Skip to Content

Van Services for Veterans

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Volunteer Transportation Network (VTN), through community partnerships with Disabled American Veterans (DAV), provides free van rides to and from John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital and the Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in Central Arkansas for Veterans for appointments who don’t have other transportation options.

About DAV services

DAV van resources work with county Veterans Affairs directors to provide transportation for Veterans to and from Veteran health care centers for scheduled medical appointments.

Vans are currently located in Batesville, Newport, Heber Springs, Jonesboro, Mount Home, Russellville, Mena, Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Hope, and El Dorado. Our volunteer drivers will conveniently pick up patients at designated areas and safely transport them to the clinics at John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital and/or Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center. Patients will then be returned to their pick-up location after the last passenger has finished with their appointments.

Arrange a ride

If you’d like to schedule a DAV van ride, contact the Hospital Service Coordinator who serves your county.

John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital
4300 West 7th Street
Little Rock, AR 72205
Map of Little Rock campus
Phone: 501-257-6991

Please note that DAV vans can only provide rides to ambulatory passengers (passengers who are able to move around without the driver’s help). For information on accessible transportation options, review our other Veteran shuttle services.

Batesville Route -- Mondays and Wednesdays - 870-793-8812

Batesville -- Sheriff's Office (Myer's Street) 7:00 a.m. Southside -- Church parking lot 7:10 a.m. Pleasant Plains -- Exxon station 7:20 a.m. Bald Knob -- Exxon station (exit 55) 7:40 a.m. Searcy -- Exxon station (exit 46) 7:50 a.m. Beebe -- Country Store (exit 28) 8:10 a.m. Cabot -- New Service Station (exit 16) 8:25 a.m. Jacksonville -- Waffle House (exit 9) 8:35 a.m. Little Rock -- Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed their appointments, but no later than 2:30 p.m. *All times are approximate.

Camden/El Dorado Route - Mondays 870-837-2216

Camden - Carnes Park, Highway 7 6:15 a.m. Smackover - Sumac Valero at Highway 7 6:35 a.m. El Dorado - Mellor Park Mall N.W. Ave. 6:45 a.m. Hampton - 167/278 intersection at C-store 7:15 a.m. Fordyce - McDonalds at Highway 167 7:40 a.m. Farindale - Farindale store & station at Highway 167 7:55 a.m. Sheridan -Wal-Mart parking lot 8:20 a.m. Little Rock VA - CAVHS 9:15 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed their VA Med. Center appointments, but NO LATER than 2:30 pm. *All times are approximate.

Fayetteville - Monday through Friday - 479-444-5041

Fayetteville - Main lobby, old hospital Alma - Sargent's 66, exit 13, north side of I-40 Ozark - Flying J Truck Stop, exit 37 Clarksville - Hardee's, exit 55 Russellville - McDonalds next to Pilot truck stop Morrilton - Shell station, exit 107 Conway - Big Lots parking, exit 127 *All times are approximate.

Heber Springs - Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays - 501-362-6211

Heber Springs - 710 North Scott Street 6:45 a.m. Rosebud - Jim Dandy/Conoco 7:15 a.m. El Paso - Shell Station/McDonalds 7:45 a.m. Cabot - Exxon, Highway 5 8:00 a.m. Quitman - Lonestar parking lot, Highway 25 7:00 a.m. Guy - Thunderbird station 7:05 a.m. Greenbrier 7:15 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed them VA Medical Center appointments, but NO LATER than 3:00 pm. *All times are approximate.

Hope - Mondays and Wednesdays - 870-359-9051 (NEW)

Hope - Sheriff's office 7:00 a.m. Prescott - TA truck stop, exit 44 7:30 a.m. Gurdon - Shell station, exit 63 7:50 a.m. Caddo Valley - Cracker Barrel restaurant, exit 78 8:15 a.m. Malvern - J Mart/Fina station, exit 98 8:40 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed their VA Med. Center appointments, but NO LATER than 3:00 pm. *All times are approximate.

Hot Springs - Monday through Friday - 501-262-0456

Hot Springs - Courthouse 7:30 a.m. Masonic Lodge, intersection Highways 5 and 128 7:45 a.m Hot Springs Village - Call-in only 7:50 a.m. Benton - Colton's Steakhouse, exit 117 8:00 a.m. Bryant-Bauxite - Exxon station, exit 123 - Call-in only 8:15 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed them VA Med. Center appointments, but NO LATER than 3:00 pm. *All times are approximate.

Jonesboro - Monday, Wednesday and Friday - 870-932-1052

Jonesboro - Turtle Creek Mall, Target entrance 6:00 a.m. Wynne - Frist Financial Bank, 528 Merriman Ave. 6:55 a.m. Forrest City - Shell station, 100 Holiday Drive 7:05 a.m. Palestine - Loves Travel, 1010 N. Main Street 7:10 a.m. Brinkley - Road Ranger, 2202 N. Main Street 7:30 a.m. Biscoe - City Hall 7:45 a.m. De Valls Bluff - Breaktime station, Highway 70 7:55 a.m. Hazen - Citgo/Cenex station, Highway 70 8:20 a.m. Carlisle - Town Market, Highway 70 8:30 a.m. Lonoke - Get-N-Go, Highway 70 8:40 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed them VA Med. Center appointments, but NO LATER than 2:30 pm. *All times are approximate.

