Texarkana: It's Twice as Nice!
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Texarkana is unique in that it straddles two states on either side of State Line Avenue: Texas and Arkansas.
Located in extreme Upper East Texas, close to Louisiana and Oklahoma, and bordering Arkansas, is the twin-city of Texarkana. The Texas side of the city lies in Bowie County, while the Arkansas side is in Miller County.
Even its U.S. Post Office downtown has a state line running through the middle of the lobby of the building!
There are two of almost everything in Texarkana: two city mayors, two city governments, two police departments, and two fire departments.
We've spent considerable time in Texarkana over the years, conducting business there, eating in its restaurants, shopping, and passing through on Interstate 30, heading for nearby Hope Arkansas. We have dined at local legends such as Bryce's Cafeteria for literally decades! Bryce's was opened in 1931.
The population of the Texarkana TX-AR MSA was about 150,000 as of 2016.
Texarkana's Location in the Multi-State Region
![]() Texarkana ... on the Texas-Arkansas state line |
Texarkana is strategically located on U.S. highways 59, 67, 71, and 82. It is also served by Interstate Highways I-30 and I-49, and Interstate Loop I-369.
Texarkana is a hub of regional interstate commerce, located 179 miles west of Dallas, and 145 miles east of Little Rock.
Texarkana is located near Fulton and Ashdown, Arkansas, and Hooks, Mt. Pleasant, and New Boston, Texas.
To the south, in Louisiana, are small towns such as Vivian, Homer, Haynesville, and Cotton Valley, Springhill, and the big cities of Shreveport and Bossier City. Seventy miles to the north lies the City of Idabel, Oklahoma.
The city uses Area Codes 903 and 870, and Zip Codes 75500-75599 and 71854.
Texarkana Economy
In 2019, Texarkana is experiencing significant growth, and the completion of such infrastructure improvements as the Interstate I-30 project are positioning the city for growth into the future.
The construction of the $1.3 billion, coal-fired power generation facility in nearby Fulton has also spurred the economy and created new jobs.
Major medical facilities such as Christus St. Michael and the Wadley Regional Medical Center continue to position Texarkana as the major medical center of the entire multi-state region.
Texarkana (TXK) Airport
![]() Texarkana Regional Airport |
Texarkana Regional Airport (TXK) is located on the Arkansas side of the city, minutes away from the downtown area, local industries, and tourist destinations. American Eagle service to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is available several times daily.
The address is 201 Airport Drive, Texarkana, AR 71854.
The airport is open 24-hours daily. Rental cars are available from Avis, Hertz and Budget. more about the airport
Texas Eagle Amtrak Rail Service in Texarkana
Texarkana is also connected to the national rail service, Amtrak. Amtrak's Texarkana station is located in the east end of Texarkana Union Station, a historic and imposing buff brick structure which was opened in 1930. Union Station is on the south side of downtown Texarkana. more about Amtrak in Texarkana
Texarkana Attractions and Things to Do
Texarkana offers lots of things to do, for residents as well as visitors. It has a number of annual festivals, entertainment from performing arts, stock car races, art exhibits, shopping, great outdoors and sports, and a wide array of restaurant cuisines.
![]() Texas Information Center at Texarkana |
The Texas Travel Information Center is located in the city on at 1200 I-30 westbound; phone (903) 794-2114.
The Arkansas Welcome Center is located just east of the I-30/I-49 interchange on I-30; phone 870-772-4301.
- Four States Auto Museum
- State Line Post Office and Federal Building
- Historic Perot Theater
- Texarkana Museums System
- Regional Arts Center
- Ace of Clubs House
- Museum of Regional History
- Discovery Place Museum
- Millwood Lake, northeast of Texarkana
- Wright Patman Lake, to the southwest of Texarkana
Area Attractions in the Ark-La-Tex
While visiting Texarkana, the East Texas area, and southwest Arkansas, you may want to take other interesting side trips:
- Canton Texas - home of First Monday Trade Days, the largest flea market in the USA!
- Gladewater - antique capitol of East Texas
- Jefferson - Experience the Historic Jefferson Railway, home tours, Christmas parade and festivities, the Jefferson Historical Museum, flea markets, rummage sales, and paddlewheel steamboats on nearby Caddo Lake.
- Longview - historic buildings, shopping, restaurants
- Marshall - Railroad Museum, Wonderland of Lights, more
- Toledo Bend Reservoir - boating, fishing, swimming, marinas, hiking, camping, golf, resorts, restaurant along the Louisiana-Texas border
Texarkana Hotels and Lodging
Texarkana KOA is also nearby for those traveling in RVs and travel trailers.
Texarkana Schools and Universities
Texarkana offers a wide range of educational opportunities, both at the K-12 level, and university levels. Among the schools in the Texarkana area:
- Texas A&M University - Texarkana - Enrollment is about 1,900 students. It is located at 7101 University Avenue, Texarkana, TX 75503. Phone 903.223.3000.
- Texarkana College - Texarkana College was established in 1927 as a public junior college and as a branch of the Texarkana, Texas, Public School System governed by the Texarkana Independent School District Board of Trustees. The enrollment today is about 4,700 students. It is lcoated at 2500 North Robison Road, Texarkana, Texas. Phone 903.823.3456.
- Texarkana Texas Independent School District
- Trinity Christian School
- St. James Day School
- Veritas Academy
Interactive Texarkana Map
Map of Upper East Texas Showing Location of Texarkana
More Information about Texarkana
Brief Texarkana History
Due its location many regional highways, Texarkana has long been an overnight stop for many travelers, and hence there are a considerable number of tourist courts, motels and hotels. It is also a hub for trucking and railroads.
The Great Southwest Trail, for hundreds of years the main line of travel from Indian villages of the Mississippi River country to those of the South and West, passed by a Caddo Indian village on the site that later became Texarkana. The Texas and Pacific Railway (T&P) Company laid out the Texas side of the town.
![]() Bell's Tourist Camp in Texarkana, U.S.A. |
Texarkana Historic Postcards
United States Post Office and Court House Texarkana |
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Hotel Grim Texarkana |
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Beech Street Baptist Church Texarkana |
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Camp Hannon Texarkana, Texas |
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Dun Salin' Motel Highway 67 West Texarkana, Texas |
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The Coffee Cup Highways 67, 71 and 82 Texarkana |
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The Cotton Belt Hospital, Texarkana |
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