Signed locally as Main Street, it was created in 1971 after US 71 was rerouted around the west side of town.

US 71 Business runs approximately 13 miles (21 km) between Alma and Fort Smith, Arkansas.

intersects US 64 and overlaps it to downtown Fort Smith and the junction of Arkansas Highway 22.

[3][4] US 71B splits from the main route at the southern end of the Fulbright Expressway in Fayetteville, the southernmost principal city of the Northwest Arkansas region.

A small segment of the Fulbright Expressway is also designated US 71B and serves as a connection between College Ave and Interstate 49/US Route 71.

Continuing north, US 71B is a divided highway and passes the Northwest Arkansas Mall and Lake Fayetteville prior to entering Springdale.

[6] Now known as Thompson Street, US 71B is a principal arterial in Springdale; passing the Springdale Country Club, intersecting Don Tyson Parkway, and crossing under the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad tracks before a junction with US 412 (Robinson Avenue).

After a short distance, US 412 turns west onto Sunset Avenue, with US 71B continuing north as Thompson Street into a commercial area of Springdale.

North of the junction with Emma Avenue, US 71B passes the Springdale Public Schools Administrative Offices and passes over the Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway and Spring Creek before entering Benton County.

[7] US 71B passes the Beasley Homestead (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) shortly before serving as the western terminus of a segment of Highway 264.

US 71B becomes Bloomington Street in Lowell as it continues north to AR 94 (New Hope Road).

The route passes St. Mary's Hospital and Dixieland Mall and crosses to I-49 as it enters Bentonville.

The agreement allowed Fayetteville to construct a redesign without seeking ARDOT approval for the changes.

[9][10] Major intersections Business Loop 71 is an alternate alignment of U.S. Route 71 in southwest Missouri.

Its northern terminus is at a partial interchange with I-49/US 71 approximately 7 miles (11 km) north of Anderson.

Running a distance of approximately 5 miles (8.0 km), its southern terminus is at US 71 south of Maryville.

When the freeway was built around Carthage, it ended at that the current exit of 71 at Route 96/571 and Business US 71.

The route has been rerouted several times, and has seen improvements over the years, and continues to be a major highway in eastern Jackson County, Missouri.

In Platte and Clay Counties, it also is known as Cookingham Drive, and Mid Continent Trafficway.