AR 242 begins at AR 1 west of Lexa and heads east through town as 1st Street. It crosses over Lick Creek and passes by Thompson-Robbins Airport. The route then intersects its only spur route near the St. Francis National Forest before turning to the southeast. The route then intersects AR 185 before entering West Helena. It passes by the Denison House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and at the intersection of Plaza Avenue, the route runs concurrently with US 49B for 0.1 miles (0.16 km).[2] It then goes southeast on Sebastian Street, running concurrent with another route of AR 185 until reaching South 7th on Russell. The route then intersects another route of AR 185 by the Helena Country Club and then intersects US 49 (Martin Luther King Jr. Drive[4]), a four-lane divided highway, at an at-grade intersection in the south part of the city. The highway then turns to the southwest and reaches its eastern terminus at AR 44.
Beginning from the end of the Highway 1 to the US 49B concurrency, the route is designated as part of the Mississippi River Trail, a 3,000 miles (4,800 km) bike route from New Orleans to Minnesota along the Mississippi River.[3]
Major intersections
Mile markers reset at concurrencies.
The entire route is in Phillips County.
Arkansas Highway 242 Spur (AR 242S, Hwy. 242S, or Storm Creek Road) is a spur route in the St. Francis National Forest. It is 0.11 miles (0.18 km) in length.
^ abcPlanning and Research Division (2010). "Arkansas Road Log Database". Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original(Database) on 23 June 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
^ abGeneral Highway Map(PDF) (Map) (Phillips County ed.). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Retrieved July 15, 2011.