Experience fall fun in Bentonville this year! With a wide range of free arts and outdoor experiences, Bentonville is your ideal fall destination.

 

But don't just take our word for it; check out what Southern Living and The Wall Street Journal had to say about our charming town after their visit:

 
"NOW'S THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT THIS ARKANSAS CITY WHERE NATURE AND ART COME TOGETHER."—LISA CERICOLA, SOUTHERN LIVING, SEPTEMBER 2023
 
“THIS SMALL OZARKS TOWN—HOME TO WALMART HEADQUARTERS—IS BECOMING A NEW CAPITAL OF COOL”—KATHRYN O’SHEA-EVANS, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

 

Bentonville is a hub for arts, culinary, and outdoor experiences. Here’s your guide to planning a great visit this season:

 
Things to Do
 
Where to Eat |  Places to Stay |  Plan Your Visit

 

Things to Do

 

Enjoy the outdoors

Ben Hicks Mountain Biking

Autumn at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. Photo by Ben Hicks

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.
  • Cycling fanatic? Join us at the first Bentonville Gran Fondo Hincapie September 7 & 8 for an epic weekend of riding in the country’s “cycling mecca!” 
  • Rather let someone else take the wheel? Check out the Big On Bentonville golf-cart tours.

Visit a museum

Crystal Bridges Fall

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 September 4, 2024 through January 4, 2025: North Forest Outdoor Lights: Klip Collective presents an immersive nighttime light and sound experience that simultaneously transforms the museum’s North Forest.
  • Opening September 14, 2024 through January 27, 2025: Knowing the West is about the art of the American West telling stories of persistence through innovation, adaptability, and resistance.

The Momentary is designed as a platform for today’s art, food, and music. Inside a decommissioned cheese factory-turned-creative-hub, this extension of Crystal Bridges focuses on connecting communities—and you—to great experiences. There is currently two free exhibitions on view now through October 13::

  • Dark Water | Kristine Potter—In Dark Waters, a tour de force of Southern Gothic Noir, Kristine Potter reinvents a centuries-old genre with coolness and clarity.

  • Mystic Parallax | Awol Erizku—Encompassing photography, film, painting, sculpture, and installation, Awol Erizku’s work references and re-imagines African American and African visual culture, from hip-hop vernacular to iconic symbols from across history, including the Pan-African flag and the image of Nefertiti.

 

21c Museum Hotel Bentonville has more than 12,000 square feet of exhibition space seamlessly integrated into all areas of the property; there are opportunities to discover art around every corner. Galleries are open 24/7 and free to the public.

 

Fragile Figures: Beings and Time—While staying at the famous 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Bentonville, explore this exhibit, which illuminates the complexity of identity and reveals intersections between vulnerability and power in portraiture.

 

Art-lover in your group? We’ve got a special public art map just for you!

Attend a festival or concert

FreshGrass 2021_1

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:
 

 

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 Downtown Bentonville

ONYX in Downtown Bentonville. Photo by Karlene Miller

 

Check out our events calendar!

 

Big Sugar

Photo by Liz Gonzalez, Downtown Bentonville Inc.
 
Fall festivities:
 

There’s always something happening in Bentonville, get details on the events above and check out more here.
 

 

Where to Eat 

Preacher's Son

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 American brasserie of Bentonville: Tusk and Trotter, enjoy a farm-fresh, completely 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: Pedaler's Pub and The Hub. And just around the corner you’ll find the belovedCrêpes 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.
 

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, Pho Thanh, and Table at Hickory Inn.
 

 

Places to Stay 

The Bike Inn

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, the brand new Motto Hotel by Hilton, 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, (it’s free!) here’s a map of downtown parkingPDF File options.  

See more places to stay here.

 

 

Plan Your Visit

Image of the Bentonville water tower with fall leaves and cotton candy colored sky

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.