Special routes of U.S. Route 49

Helena-West Helena business route

U.S. Highway 49 Business (US 49B, Hwy. 49B) is a 6.92-mile (11.14 km) business route of U.S. Route 49 in Phillips County. The route's northern terminus is at US 49 in Helena-West Helena. It runs south as Sebastian Street and splits into two divided one-way streets known as Plaza Avenue at a junction Highway 242. These routes overlap for 0.13 miles (0.21 km) until Highway 242 turns north along 4th Street. The one-way streets merge and become Richmond Drive headed east. US 49B passes the Faust House, Myers House, Central High School and the Helena Country Club before meeting the former corporate limit of West Helena prior to their 2005 merger. The route winds and splits into two divided one-way streets begin as it enters the area formerly designated as Helena. After a junction with Highway 185 the routes pass several historical properties on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Altman House, Beech Street Historic District, James C. Tappan House, Coolidge House, and the Jerome Bonaparte Pillow House. Highway 49B turns south onto Columbia Street and runs south out of town past the Allin House, William Nicholas Straub House, Centennial Baptist Church, and the St. Mary's Catholic Church. The route continues south past the Keesee House, William A. Short House, and Estevan Hall before becoming Biscoe Street and terminating at the parent route.

The entire route is in Helena-West Helena, Phillips County.

Brookland business route

U.S. Highway 49 Business is a 3.66-mile (5.89 km) business route of U.S. Route 49 in Craighead County. The route's southern terminus is at US 49 in south Brookland. It runs north as Holman Street, passing the Brookland City Hall and Brookland High School. North of the high school, US 49B runs due north to meet Arkansas Highway 230 and eventually intersect the parent route and terminate.

This roadway was originally part of Arkansas Highway 1, designated in 1926 in Arkansas' initial state highway system. AR 1 was broken into two segments in 1978 with the relocation of US 49.

The entire route is in Brookland, Craighead County.

Paragould business route

U.S. Highway 49 Business (US 49B and Hwy. 49B) is a 2.36-mile (3.80 km) business route of U.S. Route 49 in Greene County. Posted as 49B, the route's northern terminus is at US 49 in north Paragould. It runs south and intersects AR 135 near the Greene County Fairgrounds. The route continues south as 3rd Street, passing near the historic National Bank of Commerce Building, the Paragould War Memorial, the Paragould Downtown Commercial Historic District, and the Gulf Oil Company Service Station to terminate at US 412.

Following the designation of Highway 1 as US 49 between Jonesboro and Piggott, AR 1B in Paragould was redesignated as US 49B on August 22, 1979.

The entire route is in Paragould, Greene County.