Situated along southwest Arkansas in Clark County, Gurdon serves as an essential intermediate staging point for long-haul freight traversing the Interstate 30 corridor. I-30 is a critical national logistics artery connecting the manufacturing, warehousing, and intermodal freight networks of Dallas-Fort Worth and Texarkana directly through to Little Rock and Interstate 40 junction points. Gurdon offers commercial drivers a welcome reprieve from heavy metropolitan traffic, providing reliable fuel and parking infrastructure without the congestion seen closer to major distribution hubs. Commercial carriers hauling forest products, cross-border commerce, agricultural commodities, and consumer goods rely on Gurdon's direct arterial access via AR-53 and US-67. With established truck stops right off Exit 63 and public rest facilities nearby at mile marker 56, the Gurdon interchange functions as a practical location for legal hours-of-service (HOS) 10-hour breaks, bulk diesel fueling, and freight staging midway between Texas and central Arkansas.
1. Southfork Truck Stop & Travel Center (Exxon)
Address: 2066 AR-53 N, Gurdon, AR 71743
Phone: (870) 353-4363
2. Superstop Travel Plaza (Phillips 66)
Address: 1934 AR-53 N, Gurdon, AR 71743
Phone: (870) 353-2544
3. Love's Travel Stop #277 (Corridor Facility)
Address: 116 Ron Harrod Rd, Prescott, AR 71857
Phone: (870) 887-1744
1. Southfork Restaurant
Address: 2066 AR-53 N, Gurdon, AR 71743
Phone: (870) 353-4363
Notes: Located inside the Southfork Truck Stop complex at Exit 63. Full-service, classic truck stop diner offering home-cooked Southern meals, chicken fried steak, breakfast platters, and generous truck parking.
2. Cazadores Mexican Restaurant
Address: 318 S Elm St, Gurdon, AR 71743
Phone: (870) 406-3008
Notes: Authentic sit-down Mexican restaurant situated in Gurdon along Elm Street (US-67), accommodating bobtail drivers and roadside street staging nearby.
Hope Weigh Station (Eastbound) - Arkansas Highway Police District 4
Address: I-30 MM 26 EB, Hope, AR 71801
Phone: (479) 384-3976
Hope Weigh Station (Westbound) - Arkansas Highway Police District 4
Address: I-30 MM 26 WB, Hope, AR 71801
Phone: (479) 384-3977
Red's Auto and Diesel (RADZ)
Address: 114 Lonestar Way, Gurdon, AR 71743
Phone: (870) 406-9870
Ernesto's Tire & Truck Services
Address: 2066 Highway 53 N, Gurdon, AR 71743
Phone: (870) 353-8077
Southfork Truck Stop (Exxon Synergy Diesel)
Address: 2066 AR-53 N, Gurdon, AR 71743
Phone: (870) 353-4363
Gurdon Phillips 66 (Superstop Travel Plaza)
Address: 1934 AR-53 N, Gurdon, AR 71743
Phone: (870) 353-2544
CAT Scale at Pilot Travel Center #492
Address: 170 Valley St, Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Phone: (870) 245-3119
CAT Scale at Love's Travel Stop #277
Address: 116 Ron Harrod Rd, Prescott, AR 71857
Phone: (870) 887-1744
Parking Availability and Fill Times: Unlike the tighter parking situations found closer to Little Rock or Texarkana, Southfork Truck Stop at Exit 63 maintains one of the largest independent gravel and paved truck parking footprints along south-central I-30. Lots typically begin filling up between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM on weekday evenings. If Exit 63 reaches capacity, the eastbound and westbound Arkansas DOT Rest Areas at Mile Marker 56 offer viable safety parking options just 7 miles south.
Terrain, Grades, and Weather Advisories: The stretch of I-30 surrounding Gurdon consists primarily of rolling hills and dense pine forests rather than severe mountain grades. However, winter storms can produce flash freezing along bridge decks over the Little Missouri River and local creek crossings. During spring and early summer, severe squall lines and tornado warnings frequently pass through Clark County, bringing sudden heavy crosswinds and reduced visibility.
Anti-Idling & Local Staging Regulations: Arkansas does not enforce statewide anti-idling restrictions on commercial sleeper berths when drivers are actively resting or running climate control systems for comfort. However, municipal ordinances in Gurdon prohibit parking commercial tractor-trailers in designated residential neighborhoods or blocking public thoroughfares along Elm Street (US-67). Keep commercial staging confined to Exit 63 facilities.
Q: What is the best exit for truck parking and diesel fuel in Gurdon, Arkansas?
A: Interstate 30 Exit 63 (AR-53) is the primary commercial freight exit for Gurdon. It features Southfork Truck Stop and Superstop Travel Plaza, offering high-flow diesel, DEF, truck parking, showers, and on-site dining directly off the ramp.
Q: Where is the nearest certified CAT scale to Gurdon, AR?
A: While the Gurdon Exit 63 travel centers focus on parking and maintenance, certified CAT scales are located 14 miles southwest at Love's Travel Stop #277 (I-30 Exit 46 in Prescott) and 15 miles northeast at Pilot Travel Center #492 (I-30 Exit 78 in Arkadelphia/Caddo Valley).
Q: Are commercial trucks required to stop at Arkansas weigh stations near Gurdon?
A: Yes. All commercial motor vehicles exceeding 10,000 lbs GVWR without an active bypass clearance (such as PrePass or Drivewyze) must pull into the open Arkansas Highway Police inspection facilities located southwest of Gurdon on I-30 at Mile Marker 26 near Hope.