{{Short description|U.S. Numbered Highway in Texas and Oklahoma in the United States}} {{Use American English|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox road |country=USA |type=US |route=259 |map={{maplink-road|from=U.S. Route 259.map}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes=US 259 highlighted in red |length_mi=250 |established=1963<ref name="259established">{{cite news |title=Highway Re-Numbered |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90764152/us-259-ok-february-9-1963/ |access-date=December 18, 2021 |work=The Daily Oklahoman |date=February 9, 1963 |location=Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |page=34|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> |direction_a=South |direction_b=North |terminus_a={{plainlist|*{{jct|state=TX|I-Future|69|US|59|I-Bus|69|US-Bus|59|dab4=Nacogdoches}} near Nacogdoches, TX}} |junction= *{{jct|state=TX|I|20}} near Kilgore, TX *{{jct|state=TX|US|84}} at Mount Enterprise, TX *{{jct|state=TX|US|79}} at Henderson, TX *{{jct|state=TX|I|20}} at Kilgore, TX *{{jct|state=TX|US|80}} at Longview, TX *{{jct|state=TX|US|67}} at Omaha, TX *{{jct|state=TX|I|30}} near Omaha, TX *{{jct|state=TX|US|82}} at De Kalb, TX *{{jct|state=OK|US|70|SH|3}} from Idabel, OK to Broken Bow, OK |terminus_b={{jct|state=OK|US|59|US|270}} near Heavener, OK |states=Texas, Oklahoma |spur_of=59 |spur_type=US }}
'''U.S. Route 259''' ('''US 259''') is a north–south spur of U.S. Route 59 that runs for {{convert|250|mi|km}} through rural areas of northeastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma. The highway's southern terminus is near Nacogdoches, Texas, at an interchange with its parent route, US 59. Its northern terminus is in the Ouachita Mountains, approximately {{convert|15|mi|km}} south of Heavener, Oklahoma, where it reunites with US 59. For most of its length, US 259 lies {{convert|30–50|mi|km}} to the west of its parent route.
==Route description== thumb|left|First reassurance marker heading north from the southern terminus in Nacogdoches, Texas
===Texas=== {{About|the current U.S. Highway|the former state highway|Texas State Highway 259|section=yes}} US 259 begins at an intersection with its parent, US 59 (future Interstate 69), on the north side of Nacogdoches, Texas. The highway continues due north, passing through Mount Enterprise, and around the eastern side of Henderson and Kilgore. In Kilgore, Texas, US 259 is known as the Charles K. Devall Memorial Highway, as named by the Texas Legislature.<ref>Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1193, § 1, eff. June 15, 2001</ref> It then has a concurrency with Interstate 20 of about {{convert|6|mi|km}}, then continues north around the eastern edge of Longview along Eastman Rd. The highway continues due north, crossing Interstate 30 in northern Morris County, and crossing into Oklahoma in northwest Bowie County.
===Oklahoma=== thumb|Northern terminus of US 259 in the Ouachita Mountains After crossing into McCurtain County, Oklahoma, US-259 immediately meets State Highway 87, and continues north through Harris. Maps indicate that US-259 and SH-87 overlap to Idabel, but officially, this is not the case,<ref name="2008-control">{{cite map|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Transportation|title=2008 Control Section Maps|page=McCurtain 45|url=http://www.odot.org/hqdiv/p-r-div/maps/control-maps/mccurtain.pdf|access-date=2008-06-06}}</ref> and ODOT signage does not reflect a concurrency.
US-259 bypasses Idabel to the south and east, concurring with U.S. Highway 70 Bypass. East of Idabel, the bypass route ends, and US-259 begins a concurrency with mainline US-70 and SH-3. The three highways continue north to Broken Bow, where US-70 splits to the east toward DeQueen, Arkansas, and SH-3 splits to the west, bound for Antlers. US-259 continues north alone, taking a winding path through the Ouachita Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma. The route passes Broken Bow Lake on its west side, with State Highway 259A serving as an access loop to the lake and Beavers Bend State Resort. Near the lake, US-259 crosses through the Ouachita National Forest for the first time. Near Smithville, the highway serves as the western terminus of State Highway 4.
