One segment of 26.0 miles (41.8 km) runs from the Oklahoma state line east to Highway 112 in Bentonville.

A second segment of 29.9 miles (48.1 km) runs from US 62 in Rogers east to Highway 23 near Clifty.

Highway 12 leaves Rogers, heading east a winding two-lane road with several steep grades and hairpin curves around Beaver Lake.

The routing was changed slightly in August 2010 when Highway 12 replaced US 62B in east Rogers.

Running through small mountain towns at inception, today Highway 12 serves America's sixth–fastest growing metropolitan area.