Amarillo to Branson - Preferred Route

[JohnH59]

First of all, I love this site. I've learned a great deal in the short time I've joined it.

We are headed to Branson, MO from Amarillo, TX in a couple of weeks and thought I'd get some advice on route preference. Our rig is a 40' American Dream with a Jeep Cherokee toad.

The shortest/quickest is in OKC to take the turnpike and the toll road to Tulsa. I'm not a fan of toll roads! If I see something interesting, I want to be able to stop. So, if it were you, would you take the turnpike and toll road or would you go through OKC to Fort Smith, AR and then north on I-540 to US412 and over to US65 up to Branson? Better yet, any reason not to go the Fort Smith and north route?

We are not in a huge hurry, but keep hearing how terrible the Arkansas roads are.

Thanks for any input.

[Oldkarphart]

We took the I40+540+412 route 2 years ago and it was fine. Real pretty scenery too. The roads are good and traffic was low. We've also taken the I44 Tulsa+Joplin route, but you have to contend with the extra traffic and tolls.
Have Phunn!!