North of the SH-4 junction, US-259 crosses into Le Flore County. The U.S. route then serves as the eastern terminus of SH-144 near Octavia. US-259 reenters the national forest north of this junction, and intersects SH-63 at Big Cedar. It then has a junction with SH-1, the Talimena Drive. The highway reunites with US-59 about {{convert|10|mi|km}} south of Heavener, reaching its northern terminus.
==History== {{more citations needed section|date=August 2025}} In Texas, the highway was designated in 1962 and assumed the entire route of a previous iteration and alignment of State Highway 26, which was then cancelled.<ref name=TxDOT>{{TxDOT|US|259|access-date=June 17, 2015}}</ref> (The SH 26 designation has since returned, on another roadway elsewhere in the state.)
Prior to 1985, US 259 between Kilgore and Longview followed the current route of Texas State Highway 31. It entered Longview from the southwest at the intersection of South Street and Spur 63. It then followed Spur 63 to US 80. US 259 then ran concurrently with US 80 to Eastman Road. At the US 80/Eastman Rd. intersection, the previous alignment of US 259 turned left to go north on Eastman. In 1985, US 259 was rerouted to its current route along Interstate 20 to Eastman Road, then left to go north, along the eastern edge of Longview, bypassing the central business district.
==Major intersections== {{mileposts}} {{jcttop|exit|state_col=state|length_ref=<ref name="ggm-ok">{{google maps|title=US-259 in Oklahoma|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=US-259+N&daddr=US-259+N+to:S+Central+Ave+to:SE+Lincoln+Rd+to:US-259+N%2FUS-70+E+to:S+Park+Dr+to:US-259+N+to:US-259+N+to:US-259+N+to:US-259+N+to:US-259+N+to:US-259+N+to:US-259+N&hl=en&ll=34.214073,-94.750214&spn=1.165148,1.906128&sll=34.734048,-94.590912&sspn=0.009046,0.014892&geocode=FYcAAgIdVBRb-g%3BFcZrAgIdJxRb-g%3BFbH7BAIdHhBZ-g%3BFUI0BQIduqBZ-g%3BFSKRBQId5-BZ-g%3BFYszBwIdgWNa-g%3BFQuUCAIdW2Ra-g%3BFXgBCQIdwEVa-g%3BFbDsDQId87Fb-g%3BFVPfDgIdezdb-g%3BFcqoEAIdbsZb-g%3BFTusEQIdYMNb-g%3BFXr_EQIdkKRc-g&mra=mi&mrsp=12&sz=17&t=m&z=10|access-date=June 26, 2014}}</ref>}} {{TXint|exit |espan=27 |sspan=66 |county=Nacogdoches |cspan=5 |location=Redfield |mile=0.00 |road={{jct|state=TX|I-Future|69|US|59|I-Bus|69|US-Bus|59|dir3=south|dab4=Nacogdoches|dir4=south|name4=North Street|city1=Nacogdoches|city2=Garrison|city3=Lufkin|location4=SFASU}} |notes=Interchange; southern terminus; road continues as Bus. I-69 south/Bus. US 59 south (North Street); U.S. 59 is the future Interstate 69 }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|698|dir1=west}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|204|dir1=west|city1=Cushing}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2664|dir1=east}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1087|dir1=east}} }} {{TXint |county=Rusk |cspan=17 |location=Mount Enterprise |lspan=2 |road={{jct|state=TX|US|84|name1=Rusk Street|city1=Rusk|city2=Timpson}} }} {{TXint |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|315|dir1=east|city1=Carthage}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2496|dir1=west|city2=Laneville}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1798|city1=Laneville|city2=Minden}}<!--is it still signed this way?--> |notes=Interchange }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|3310|dir1=north}} }} {{TXint |type=concur |location=Henderson |lspan=5 |road={{jct|state=TX|US|79|dir1=south|city1=Jacksonville|city2=Palestine}} |notes=South end of US 79 overlap }} {{TXint |road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|79|dab1=Henderson|dir1=south|FM|840|extra=hospital|dir2=south|city1=Downtown Henderson}} |notes=Access to UT Health Henderson }} {{TXint |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TX|US|79|dir1=north|SH|43|dir2=north|SH|64|dir3=west|city1=Tyler|city2=Tatum|city3=Carthage}} |notes=North end of US 79 overlap }} {{TXint |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|782|dir1=east|location1=Oak