I've done all of that untold times since 1980. Love going up that way.
But given the two evils of getting up there the 75/69 north to Atoka and east on 43 (or west coming back) is kinda the more uninteresting of the two. That slab to 43 north of Atoka is pretty boring and is usually filled with TX and OK Highway Patrol troopers. Don't ask me how I know.
I tend to go up and back via Bonham, Paris, Hugo, Indian Nation turnpike for a bit (talk about some top speed runs!!! there is one spot on the turnpike that's better than Bonneville
), get off at Antlers and then past the Turkey Attack Memorial site, into Clayton and up the scenic drive. Guess I'm just a creature of habit. I know Swanny is a fan of 75/69, Atoka, 43 east/west. Six of one and half a dozen of the other. The troopers alone make me go the other way.
I'm way over due for an AR ride. Haven't been in a couple of years and I used to go 2-3 times a year, sometimes more. Much rather head that way than the TX hill country. Better road conditions and less traffic. I'll keep an eye on the thread over the next few months to see what develops. I'm an "in"! [moto]
Just remember what me and others have learned the hard way. The scenic drive is ONLY patrolled by LEO on the weekends, starting on Fridays. They don't waste their time Monday-Thursday. Had a LeFlore County sheriff deputy tell me that as he wrote me a warning ticket in 2005. He told me not to tell anyone!
And as far back as our spring 2008 trip we were told by park rangers (as they wrote us tickets) that they were tasked with shutting down all the motorcycle hi-jinx on the drive. Much like Deals Gap. And don't forget the entire 52 mile long scenic drive is double striped for no passing and speed limit is 55 max. Don't ask me how I know that either.
