Truck Parking: Arkansas Wins $23M for 137 New Spaces

Arkansas is moving forward with plans for a new truck parking facility along a future section of Interstate 49. The project will provide approximately 137 truck parking spaces, supported by a $23 million federal grant. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) announced the funding on October 14, 2026. The money will support the final design and construction of a new safety rest area in Crawford County.

The facility will be located between the Gun Club Road and Clear Creek Road interchanges along the planned I-49 extension. The project is part of a larger federal effort to address the shortage of safe truck parking across the United States.

$23 Million Awarded for New Truck Parking Facility

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Arkansas $23,024,000 through its Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects (INFRA) program. The funding will help ARDOT complete the final design and construction of the new facility.

According to federal project details, the rest area will accommodate approximately:

• 137 commercial trucks, providing dedicated parking for large vehicles.
• 49 passenger vehicles, offering additional parking for other travelers.

The project also includes several infrastructure improvements:

• Northbound and southbound access ramps.
• Internal one-way circulation roadways.
• Dedicated truck and passenger vehicle parking areas.
• Lighting throughout the facility.
• Stormwater detention ponds.
• Site utilities and supporting infrastructure.

The planned improvements are intended to make the facility accessible from both directions of the future interstate. ARDOT has not announced an opening date for the truck parking facility.

New Rest Area Planned Along Future Interstate 49

The truck parking project will be built along a planned 14-mile extension of Interstate 49 between Alma and Barling in western Arkansas. The interstate extension is intended to improve regional transportation connections and support freight movement. This parking facility will be located between Gun Club Road and Clear Creek Road in Crawford County.

The larger I-49 project includes a new Arkansas River bridge and additional roadway construction. The truck parking grant is separate from other federal funding previously awarded for the interstate extension.

In 2024, ARDOT received a $25 million federal RAISE grant to support construction of the I-49 extension. Additional federal funding has also been directed toward the corridor. Once completed, the rest area will provide another location for commercial drivers to park along the expanded interstate network. However, the parking facility is still in the development process. The newly awarded funding does not mean the parking spaces are currently available.

Arkansas Truck Parking Project Part of National Funding Effort

Arkansas project is one of 14 truck parking projects receiving federal support across 12 states. USDOT announced approximately $200 million in INFRA funding for truck parking improvements in October 2026. The projects are intended to expand safe parking options along important freight routes. Funding will support new parking facilities and improvements to existing locations.

Arkansas received one of the larger individual awards, with approximately $23 million directed toward the I-49 facility. Other states receiving support include California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. The nationwide investment is intended to help reduce unsafe roadside parking and improve access to rest facilities for commercial drivers.

Truck Parking Shortage Remains a Safety Concern

Finding legal and safe truck parking remains a challenge across the United States. According to the ATA, there is approximately one truck parking space for every 11 truck drivers nationwide. The shortage can create difficulties for drivers approaching their federal hours-of-service limits.

Under most federal property-carrying hours-of-service rules, drivers must take 10 consecutive hours off duty before beginning another driving period. Drivers also generally face an 11-hour driving limit within a 14-hour duty window. When designated parking is unavailable, drivers may need to spend additional time searching for a suitable location.

Limited parking can also lead to trucks stopping in unauthorized areas, including highway shoulders and interstate ramps. Expanding dedicated truck parking is one way transportation agencies are working to address these problems.

Arkansas Officials Highlight Importance of Safe Parking

ARDOT Director Jared Wiley said the federal funding will allow the state to move forward with a project that otherwise could have faced significant delays. “Without this grant funding, the truck parking facility would remain out of reach for years to come,” Wiley said.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, who represents Arkansas’s Third Congressional District, has supported federal funding for additional truck parking infrastructure. Womack has also backed dedicated truck parking investments through transportation appropriations legislation.

The Arkansas Trucking Association welcomed the announcement. Association President Shannon Newton emphasized that reliable parking is important for both driver rest and highway safety. The organization said the new facility will strengthen Arkansas’s role in regional freight transportation while addressing a longstanding industry concern.

When Will the New Truck Parking Spaces Open?

Although federal funding has been awarded, the ARDOT has not provided a confirmed construction schedule or opening date for the rest area. The grant will support the final design and construction stages.

The facility will be developed along a future section of I-49, meaning its availability will depend on the progress of the surrounding transportation infrastructure. For now, the project represents a planned expansion rather than an immediate increase in available parking.

Once completed, the new rest area is expected to provide approximately 137 dedicated truck parking spaces in Crawford County. The project will add to broader efforts to improve commercial vehicle parking along major freight corridors and provide safer locations for drivers to take required rest breaks.