Hill}} }} {{TXint |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|322|dir1=north|extra=airport|location1=Airport}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|Loop|571|dir1=south|name1=Landon Alford Loop}} }} {{TXint |type=concur |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2276|dir1=south}} |notes=South end of FM 2276 overlap }} {{TXint |type=concur |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2276|dir1=north}} |notes=North end of FM 2276 overlap }} {{TXint |location=Jacobs |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|850|city1=Overton}} }} {{TXint |location=Pitner Junction |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|918|dir1=west|city1=Overton}} }} {{TXint |type=incomplete |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|259|dab1=Kilgore|dir1=north|city1=Kilgore}} |notes=Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1249}} |notes=Interchange }} {{TXint |county=Gregg |cspan=16 |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2204}} |notes=Interchange }} {{TXint |location=Kilgore |lspan=2 |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|349}} |notes=Interchange }} {{TXint |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TX|US-Bus|259|dab1=Kilgore|dir1=south|name1=SH 31 west<!--not signed here-->|city1=Kilgore}} |notes=Interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance; south end of SH 31 overlap }} {{TXint |type=concur |location=Kinsloe |lspan=2 |mile= |mspan=2 |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|31|dir1=east|to2=to|I|20|dir2=west}} |notes=North end of SH 31 overlap }} {{TXint |type=concur |mile=none |road={{jct|state=TX|I|20|dir1=west|city1=Dallas}} |notes=South end of I-20 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance; I-20 exit 589; southbound entrance via Post Oak Road }} {{TXint|exit |location=none |exit=591 |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2087|name1=Old Kilgore Highway|FM|2011}} |notes=Exit numbers follow I-20 }} {{TXint|exit |location=Longview |lspan=5 |exit=595 |road={{jct|extra=airport}}{{jct|state=TX|SH|322|dir1=south|name1=Estes Parkway|Loop|281|dir2=north|location1=Downtown|city2=Longview<!--also signed Downtown Longview-->|extra=rail|location3=Amtrak}} |notes=Split into exits 595A (south) and 595B (north) northbound }} {{TXint|exit |espan=2 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TX|I|20|dir1=east|SH|149|dir2=south|name2=Eastman Road south|city1=Carthage}} |notes=North end of I-20 overlap; south end of SH 149 overlap; I-20 exit 596 }} {{TXint |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|149|dir1=ends|US|80|extra=hospital|name2=Marshall Avenue|location1=Downtown Longview|city2=Hallsville|city3=Marshall|location4=Kilgore College}} |notes=Northern terminus of SH 149; north end of SH 149 overlap; Access to CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center - Longview }} {{TXint|exit |espan=13 |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2208|name1=Alpine Street|city1=Harleton}} }} <!--Is the ramp into Tower Honda of Longview a northbound exit only, or is it a two-way ramp?--> {{TXint |road={{jct|state=TX|Loop|281}} |notes=Interchange }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1844|dir1=west}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|2751}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|Spur|502|dir1=south|city1=Downtown Longview}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|449|dir1=east}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1650|dir1=west|city1=Gilmer}} }} {{TXint |county=Upshur |cspan=6 |location=Diana<!--per green signs--> |lspan=2 |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|3245|dir1=east}} }} {{TXint |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|154|city1=Gilmer|city2=Marshall}} }} {{TXint |location=Old Diana<!