The route continues north, crossing the East Fork Cadron Creek before entering White County.

East of Rose Bud, Highway 36 continues through rural lands predominantly used for ranching or broiler production on its way to Searcy, a regional population and economic center.

[6] The highway passes two NRHP properties on its way to Searcy: the Titan II ICBM Launch Complex 373-5 Site and Smyrna Methodist Church.

[7] The route begins at I-57/US 64/US 67/US 167 in Searcy as a continuation of US 67B and runs east as Race Avenue, intersecting Highway 367 (Eastline Road) near Doniphan Lake and the Doniphan Lumber Mill Historic District[8] and angling south to enter the small town of Kensett.

[9] Highway 36 is named Wilbur D. Mills Avenue in Kensett, the birthplace of the 38-year United States Congressman and 1972 Democratic presidential primary candidate known as "the most powerful man in Washington DC" during his time chairing the House Ways and Means Committee.

Highway 36 continues southeasterly until turning onto SE 4th Street, crossing Black Creek, and exiting Kensett.

Once downtown, Highway 36 turns along Front Street, paralleling the Little Red River eastbound, passing West Point City Hall and the Otha Walker Homestead[12] and exiting town heading toward the southeast corner of White County.

[13] Passing through sparsely populated country, Highway 36 runs through Andrews and Pryor, curves around Taylor Slough, and passes Entight and the Henry Gray Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA)[14] before terminating in the small town of Georgetown, where it continues as Dee Mears Road.

As of 2018, the peak AADT on the highway was 24,000 vehicles per day (VPD) as the Beebe-Capps Expressway in Searcy near the Sawmill Road intersection.