridge between Mena, AR and Talihina, OK — the Talimena ranks as one of three federally-designated National Scenic Byways inside the Ouachita NF, and the only one that crosses a state line at ridge elevation. Queen Wilhelmina State Park sits at the byway midpoint with full hookups (state-run, separate from this USFS catalog); the USFS-operated alternatives are Cedar Lake (Oklahoma side, 35-ft dry-camp, on-site dump) and Winding Stair (also Oklahoma, 30-ft dry-camp). Dispersed camping is broadly allowed under the Ouachita MVUM along forest roads branching off — popular pulls include FSR 6010 toward Rich Mountain. The byway's ridge geometry crests at 2,681 ft (Rich Mountain), and winter ice events close the road for stretches of December through February without prior notice. Black bear activity is moderate, food-storage compliance enforced.
How to plan this area
Reservations and the Motor Vehicle Use Map
Developed loops book through recreation.gov; dispersed camping is legal only where the ranger district's MVUM allows it. Both links go straight to the official source.
Looking for the rig? Browse Arkansas RV rentals on PickRV
Official sources
Every fact on this page traces back to these primary sources.
Arkansas rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 7.00%
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00
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