Almost all of the route is concurrent with Crowley's Ridge Parkway, with a portion also serving as an Arkansas Heritage Trail for its use during the Civil War.

Highway 163 runs north to a junction with US 64 and the Crowley's Ridge Parkway (CRP).

The routes briefly overlap to the east, with Highway 163/CRP turning north and passing the John H. Johnston Cotton Gin Historic District and the Capt.

Shortly after entering the city, Highway 163 Spur begins at the parent route, running north as Apt Drive through a residential subdivision.

During the Civil War, Union General John Wynn Davidson used the route to march cavalry from southeast Missouri down Crowley's Ridge, following a rumor Confederate General Sterling Price's army was planning to attack Missouri via Crowley's Ridge.

After marching and finding no Confederates, General Davidson headed west and started the Little Rock Campaign in 1863.

[7] A second segment was created from Lake Poinsett State Park to Harrisburg on June 23, 1965,[8] though the gap between the routes was closed four months later.

[10] On June 30, 1983, the route was extended south from Levesque to Wittsburg, along the original 1926 alignment of Highway 163.