Arkansas, called The Natural State, is diverse in its landscapes, but it’s the Ozarks that most people think of when the state is mentioned.
Northwestern Arkansas encompasses much of the mountainous region and features dozens of unique towns clustered in a square around I-49, 62, 412 and 23.
It’s easy to base yourself in one place, like Bentonville or Eureka Springs, and make day trips to the other parts of the region. Don’t miss the hiking and outdoor recreation that this area offers.
Bentonville
Bentonville is the largest of the towns in Northwestern Arkansas and has the most traditional sights. It’s also home to Walmart, which brought in additional restaurants, hotels, and attractions.
What to Do
The attraction that brings in the most visitors is the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, one of the country’s best art museums. Learn about the history of one of the world’s largest corporations from the former site of the five and dime at The Walmart Museum. Kids will love the hands-on exhibits at the Scott Family Amazeum.
1875 Peel Mansion Museum & Heritage Gardens is one of the historic buildings in the area. You can tour the home and also explore the gardens. Compton Gardens and Conference Center is another aspect of the Peel, including even more acreage of gardens, complete with statues and a trail to Crystal Bridges.
Museum of Native American History details the history of the people who lived in the area long before the arrival of Europeans.
Nature-lovers should check out the miles of trails that run through the area, including the trails between downtown Bentonville and Crystal Bridges and the Slaughter Pen Trail for mountain bikers.
Where to Eat
For a small town, Bentonville has a surprisingly diverse food scene to feed the Walmart employees and out-of-town visitors. Don’t let the former drive-thru appearance fool you. Grab a heaping bowl of pho at Pho Thanh.
For a nice dinner, stop by The Hive at 21C Museum Hotel, which puts an emphasis on seasonal, local ingredients.
Oven & Tap Restaurant features wood-fired pizzas with a Southern twist. Pressroom is ideal for breakfast and lunch or stop by Onyx Coffee Lab for a quick jolt.
Craft beer lovers should visit Bike Rack Brewing Co. and their neighboring The Pedaler’s Pub. You may also find the food trucks, which set up on certain days of the week.
Where to Stay
Options were limited until 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville opened and while there are a handful of other options, stay here if you can! The chic arts hotel has its own restaurant, museum, and much more.
For something different, The Victorian Bed and Breakfast has a handful of cozy rooms. Camping options are also available nearby.
Rogers
Rogers has both a small town aspect and suburban area. The eighth-largest city in the state of Arkansas has plenty of history to learn about and nature to immerse yourself in. Browse the shops of downtown before exploring the rural areas.
What to Do
War Eagle Mill is a gristmill set on acres of beautiful property, with its own restaurant, a small museum, and shop. Daisy Airgun Museum details the history of the vintage rifle company, including their famous Red Ryder. Rogers Historical Museum has exhibits on the town and county’s past.
Where to Eat
Rogers has a surprising amount of food options for all price ranges. Foster’s Pint & Plate is known for their large draft beer selection and hearty meals like the lamb burger. They also have live music during some nights, as does Levi’s Gastrolounge & Bar.
Monte Ne Inn Chicken may not look like much, but their fried chicken is rated among the best in the state. Ozark Beer Company is the region’s best brewery, but you can drink them all at Brick Street Brews.
Where to Stay
Aloft Rogers – Bentonville is an outpost of the Starwood brand, incorporating the modern design for visitors to Northwestern Arkansas.
The Embassy Suites NW Arkansas Hotel-Spa & Convention Center is one of the largest in the area, with all the amenities you could require. If you prefer to be closer to nature, there are also plenty of campsites, RV parks and cabins.
Eureka Springs
This historic spa town in the heart of the Ozarks has long been known for its healing waters. This funky mountain town is a popular destination year-round but is buzzing during the summer months when you’ll find performances and other events.
What to Do
Start your trip at Thorncrown Chapel, another church built into the woods on the outskirts of town. Then stop by The Great Passion Play, where you can see a piece of the Berlin Wall and the Christ of the Ozarks statue, even when performances aren’t going on.
Learn about the town’s unique history at the Eureka Springs Historical Museum, which starts with the Native American settlements and continues to modern tourism.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary for big cats that all ages can appreciate while things get weird at Quigley’s Castle, an unusual house made mostly of rocks.
Where to Eat
Many of the dining options may vary, depending on the season. Local Flavor Café is a restaurant and wine bar that offers light lunches and dinners.
Mud Street Cafe offers, among other things, coffee drinks and Sunday brunch. The Stone House is more upscale, with live music, wine, and cheese.
Where to Stay
The 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa, rumored to be haunted, is the crown jewel of the Ozarks and one of the Historic Hotels of America. New Orleans Hotel & Spa is another downtown option with all the amenities and charm.
