Things to Do
Enjoy the outdoors
Autumn at Airship at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. Photo by Holly Danielle
Savor the fall temps and seasonal color from our miles of mountain biking trails or acres of parks. Here are just a few options:
- Enjoy the peaceful wetlands of Osage Park and Lake Bentonville, and while you’re there, check out The Quiver Archery Range where you can learn the sport of archery!
- Spend a morning basking in the beauty of Coler MTB preserve, strolling their main path to the Rise, or biking their 19 miles of trails. Bonus: Airship at Applegate is tucked along the trail, and makes for a great stop to refuel and refresh.
- Bike Curious? Rent a mountain bike and join Bike School Bentonville every Saturday through the end of October for their free beginner-level guided mountain bike ride around our popular Slaughter Pen Bike Park, or check out their bike school offerings for the whole family!
- Rather let someone else take the wheel? Check out the Big On Bentonville golf-cart tours.
- Bonus: Check out our list of Fall Cycling Events here.
Visit a museum
Fall foliage at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. Photo by Larry Fleury
In Bentonville, you can immerse yourself in art, science, history, and more. Be sure to check each museum’s hours before you go. Get acquainted with the range of our museums in our Museum Roundup. Here’s a short overview of what’s on this season:
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art features five centuries of American Art, 120 acres of Ozark forest, and a Frank Lloyd-Wright House. Bonus: Crystal Bridges has TWO temporary exhibitions on view this fall! General admission at the museum is always free.
- Open now: Listening Forest by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is an interactive, outdoor, nighttime exhibition
- Opening Sept 16: Annie Leibovitz at Work is a new exhibition of portraits by the famed photographer
Attend a festival or concert
The Momentary in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Cooler weather goes hand-in-hand with outdoor concerts and festivals! In Bentonville, there are several upcoming opportunities to enjoy live music and the fall weather. Check out some options below:
FORMAT Festival is a three-day multidisciplinary festival combining music, art, and technology. The festival is known for its artist-built venues, eclectic music lineup, and interactive art installations.
Headlined by LCD Soundsystem, Alanis Morissette, and Leon Bridges, this year’s lineup includes a diverse range of renowned local and national musicians and artists alongside emerging talent, special performances, and surprise acts. Plan your festival weekend with our blog here.
Upcoming concerts at the Momentary
- Sep 9 | Alvvays with special guest Julia Jacklin
- Oct 6 | Rina Sawayama
- Oct 27 | Wilco
- Oct 28 | Wu-Tang Clan
Cozy up at a Coffee Shop
In Bentonville, not only do we have world-class coffee, but we also have world-class coffee shop vibes. If you’re visiting and looking for a place to start your day, catch up on work, or take an afternoon break, you’ve got options! Read our blog here.
ONYX in Downtown Bentonville. Photo by Karlene Miller
Check out our events calendar!
Photo by Liz Gonzalez, Downtown Bentonville Inc.
Fall festivities:
- Oct 6 | Oktoberfest-themed First Friday
- Oct 7 | Here’s Johnny 10K at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
- Oct 7 | Fall Square 2 Square
- Oct 8 | S’mores + Sound Sunday Reset at the Momentary
- Oct 14 | Fall Fifth Market
There’s always something happening in Bentonville, get details on the events above and check out more here.
Where to Eat
The Preacher's Son in Bentonville, Arkansas. Photo by Drager Creative
Explore our Bentonville Dining Guide, and check out these tips for making the most of the Bentonville culinary scene:
Dining on the Square
Whether you’re craving Italian, Ark-Mex, seafood, or a good ol’ burger, you’ll find something to satisfy any palate on the Bentonville Square. Stop in the original gastro-pub of Bentonville: Tusk and Trotter, enjoy a farm-fresh, gluten-free menu at Conifer, and so much more. Out for dinner? Check ahead to see if reservations are recommended.
Dining at the Market District
Cruise down NW A Street to 8th Street and you’ll find Bentonvile’s bike-tastic restaurants: Pedler’s Pub and The Hub. Then, keep going until you see the darling Crêpes Paulette. But that's not all! Hop over to 8th Street Market to explore delicious award-winning eateries, like Yeyo’s Mexican Street Food, Sweet Freedom Cheese, Co-Op Ramen, Roll & Fold, and several food trucks, including the classic Loafin’ Joe’s sandwich truck.
Dining on Walton Blvd.
Our main drag is nothing to sneeze at either! Delicious restaurants can be found the whole way down. Check out Meld, Crisp & Green, Flavors Indian Cuisine & Lounge, and Table at Hickory Inn.
Places to Stay
Image courtesy @thirstypigs
Home rentals and hotels alike abound around Bentonville. Trying to decide where to stay? Here are some tips:
- If you’re looking to fly into town and then walk or bike, we recommend 21c Museum hotel or vacation rentals in the Downtown and Market area, as you see here.
- Driving in? Great! Take your pick of hotels throughout Bentonville, and simply park downtown, here’s a map of downtown parking options.
See more places to stay here.
Plan Your Visit
Photo by Drager Creative
If you need additional help planning your visit, check out our DIY mix-and-match itinerary builder. Or stop by our Visitor’s Center for tips and brochures when you get to town. We’re happy to help you!
Sign up for eNews updates below to stay in the know about what’s happening in Bentonville, and check out our blog This Weekend in Bentonville the week of your visit for a roundup of events happening when you’ll be in town.
