U.S. Route 65

U.S. Route 65 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 425 in Clayton, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at Interstate 35 just south of Interstate 90 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Parts of its modern route in Iowa and historic route in Minnesota follow the old Jefferson Highway.

Route description

Louisiana

U.S. 65 begins in Clayton, Louisiana and proceeds northward to Waterproof, St. Joseph, and Newellton, all in Tensas Parish. At Newellton, it intersects with Louisiana State Highway 4 coming from the west. In Tallulah, it intersects Interstate 20, and approximately 30 miles north of this intersection it enters Arkansas.

Arkansas

US 65 enters the southeast corner of Arkansas just north of Gassoway, Louisiana. It is designated as part of Arkansas' Great River Road from this point north through Lake Village, McGehee, and Dumas. The Great River Road continues east onto US 165, while US 65 continues northwest to Pine Bluff.

U.S. Route 65 in Missouri

U.S. Route 65 is a north-south U.S. highway that runs from Clayton, Louisiana to Albert Lea, Minnesota. In Missouri, the highway enters the state from Arkansas, just south of Branson. The highway exits the state into Iowa near South Lineville.

Route description

US 65 enters Missouri between Omaha, Arkansas and Ridgedale, Missouri. The road is a four-lane expressway, traveling through Branson and Hollister toward the Springfield metro area. Through the Branson area, U.S. 65 is built as a freeway. North of Branson there is an interchange with Route 465 (a freeway spur) and U.S. Route 160. U.S. 160 to Highlandville is the old alignment of U.S. 65 (until the 1960s).

Just south of Route EE at the Highlandville exit, U.S. 65 returns to freeway status. The freeway is called the "Schoolcraft Freeway" in Springfield, in honor of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. In Springfield, there are junctions with U.S. Route 60 and Interstate 44. The one with I-44 includes a flyover ramp connecting northbound U.S. 65 with westbound I-44. Construction is underway to rebuild the interchange at U.S. 60 (also known as the James River Freeway). In September 2011, U.S. 65 became a six-lane divided freeway in Springfield between Interstate 44 and U.S. 60. It is the first six-lane highway to appear in Southwest Missouri. North of Springfield, it returns to a four-lane, non-interstate highway.