[2] From this terminus, SH-101 travels due east, crossing over Little Sallisaw Creek shortly before passing through the unincorporated place of Akins.

The road gradually curves back to the east as it crosses Big Skin Bayou.

Upon encountering Black Creek, a tributary of the bayou, the road makes an abrupt turn back to the north.

Another gradual curve returns SH-101 to an east–west alignment which persists until the junction with State Highway 64B near Eagle Mountain.

The roadbed then curves east, entering Arkansas and the Ozark National Forest,[3] and becoming Highway 220 toward Uniontown.