One segment of 50.2 miles (80.8 km) runs from Interstate 57 (I-57) in Cabot east to U.S. Route 49 (US 49) south of Hunter.
[2][3] A second segment of 21.47 miles (34.55 km) runs from I-40 north of Widener east to Highway 147 west of Horseshoe Lake.
The highway connects agricultural areas in Arkansas's Grand Prairie, including rice and soybeans as well as aquaculture.
The intersection is near the Sears House, an 1860 antebellum home in late Greek Revival-Italianate style listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
Highway 38 continues along the northern edge of Des Arc, passing the historic Oak Grove Cemetery, listed on the NRHP, and crossing over the White River on a 1970 steel through truss bridge.
East of the city, Highway 38 briefly dips into Monroe County and crosses Bayou DeView before terminating US 49 south of Hunter.