Written by AFAR author Taryn Shorr-McKee
Fall foliage in the Ozarks, its core spanning Missouri and Arkansas but also comprising tiny parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois, heats up relatively late—weeks later than the Smokies or New England. But the show of flashing gold and copper hits right when you need it. I live in the Missouri Ozarks, close enough to visit any corner of the region on a whim, and late fall is my favorite time to explore. Driving through northwest Arkansas, I pass more deer than people, savoring the best views with hardly anyone else around.
Central to the Ozarks’ appeal is that the area doesn’t garner the same fanfare as more famous leaf-peeping destinations. Crowds are minimal, accommodation low-key and reasonably priced, and crisp mornings turn hiking trails and scenic byways into a near-secret. Art, food, and outdoor adventure intersect in this underrated area—and in late fall, you can enjoy it without fighting the traffic typical of many other seasonal hot spots.
Route One: Bentonville–Fayetteville–Eureka Springs Loop
This road trip blends culture and color, with urban art, a fantastic food scene, mountain overlooks, and outdoor recreation all minutes apart. Start in Bentonville, one of our 52 places to travel in the U.S. this year. The town square feels especially cozy under a crimson and gold canopy.
Check into 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville, where contemporary art fills every hallway, then walk—or do as the locals do and bike—to just about everything in town. Don’t miss the (free!) Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Airship Coffee at Coler, which you can only reach by walking or biking one mile through a nature preserve.
