JH Caravan #1 - "Prize Drive of the Ozarks," September 17-19
Sample a tiny bit of the often-overlooked Arkansas Scenic JH and the Prize Drive to Joplin MO, both sections that started out as Ozark Trails paths. Group will gather Thursday in Bentonville for visiting world-class contemporary attractions such as Crystal Bridges (and other local museums) before settling in for the evening. Friday the group will traverse through scenic western Benton County to historic Ozark Playgrounds Association towns of Gravette and Sulphur Springs AR before crossing into Missouri to visit Noel, Lanagan and Anderson before rolling into Neosho for the evening where there will be a visit to Big Springs Park before a group evening meal.
Saturday morning will complete the route via the Neosho-Joplin Scenic Drive and going through Tipton Ford and Saginaw before continuing on to Joplin to meet up with JH Caravan #2, the Route 66 Association of Missouri Fall Motor Tour and other groups to kick-off our conference and start Saturday's activities.
Sept. 17 Lodging: The Block Hotel, 911 SE Walton Blvd., Bentonville AR. Rate for this night is $110.24 plus taxes and includes free hot breakfast. Make ONLINE reservations here. To call hotel, use 479-326-7623, and ask for Jefferson Highway rate. Manager is Chelly Davis. Reservations should be made by September 01 to access our block of rooms.
Sept. 18 Lodging: Big Spring Best Western, 1810 Southern View Dr., Neosho MO. Reservations must be made by calling hotel directly, 417-455-2300, and asking for Jefferson Highway Caravan rate of $99.99 plus taxes. This location also includes free hot breakfast. Reservations should be made by September 01 to access our block of rooms.
All meal stops will be self-pay. Reservations for designated lodgings are the responsibility of participant. You may join us for one day or two as you prefer. (You are also welcome to make lodging reservations elsewhere in each town and Michele Hansford would be glad to help you locate alternatives.) REGISTRATION DEADLINE will be Sept. 08, 2026.
Fee is $20 per car for JH members and $30 for non-JH members (one guidebook per car). Most stops will be free and/or by donation, but some special exhibits at Crystal Bridges are by fee (main museum is free). Tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home on grounds at Crystal Bridges, does require advance reservation tour tickets. We will provide further information upon request and assist you in attaining any necessary advance tickets for special tours in Bentonville.
One stop on Friday will include a shortened tour of the historic Bluff Dweller's Cave in Noel. Cost will be $15.00
Caravan t-shirts will be available this summer and ordered at maker's online site and information, again, will be placed on website and FB pages.
NOTE: Also note, this particular drive will include hilly and curvy terrain. Remember, it's the Ozarks!
NEW INFORMATION as of 8-01:
Here is some detail on the south to north “Prize Drive of the Ozarks” Sociability Caravan.
- This tour will be led by Jefferson Highway Association President Roger Bell, and Jefferson Highway Board Secretary Michele Hansford.
- The drive will explore sections of what was once called “The Arkansas Scenic Route” of the Jefferson Highway which was an alternative route to the original highway routing and went south from Joplin through Arkansas and into Louisiana and omitted the Oklahoma and Texas section. The tour will touch on the history of the Ozark Jefferson Highway Association and also include information on the Ozark Trail.
- Starting Point will be in Bentonville, Arkansas on Thursday September 17th – While in Bentonville participants will tour the “world-class” Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Walmart Museum, and the historic downtown Bentonville square.
- On Friday, September 18th the group will caravan together through scenic western Benton County and visit and see interesting sites in Gravette and Sulphur Springs, Arkansas before arrival into Missouri.
- The group will have a special tour visit at the historic Bluff Dwellers Cave near Noel, Missouri which was once a historic part of the drive for travelers.
-The drive here will be very scenic and include driving along large stone bluffs as travelers of old once did. Stops will be made along the route in town of Noel, Lanagan and Anderson before arrival into historic Neosho, Missouri
- In Neosho, the group will be able to step back in time and visit historic Big Springs Park and Neosho’s downtown before eating together in the evening. The official hotel will be the Big Spring Best Western where a special room rate of $99 per room is available to the group.
-A short slide show and postcard history of the route will be presented in the evening at the hotel for those interested by JHA President Roger Bell
-Saturday morning – the group will head north along the old route and drive past historic Redding’s Mill before arriving at historic Schifferdecker Park in Joplin to meet up with the other tours and begin the Crossroads Celebration Event activities.
-Official Prize Drive of the Ozark Caravan T-shirts and a few related caravan items will be available for pre-order by August 5th on the Jefferson Highway website.
Information on the other tours will be provided in additional posts on Facebook during August and also information to further explain the activities and events in Joplin.