--maybe--> |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|726|location1=Lake O' The Pines|city2=Jefferson}} }} {{TXint |location=Ore City |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|450|dir1=south|FM|1649|dir2=west|city1=Harleton|location2=Lake O' The Pines}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|155|city1=Linden|city2=Gilmer}} |notes=Interchange }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|557|dir1=west|city1=Pittsburg}} }} {{jctco|state=TX|county=Camp}} {{TXint|exit |espan=34 |county=Morris |cspan=15 |location=Lone Star |lspan=2 |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|729|dir1=east|name1=Lone Star Boulevard|city1=Jefferson|location2=Lake O' The Pines North Shore}} }} {{TXint |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|250|dir1=north|name1=Industrial Boulevard|city1=Hughes Springs}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|3421|dir1=east}} }} {{TXint |location=Jenkins |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|144|dir1=north|FM|997|dir2=south|city1=Cason}} }} {{TXint |type=concur |location=Daingerfield |lspan=3 |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|11|dir1=east|SH|49|dir2=east|name2=W.M. Watson Boulevard|city1=Hughes Springs|city2=Linden|city3=Jefferson|location4=Daingerfield State Park}} |notes=South end of SH 11 / SH 49 overlap }} {{TXint |type=concur |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|11|dir1=west|name1=W.M. Watson Boulevard|city1=Pittsburg}} |notes=North end of SH 11 overlap }} {{TXint |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|130|dir1=east}} }} {{TXint |type=concur |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|49|dir1=west|city1=Mount Pleasant}} |notes=North end of SH 49 overlap }} {{TXint |location=Rocky Branch<!--maybe--> |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|338|dir1=north|city1=Naples}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|Spur|284|dir1=west}} }} {{TXint |location=Omaha |road={{jct|state=TX|US|67|city1=Mount Pleasant|city2=Texarkana|location3=Omaha Business District}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|144|dir1=south}} }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|SH|77|dir1=east}}<!--any cities signed?--> }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|I|30|city1=Dallas|city2=Texarkana}} |notes=I-30 exit 178 }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|71|dir1=west|city1=Talco}} }} {{TXint |county=Bowie |cspan=6 |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|561|dir1=east|city1=Dalby Springs}} }} {{TXint |type=concur |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|44|dir1=east|FM|992|dir2=east}} |notes=South end of FM 44 overlap }} {{TXint |type=concur |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|44|dir1=west|to2=to|FM|992}} |notes=North end of FM 44 overlap }} {{TXint |location=none |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|1701|dir1=west}} }} {{TXint |location=De Kalb<!--per green sign on US 82--> |road={{jct|state=TX|US|82|city1=De Kalb|city2=Clarksville}} |notes=Interchange }} {{TXint |location=Spring Hill<!--maybe--> |ctdab=Bowie |road={{jct|state=TX|FM|114|dir1=west|FM|2735|dir2=south|city1=Clarksville}} }} {{Jctbridge<!--reference marker 196 in Texas--> |state=OK |sspan=13 |river=Red River |mile=151.1 |mile2=0.00 |line=yes |bridge=Bridge over the Red River<!--D.I. McCullough Memorial Bridge?--> }} {{OKint |county=McCurtain |cspan=8 |location=none |mile=1.9 |road={{jct|state=OK|SH|87|dir1=east|location1=Foreman Ark.}} |notes=Western terminus of SH-87 }} {{OKint |location=Idabel |lspan=3 |type=concur |mile=19.6 |road={{jct|state=OK|US-Byp|70|dab1=Idabel|dir1=west|name1=SW Lincoln Road|extra=airport}} |notes={{ccr-end|South|US-70 Byp.}}; serves McCurtain County Regional Airport }} {{OKint |type=concur |mile=22.6 |road={{jct|state=OK|SH|3|dir1=east|name1=Washington Street|city1=Haworth}}<!--also signed "to US-259 via business district"--> |notes={{ccr-end|South|SH-3}} }} {{OKint |type=concur |mile=24.5 |road={{jct|state=OK|US-Byp|70|dab1=Idabel|dir1=ends|noshield1=yes|US|70|dir2=west|location1=Southeastern Oklahoma State University McCurtain Campus|city2=Hugo}} |notes=Eastern terminus of US-70 Byp.; {{ccr-end|north|US-70 Byp.