U.S. Highway 278: Westbound in Monticello – Arkansas

Take a short ride with us through the heart of Monticello, Arkansas, as we travel 3 miles west along U.S. Highway 278. This segment may be brief, but it offers a great look at small-town life in southeast Arkansas as we cruise through historic downtown and wrap up at a major highway junction.

We begin our drive turning westbound onto US-278 from Arkansas Highway 35, just east of Monticello’s core. At this point, we’re on McCloy Street—one of the city’s main east-west thoroughfares. The area starts off relatively quiet, with scattered residential and commercial buildings, but that quickly shifts as we approach the heart of downtown. Here, the route takes on a split configuration: eastbound traffic follows Gaines Avenue while westbound traffic stays on McCloy. This one-way pair design is typical of small southern towns where traffic needs to flow efficiently without bypassing the traditional town center.

As we continue along McCloy, we pass through Monticello’s business district, with storefronts, local restaurants, and civic buildings lining the way. Though not heavily trafficked, downtown Monticello has a charming small-town feel, blending historic architecture with modern touches. It’s a great stretch to slow down, especially if you’re interested in seeing a slice of Arkansas life off the interstates. Around the point where US-278 westbound and eastbound come back together—just past the courthouse area—you’ll find a brief but scenic portion where the route opens up slightly before we end the drive.

The video concludes at the intersection with U.S. Highway 425, which serves as a major north-south route through the region. From here, travelers can either head north toward Star City and Pine Bluff or south toward Crossett and eventually into Louisiana. This intersection also marks a key junction in southeast Arkansas’s transportation network, making it an important, if understated, terminus for this short urban segment of US-278.

Whether you’re passing through or exploring the area, this westbound stretch through Monticello is a good reminder that not every highway story is told in long miles—sometimes it’s the quick detours through real towns that leave the best impressions.