As the downtown square's trees turn shades of crimson, amber, and gold, Bentonville comes alive with crisp mornings, scenic trails, and a creative energy that runs through every street and gallery. This season, experience the warmth of a walkable downtown, the crunch of leaves under your boots, and a community filled with arts, food, and outdoor adventure.
Bentonville was recently named one of Outside Magazine’s 2025 Travel Award winners, featured among The 50 Best Adventures in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.”
Whether you're here for the trails, the art, or just the vibe, fall is the perfect time to explore Bentonville. Here’s your guide to planning an unforgettable visit.
Things to Do
Enjoy the outdoors
Autumn at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. Photo by Ben Hicks
- 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!
- Take a road trip!
- 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 Coler is tucked along the trail, and makes for a great stop to refuel and refresh.
- Rather let someone else take the wheel? Check out the Big On Bentonville golf-cart tours.
The Benton County Fairgrounds is home to many popular outdoor events throughout the fall season. With rides, games, live music and performances, a large expo center—it's the perfect destination for families!
- September 19—27: The 121st Benton County Fair | Take the ferris wheel into the sky, pet cute animals at the petting zoo, watch kids compete in animal shows, and more. This long-standing tradition brings together the best of Benton County for a week of fun, community, and celebration
- October 10—12: Vintage Market Days of Northwest Arkansas | Get ready to shop for all your Holiday gifts! They’ve got it all—amazing Fall finds, spooky Halloween items, and festive Christmas decor to get you in the spirit!
Visit a museum
Fall foliage at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. Photo by Larry Fleury
- Get in the Game—Organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, this exhibition taps into the spirit of sports through art, design, and interactive experiences. It’s time to get in the game!
- Yayoi Kusama Flowers—These larger-than-life sculptures burst with bold colors and Kusama’s signature polka dots, captivating visitors with their whimsical style. You’ll find them along the Orchard Trail at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, where guests are encouraged to explore both nature and art.
- Time Loop by Klip Collective: A Forest Light Experience—This fall, roam a world outside time as acclaimed studio Klip Collective uses light, sound, and state-of-the-art projection mapping to transform acres of Ozark nature into a one-of-a-kind journey across time and space.
Heartland Whole Health Institute The newest addition to the Crystal Bridge Campus, HWHI aims to transform health care by improving quality, reducing costs, and expanding access to healthcare through research, advocacy, and education. It also welcomes the community to explore its Marlon Blackwell-designed architecture, view the ground-floor gallery, or enjoy a drink from the on-site café.
- Where Architecture Meets Wellness: Experience the Heartland Whole Health Institute—This blog explores the Marlon Blackwell Architects through the architect himself. Learn about the space before you experience it.
- The Art of Whole Health—The inaugural exhibitions at HWHI featuring works that reflect the Institute's value of connection and wholeness.
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 are currently two free exhibitions on view now through October 12th:
- Front Row Center: Icons of Rock, Blues, and Soul—This exhibition charts photographer Larry Hulst's extraordinary path through the pulsing heart of the most exciting live music of the twentieth century, showing a unique visual anthology of rock, blues, and soul music from 1970-1999.
- The Prison Concerts: Folsom and San Quentin (Jim Marshall's Photographs of Johnny Cash)—Widely known as the godfather of music photography, the late Jim Marshall maintained a 50-year career that resulted in more than 500 album covers, an abundance of magazine covers, and some of the most celebrated images in blues, jazz, country, and rock and roll, including those from Johnny Cash’s notable Folsom and San Quentin prison concerts.
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.
- Dress Up, Speak Up: Regalia and Resistance—This exhibition is all about how people use clothing and performance to express who they are and challenge the world around them. On view until January 31st, 2026.
Art-lover in your group? We’ve got a special public art map just for you!
Attend a festival or concert
The Momentary in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Live on The Green:
September 6: Pancho Barraza
September 21: Free on the Green | A Man Named Cash
October 3: Ziggy Marley and Burning Spear | Do the Reggae Tour
October 5: Japanese Breakfast | The Melancholy Tour
October 19: Blues Traveler
September 10: Unwound | 30 Years of The Future of What Tour
September 27: Deafheaven
October 14: Lucius | The Gold Rush Tour
October 10-11: Momentous | Music & Arts Festival
Cozy up at a Coffee Shop
ONYX in Downtown Bentonville. Photo by Karlene Miller
Check out our events calendar!
Explore Public Art
Where to Eat
The Preacher's Son in Bentonville, Arkansas. Photo by Drager Creative
Dining on the Square
Dining at the Market District
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
Image courtesy @thirstypigs
Home rentals and hotels alike abound around Bentonville. Trying to decide where to stay? Here are some tips:
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If you’re looking to fly into town and then walk or bike, we recommend 21c Museum Hotel, the Motto Hotel by Hilton, or vacation rentals in the Downtown and Market area, as you see here.
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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
Photo by Drager Creative