}}; {{ccr-end|south|US-70}} }} {{OKint |location=Broken Bow |lspan=3<!--yes, the city limits stretch that far--> |type=concur |mile=32.3 |road={{jct|state=OK|US|70|dir1=east|name1=Martin Luther King Drive|SH|3|dir2=west|name2=Veterans Way|city1=Antlers|location2=DeQueen Ark.}} |notes={{ccr-end|North|US-70 / SH-3}} }} {{OKint |mile=38.6 |road={{jct|state=OK|SH|259A|dir1=east|location1=Beavers Bend}} |notes=Clockwise terminus of SH-259A }} {{OKint |mile=40.6 |road={{jct|state=OK|SH|259A|location1=Beavers Bend|location2=Broken Bow Dam}} |notes=Counterclockwise terminus of SH-259A }} {{OKint |location=Smithville |mile=70.7 |road={{jct|state=OK|SH|4|dir1=east|city1=Smithville}} |notes=Western terminus of SH-4 }} {{OKint |county=Le Flore |cspan=4 |location=none |mile=75.4 |road={{jct|state=OK|SH|144|dir1=west|city1=Octavia}} |notes=Eastern terminus of SH-144 }} {{OKint |location=Big Cedar |mile=89.6 |road={{jct|state=OK|SH|63|city1=Talihina|location2=Mena}} }} {{OKint |location=none |mile=94.6 |road={{jct|state=OK|SH|1|name1=Talimena Scenic Drive<!--as signs here call it-->}} |notes=Interchange via connector road }} {{OKint |location=none |mile=98.9 |road={{jct|state=OK|US|59|US|270}}<!--what cities are signed?--> |notes=Northern terminus }} {{jctbtm|keys=concur,incomplete|col=8}}
==Special routes==
===Kilgore business route=== {{infobox road small |state=TX |type=US-Bus |route=259 |location=Kilgore, Texas |formed=2006 }} US-259 has one Business route in Texas. In 2006, a new bypass was completed around the eastern side of Kilgore. The bypass had been proposed as early as 1965, but funding did not become available until the late 1990s. The new bypass was designated as US-259, while the previous route through the Kilgore business district was designated as a business route. The new business route was approved by the AASHO in September 2006. {{clear}}
===Idabel bypass=== {{infobox road small |state=OK |type=US-Byp |route=259 |location=Idabel, Oklahoma |deleted=2000 }}
Formerly, US-259 continued into downtown Idabel, and the southeast portion of the Idabel bypass was double-designated as US-70 Bypass and US-259 Bypass. On 6 March 2000, the bypass route was decommissioned, and mainline US-259 was moved onto the bypass.<ref name="odot-history">{{cite web|author=Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Planning & Research Division|url=http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/memorial/legal/us259.htm|title=Memorial Dedication & Revision History - US-259|access-date=2008-06-09}}</ref> However, {{As of|2008|lc=on}}, some bypass signage is still in place, including signage indicating the former terminus of Bypass US-259 at US-70/SH-3. {{Clear}}
===SH-259A=== SH-259A, an Oklahoma state highway, is a {{convert|10|mi|km|adj=on}} loop to Broken Bow Lake and Beavers Bend Resort Park north of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. It lies partially in the Ouachita National Forest and is occasionally signed as a U.S. highway.
==See also==
===Related routes=== *U.S. Route 59 *U.S. Route 159
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Attached KML}} * {{Commons category inline|U.S. Route 259}} * [http://usends.com/259.html Endpoints of U.S. Highway 259]
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{{ok browse|previous_type=SH|previous_route=251A|route=OK|next_type=US|next_route=266}} {{s-end}}
{{US 59}}
59-2 59-2 59-2 2 Category:Transportation in Nacogdoches County, Texas Category:Transportation in Rusk County, Texas Category:Transportation in Gregg County, Texas Category:Transportation in Upshur County, Texas Category:Transportation in Camp County, Texas Category:Transportation in Morris County, Texas Category:Transportation in Bowie County, Texas Category:Transportation in McCurtain County, Oklahoma Category:Transportation in Le Flore County, Oklahoma