Texaco Bungalow is a unique stay in a former filling station while Oakcrest Cottages and Treehouses have rentals in the trees. Turpentine Creek also has glamping. Find even more unique stays in Eureka Springs on Airbnb.
Bella Vista
This golf community of 25,000 near the border with Missouri has a number of trails to check out. It was first founded in the 1960s as a resort community and has thrived ever since.
What to Do
Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel is another chapel in the woods, but this one features Gothic arches. Pay tribute to the soldiers at Veterans Wall of Honor and learn more about the town at the Bella Vista Historical Society. Exhibits discuss the town’s early days as a resort to the present.
Where to Eat
Options are limited beyond the highway chains, but there are a handful to choose from, including a few in private clubs. Gusano’s Pizza is a local chain offering Chicago-style pies. Papa Mike’s has made-to-order salads and sandwiches.
Where to Stay
The Inn at Bella Vista is one of the only options these days for accommodation, with each room exhibiting a different theme.
Fayetteville
The college town home to the University of Arkansas has unique shops like Riffraff, restaurants both students and parents will appreciate, and the presidential history of when Bill and Hillary Clinton called this place home.
What to Do
Since this is a college town, there aren’t attractions in the traditional sense, apart from a few. Instead, come on a game weekend to see the place in full swing.
But if your visit isn’t in the fall, stop by the Clinton House Museum, a museum in the house where the couple lived. See a replica of Hillary’s wedding dress and campaign memorabilia from both Clintons. Arkansas Air Museum has exhibits that military and aviation buffs will appreciate.
Where to Eat
Hugo’s has been a Fayetteville favorite since 1977, serving burgers and steaks. Doe’s Eat Place has an outpost here, so seek out their massive steaks and Delta tamales.
Mockingbird Kitchen has vegetarian options and uses ingredients from local farmers and artisans. La Media Luna crafts artfully prepared Mexican fare.
And while craft beer is found throughout Northwestern Arkansas, Fayetteville created the Fayetteville Ale Trail, which gives you stamps in a passport for each brewery you visit.
Among those included in Fayetteville proper are Apple Blossom Brewing Company, Columbus House Brewery and Tap Room, Fossil Cove Brewing Co, and West Mountain Brewing Co.
Where to Stay
Fayetteville is another place you can base yourself as there are plenty of accommodation options. The Chancellor Hotel is modern and boutique-style while Dickson Street Inn is more quaint with its own pub.
The Inn at Carnall Hall and Pratt Place Inn and Barn are both inns popular as wedding venues. Inn at the Mill is a stunning getaway outside of town.
Springdale
And rounding out the Northwestern Arkansas corridor is Springdale, a town with personality of its own and plenty of food and drink to make it worth the drive.
What to Do
Learn about what makes the Ozarks unique at Springdale’s Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. The surprising museum includes exhibits on the city’s humble upbringings during the Civil War to becoming the poultry capital of the state.
Botanical Garden of the Ozarks showcases the natural beauty of the region. Nearby Pea Ridge National Military Park near the border with Missouri was the site of an important Civil War battle.
Where to Eat
AQ Chicken House calls itself “world-famous” for the many ways they serve chicken. Try the fried chicken and Italian fare for yourself. Pontiac Coffee House serves more than the name implies, including breakfast and their signature “duffins.”
Susan’s Restaurant is known for its chicken fried steak and cinnamon rolls. When you’re ready for a drink, stop by the taprooms of Core Brewing & Distilling Company and Saddlebock Brewery or Tontitown Winery.
Where to Stay
Chain hotels are your only option here, so try the Holiday Inn Springdale/Fayetteville Area, Hampton Inn & Suites, Springdale, DoubleTree Club by Hilton, or Sleep Inn & Suites Springdale, each with amenities like free parking, breakfast, and WiFi.
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Great write up! We love the area. I’ve lived all over the South and love to call Fayetteville home. If I had two quibbles though, they’d be that locals call the region Northwest Arkansas, or NWA for short, not Northwestern Arkansas. Also, Fayetteville is the biggest city in the region, not Bentonville. Bentonville’s great though. Crystal Bridges is a must see for any art lover. It’s the real deal.
Thanks for the insights, NRB!
Have you actually been to NWA? If so you seriously put Eureka Pizzia on the places to eat in Fayetteville? Your article is also missing all the hiking, floating, and camping in NWA which, is a major reason people come here in the first place. I’m sorry if I’m coming off blunt but if someone only followed your article on where to go, they would leave Arkansas thinking it’s less than half the state it is. Northwest Arkansas has a lot more to offer than what you’ve put here.