The Ouachita Trail doesn’t directly pass through any of the towns throughout its 223 miles, but by simple hitches from the numerous highway crossings, a town is never far out of reach. Here are the towns and locations that offer amenities for resupply during a Ouachita Trail thru-hike.
These are listed in eastbound order (starting at the Western Terminus at Talimena State Park in Oklahoma and ending at the Eastern Terminus near Little Rock, Arkansas). Details and maps for each location below the chart.
Find the full trail profile here, and a gear list here.
| Resupply Location | Trail Mile | Miles From Trail | Amenities |
| Queen Wilhelmina Lodge | 51 | 0 | Restaurant, Hotel, Snacks |
| Mena, AR | 68 | 12 | All amenities |
| Blue Bell Cafe and Country Store | 122 | 5 | Mail, small resupply, and access to more amenities with hitch |
| Hot Springs Village, AR | 161 | 8 | All amenities |
| Little Rock, AR | 222 | 16 | All amenities |
Queen Wilhelmina Lodge – Mile 51
The first real spot to get a warm meal when hiking eastbound, we found the Queen Wilhelmina Lodge very nice. It is a quiet lodge offering a few snacks, restaurant, and rooms to stay in. The restaurant was friendly and despite our dirty thru-hiker appearance, the service and the food were great during our midday break from the rain.
Mena, Arkansas – Mile 68
Mena had everything we needed. The local Walmart has a robust outdoor section, although none of it is ultralight. But, due to some early gear failures, we had to replace some key items and the Mena Walmart offered all the remedies. The town has numerous gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores.
Bluebell Cafe – Story, Arkansas – Mile 122
Nearly every Ouachita Trail thru-hiker goes to the Bluebell Cafe and Country Store and meets Lori. She is a staple of the trail and is known for helping hikers get to and from the trail and also offering one of the best burgers on any long-distance hiking trail. The cafe also has a small store that hikers can buy enough items to consider it a full resupply. The cafe accepts resupply boxes and a ride can be arranged by calling ahead. Support this small cafe that has spent years supporting the trail. Find more info on the Bluebell Cafe website.
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas – Mile 161
This town is 8 miles south of the trail crossing at Highway 7. Hot Springs Village is a great final resupply for eastbound hikers. The town is fully equipped with grocery stores, restaurants, a post office, and a hotel.
Little Rock, Arkansas – Mile 222
Little Rock is the capital and largest city in Arkansas. It is a great spot to spend a few days before the trail (westbound) or after the trail (eastbound). There are multiple bars, restaurants, hotels, breweries, and an airport to make this terminus the more accessible of the two.