Mena - Monday through Friday - 479-394-8147

Mena - Wendy's 6:00 a.m. Ink - Grave's propane 6:10 a.m. Cherry Hill - Cafe/store 6:15 a.m. Pine Ridge - Lum & Abner store 6:25 a.m. Pencil Bluff - Hop's Deli 6:30 a.m. Mt. Ida - Courthouse 6:45 a.m Crystal Springs - Burl's Restaurant 7:05 a.m. Hot Springs - McDonald's, Highways 220 and 227 7:45 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed them VA Med. Center appointments, but NO LATER than 3:00 pm. *All times are approximate.

Mountain Home West - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - 870-425-2003

Mountain Home - VFW, 7th & Gray Street 6:00 a.m. Flippen - Sunfast Market, Highway 62 6:20 a.m. Harrett - intersection of Highways 14 and 127 6:50 a.m Morningstar - old grocery store on right 7:05 a.m. Marshall - Dogwood Cafe 7:15 a.m. Leslie - Shell station 7:25 a.m. Clinton - McDonald's 7:45 a.m. Bee Branch - Old Feed Store 8:20 a.m. Damascus - new City Hall 8:30 a.m. Greenbrier - Life Song Baptist Church 8:40 a.m. Conway - Hobby Lobby 8:55 a.m. Conway CBOC 9:00 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed them VA Med. Center appointments, but NO LATER than 3:00 pm. *All times are approximate.

Mountain Home East - Thursdays - 870-425-2003

Mountain Home - VFW, 7th & Gray Street 6:00 a.m. Saleville - City Hall 6:10 a.m. Norfork - U.S. Post Office 6:20 a.m. Norfork - Hughes Market 6:25 a.m. Calico Rock - Music Center 6:30 a.m. Anglers Restaurant - Highways 5 and 9 6:50 a.m. Mountain View - Hardee's Restaurant 7:05 a.m. Drasco - Exxon station 7:20 a.m. Tumbling Shoals - VFW parking lot 7:45 a.m. Heber Springs - Sugarloaf 66 8:00 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed them VA Med. Center appointments, but NO LATER than 3:00 pm. *All times are approximate.

Newport - Thursdays - 870-523-9189

Newport - VFW on Brandenburg Lane 7:00 a.m. Bradford - Dollar General 7:30 a.m. Bald Knob - Exxon station, exit 55 7:45 a.m. Searcy - Exxon station, exit 46 7:50 a.m. Beebe - Country Store, exit 28 8:10 a.m. Cabot - Exxon station, exit 16 8:25 a.m. Jacksonville - Waffle House 8:35 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed them VA Med. Center appointments, but NO LATER than 2:30 pm. *All times are approximate.

Pine Bluff - Wednesdays - 870-541-5495

Pine Bluff - Main street, behind Veteran Service Office 8:00 a.m. White Hall - JRMC, exit 32 8:15 a.m. Redfield - Fina station, exit 20 8:25 a.m. Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed them VA Med. Center appointments, but NO LATER than 2:30 pm. *All times are approximate.

Russellville - Monday through Friday - 479-968-6049

Russellville - DAV building, 1502 E. 2nd Street 7:00 a.m. Russellville - Staples, exit 84 7:15 a.m. Atkins - SAV-A-LOT, exit 94 - Call-in only 7:45 a.m. Morrilton - Loves, exit 107 8:00 a.m. Conway - Big Lots, exit 127 8:25 a.m. Blackwell-Morgan-Mayflower - Call-in for information Van will depart Little Rock when all riders have completed them VA Med. Center appointments, but Veterans should check in NO LATER than 2:30 pm. *All times are approximate.

Other Veteran shuttle services

Non-DAV van services

Valuable resources for Arkansas transportation services are available for Veterans unable to use the VTN supported by DAV, or who just need a ride.  The costs are minimal and required coordination by the Veteran or his or her care provider.

Arkansas Transit -- Public transportation options

Arkansas urban public transportation systems

Some state and local public bodies are eligible to receive funds and operate transportation systems under section 5307 of the Federal Transit Act in municipalities of more than 50,000 in population. 

Urban and rural public transportation systems

Guidelines for using DAV vans

DAV van passengers are expected to follow certain guidelines, established by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the DAV National Headquarters. These guidelines include the following:

  • All riders must be ambulatory (able to board and exit the van without the driver’s help).
  • The DAV van driver is only allowed to stop the van for rest stops, emergencies, and to pick up and drop off passengers. Passengers should not ask the driver to make side trips to take care of their personal business.
  • Passengers are not permitted to smoke, chew tobacco, drink alcohol, use foul language, or bring weapons, drugs, or any illegal substance on the van. Van drivers are not required to provide transportation to any Veteran who is intoxicated, abusive, or who poses a threat to the driver or other passengers.
  • Passengers should not do anything to distract the driver.
  • Passengers should wear seatbelts at all times. Any passenger who refuses to wear a seatbelt will be denied transportation.
  • If a Veteran needs another individual (for example, a caregiver) to ride in the van with them, they need to get authorization from their VA attending physician or VA-certified nurse practitioner.
  • Veterans being discharged or granted passes can ride on a DAV van during the van's trip back to its home county only if space is available. The Veteran must be ready to leave when the van leaves the VA medical center.
  • Veterans should be dressed and ready to leave for the hospital at the time specified. Drivers can’t wait for Veterans who aren’t ready to leave at the appointed time.
  • Veterans can only bring with them items that they can hold on their lap or store under the seat.
  • The DAV van is not an emergency vehicle. The driver may refuse to transport any Veteran who appears to be too ill to ride the van.
  • Veterans who use the DAV Transportation Network will not be eligible to receive reimbursement for travel expenses.
    (M-1, Part 1, Chapter 25, July 8, 1991)

Last updated: