The main segment of 25.28 miles (40.68 km) runs east from Highway 367 near Swifton to Interstate 555 (I-555) in Jonesboro.

[1][2] A short route of 2.38 miles (3.83 km) runs in rural Jackson County west of Tuckerman.

The route became a state highway in 1958, traveling from an area south of Swifton east to Gibson.

[4] This was the first section of a larger plan that will ultimately widen Highway 226 to four lanes divided from US 67 to US 49 near Gibson.

[5] Once completed, this widening project will give motorists a four-lane, divided route the entire length from Little Rock to Jonesboro.