Transportation

 Highways

The north/south access for Northwest Arkansas, is Interstate 540 which provides connectivity to I-40 to the south and improved access to I-44 to the north.  I-40, located just 40 minutes south, provides the most continuous east/west interstate route in the United States, connecting the region to markets from North Carolina to California.  Similarly, I-44 located approximately one hour north, provides important regional access to major markets in the Midwest, including St. Louis and I-55 to Chicago. A planned I-49 expansion south to Texarkana from Alma will give Northwest Arkansas access to another important surface transportation link.

The east/west access for NWA, in addition to the major routes just north and south of this area, is U.S. 412, which connects Northwest Arkansas with Tulsa to the west and will be extended to Nashville to the east in the future.

Air Service

Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA), offers service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angles, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Newark, and Orlando.

In addition to the regional airport, general aviation airports serve the needs of private and corporate aviation.  For directions and full service descriptions, use the links:

Railways

Arkansas and Missouri Railroad is a Class III railroad that operates between Monett, MO and Fort Smith, AR.  The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad Company provides Northwest Arkansas with freight and passenger line services and ties in with many other major rail services. Approximately 3,000 loads move through the line each month on 150 miles of rail tracks.

Waterways

McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System is a 445-mile waterway used for commercial shipping on the Arkansas River to the Mississippi River and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico.  A public shipping port is located 55 miles south of Fayetteville in Fort Smith, AR.  Shipping to the port can be accessed via Interstate 540 or the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad line that provides a smooth transition for various modes of transportation and quick delivery.