Why visit Des Arc
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail and 4 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include American Legion Hut-Des Arc and Bedford Brown Bethell House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 33°F.
Weather in Des Arc
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Des Arc
Des Arc is a city on the White River in the Arkansas Delta, United States. It is the largest city in Prairie County, Arkansas, and the county seat for the county's northern district. Incorporated in 1854, Des Arc's position on the river has shaped its culture, history, and economy, beginning as a major lumber shipping port but leaving the city vulnerable to major floods in 1927 and 1937. As river shipping declined, Des Arc was bypassed by railroads, Interstate highways, and much of the post-industrial society.
From the Wikipedia article Des Arc, Arkansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks6
American Legion Hut-Des Arc
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Fraternal hall in Des Arc, Arkansas
Bedford Brown Bethell House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic house in Arkansas, United States
Bethel House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic house in Arkansas, United States
Frith-Plunkett House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Arkansas, United States
Oak Grove Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Cemetery in Des Arc, Arkansas
Prairie County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Courthouse in Des Arc, Arkansas, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes4
Dondie's White River Princess
Restaurant · Regional · 0.9 mi
302 East Curran Street, Des Arc
Th-Sa 17:00-21:00
Churches and places of worship3
First Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Des Arc, Arkansas, United States
History
White settlement in the area began in the Lower White River Valley while the area was within French Louisiana, which lasted from 1686-1763. French from Canada and South Louisiana passed through the area while hunting and trapping bears and other animals. They shipped furs and bear oil downriver to Arkansas Post, which was the only established settlement in the region, then likely onto New Orleans. During this period, several places were named by the French, including Des Arc and other places in Prairie County such as La Grue.
Des Arc was founded in 1854. A map shows the original town included 80 residential blocks, and two blocks for a commercial district. The gridded street pattern has never been fully developed, though most of the streets and blocks match the 1854 plan. The gridded east-west street pattern began with a street named McNulty Street in the north, near where present-day Highway 38 is located along the northern edge of the city. The southernmost east-west street was Barrier Street. The town ran from Foster Street (present-day First Street) on the eastern side, to present-day Eighth Street.
From the History section of Des Arc, Arkansas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries2
Map of Des Arc
20 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 33°F | 3.7 in | 0.6 in |
| Feb | 54°F | 36°F | 4.0 in | 0.8 in |
| Mar | 63°F | 44°F | 5.2 in | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 73°F | 53°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 81°F | 62°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 71°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 73°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 91°F | 72°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 65°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 75°F | 53°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 43°F | 4.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 52°F | 36°F | 5.2 in | 0.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Des Arc (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Prairie County has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-05-21: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2025-04-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-08-27: Hurricane Laura (Hurricane)
- 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Searcy Municipal Airport (SRC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Carlisle 18 mi southwest, about 30 min by car
- Brinkley 19 mi east, about 30 min by car
- Searcy 22 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
- Clarendon 23 mi southeast, about 37 min by car
- Augusta 23 mi north, about 37 min by car
- Bald Knob 23 mi north, about 38 min by car
- Austin 27 mi west, about 44 min by car
- Cabot 30 mi west, about 48 min by car
- Jacksonville 36 mi west, about 58 min by car
- Sherwood 41 mi west, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Des Arc collage, Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oak Grove Cemetery, Des Arc, AR, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Presbyterian Church, Des Arc, AR, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Des Arc, AR 015, Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Des Arc, AR 014, Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Des Arc, AR 018, Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
- American Legion Hut, MewZeke26, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bethel House, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ISS029-E-39671 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-476058 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-476055 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-476057 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-476059 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-476056 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-476060 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS065-E-476061 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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