Everything you need to settle in
Your first-week checklist, where to shop and eat, doctors, utilities, the outdoors, and what to expect from Arkansas weather, all in one place.
Your first-week checklist
The handful of things to take care of when you get to town.
- Moving here for good? Arkansas gives new residents 30 days to get an Arkansas driver's license and register vehicles at a local Revenue Office. Start at MyDMV.Arkansas.gov.
- Enroll the kids: see our School Guide.
- Forward your mail through USPS.
- Join the Facebook group and introduce yourself. Locals are happy to help.
If you're working here temporarily and keeping your home state, check with your employer and home state about license and registration rules.
Towns at a glance
Morrilton is closest to the mill, but plenty of people live in nearby towns. Here's how they compare.
Morrilton
~5 minThe county seat, right on I-40. Small-town feel with a historic downtown, local restaurants, a hospital ER and the community college. Petit Jean is next door.
Perryville
~20 minQuiet country living south across the Arkansas River on Highway 9, at the edge of the Ouachita foothills. Small schools, more land for the money.
Conway
~30 minA growing college town east on I-40 with big-box shopping, more restaurants, multiple hospitals, three colleges and a larger school district.
Russellville
~30–35 minWest on I-40, home to Arkansas Tech University and Lake Dardanelle. Plenty of shopping, dining and rentals.
Atkins
~20 minA small town west on I-40 between Morrilton and Russellville. Known as the birthplace of the fried dill pickle.
Plumerville & Oppelo
~10–15 minSmall communities just east and south of Morrilton. Part of the Morrilton (South Conway County) school district.
Drive times are estimates to Morrilton and vary with traffic and shift changes.
Groceries & shopping
Groceries
- Walmart Supercenter, Morrilton (groceries, pharmacy, automotive)
- Harps Food Store, Morrilton
- Dollar stores in town for quick runs
Work gear, tools & auto
Ace Haynes Hardware in Morrilton covers tools, hardware and supplies, and there are farm supply and auto parts stores in town too. For big tool runs, boots and workwear, Conway has the major home improvement stores, about 30 minutes east.
Bigger shopping trips
Conway and Russellville have big-box stores, chain restaurants and more. For a full mall and specialty stores, Little Rock is about an hour away.
Where to eat in Morrilton
A mix of hometown spots and familiar chains. Here are some local places to start with, and the Facebook group can tell you about the rest.
🐟 Southern & hometown
- Mackey's Catfish: catfish and Southern plates
- Morrilton Drive Inn: classic burgers and shakes
- Nooner's Diner: diner food
- Blue Diamond Cafe
- Flowers Homemade
🌮 Mexican & Asian
- Ortega's Mexican Restaurant
- Los Cabos Mexican Grill
- Chop Sticks: Chinese buffet
- Two Guys Hibachi Express
🥩 Steaks, pizza & more
- Colton's Steak House & Grill
- Yesterday's Bar + Grill
- Pizza Pro and Pizza Hut
- Fast food along I-40: Sonic, McDonald's, Wendy's, Arby's, Taco Bell
- Mather Lodge restaurant up on Petit Jean, with a view
Hours change, especially early mornings and Sundays. Call or check online before you go. Know a spot we missed? Post it in the Facebook group.
Doctors, ERs & pharmacies
In Morrilton
CHI St. Vincent Morrilton has a 24-hour emergency room in town, closest to the mill.
In Conway (~30 min)
Conway Regional Medical Center and Baptist Health–Conway offer full hospital services, specialists and urgent care clinics.
Pharmacies
Walmart in Morrilton has a pharmacy, plus local pharmacies in town. Transfer your prescriptions before you move so there's no gap.
Little Rock, about an hour away, has the state's major medical centers, including the children's hospital and UAMS.
Utilities & services
Providers depend on your exact address, so ask your landlord which companies serve the home. Here's what to expect.
Electric
Most of the area is served by Entergy Arkansas, while some rural addresses are on a local electric cooperative. Expect a deposit if you don't have history with the company.
Natural gas
Summit Utilities provides natural gas in much of central Arkansas. Many rentals are all-electric, so check first.
Water, sewer & trash
Inside Morrilton, water, sewer and trash are handled locally. Outside town, a rural water district may serve you, and you may need private trash pickup.
Internet
Options range from cable and fiber in town to fixed wireless and satellite (including Starlink) in rural areas. Check availability for the exact address before you sign a lease if you need to work from home.
Licenses & vehicles
Driver's licenses and vehicle registration are handled at the county Revenue Office. Many services are online at MyDMV.Arkansas.gov.
The outdoors
This is the Natural State, and some of its best spots are a short drive from the mill.
Petit Jean State Park · ~20 min
Arkansas's first state park, on the mountain just west of Morrilton. Hike the Cedar Falls Trail to a 95-foot waterfall, scramble the Seven Hollows Trail, catch sunset at the overlooks, and eat at Mather Lodge. The Museum of Automobiles is up top too.
Fishing
Lake Overcup near Morrilton is a local favorite, and the Arkansas River runs right past town. Get your license from Arkansas Game & Fish, which sells both resident and nonresident licenses.
Lake Sylvia · Perry County
A quiet lake in the Ouachita National Forest south of Perryville, with camping, swimming, hiking and picnic areas, run by Arkansas State Parks.
Toad Suck Park · Conway
An Arkansas River park at Toad Suck Lock & Dam with camping, boat ramps and fishing. The name is a local legend.
Mount Nebo & Lake Dardanelle · ~1 hr
West past Russellville: mountaintop views and trails at Mount Nebo State Park, and big-water fishing and boating on Lake Dardanelle.
Hunting
Deer, duck and turkey seasons draw a crowd here. Check season dates, licenses and hunter education requirements with Arkansas Game & Fish before you go.
Fun, events & community
Downtown Morrilton
Local shops and restaurants, the historic Rialto Theater with concerts, plays and movies, and the Morrilton Depot Museum.
Festivals
Morrilton's long-running Great Arkansas Pig Out festival, and Conway's Toad Suck Daze each spring. Check the Morrilton Area Chamber and the city calendar for dates.
Sports
Friday night football with the Morrilton Devil Dogs, college games at UCA, Hendrix and Central Baptist in Conway, and Arkansas Tech in Russellville.
Churches
Morrilton and the surrounding towns have churches of many denominations. Ask in the Facebook group for recommendations. Many welcome visitors and newcomers.
Staying active
Gyms in Morrilton and Conway, city parks, ball fields, and miles of trails at Petit Jean.
Little Rock day trip · ~1 hr
The state capital has the River Market, museums, the zoo, concerts and pro-style events when you want a bigger-city weekend.
Weather & safety
🌡️ What to expect
- Summer: hot and humid, often in the 90s. Plan hydration and shade for outdoor work.
- Fall: the best season here, mild with great colors on Petit Jean.
- Winter: mostly mild, but ice storms can shut down roads for a day or two. Keep supplies on hand.
- Spring: beautiful but stormy. This is severe weather season.
⛈️ Severe weather & tornadoes
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and add a local weather app.
- Know your safe spot: an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.
- In an RV or mobile home? Know where you'll shelter before storms hit. Ask your park or neighbors.
- A watch means be ready. A warning means take shelter now.
Ask the locals
Best breakfast before a 6 a.m. shift? Where to get a tire fixed? Which church has a good youth group? Ask in our Facebook group. Someone will know.
Join the Facebook Group →Area information is a general guide for newcomers. Businesses, hours and services change, so please verify details directly.