You might have heard Bentonville referred to as “the mountain biking capital of the world,” and while the city’s mountain biking and cycling amenities are top-notch, our city was also dubbed “a new capital of cool” by The Wall Street Journal in 2023. We’ve created this guide to help you experience all the cool sights and things to do in Bentonville by bike. The rides below range from beginner to experienced and could take anywhere from a half to a full day. We recommend a day per ride so you can be sure to enjoy all the stops along the way.

 

  1. Take a Coffee Tour RideWithGPS Route

  2. Visit the Kittens at Best Friends Northwest Arkansas RideWithGPS Route

  3. Go for a swim at the Bentonville Community Center RideWithGPS Route

  4. A Day of Fun at Osage Park (Cafe Louise, Lake Bentonville, Food court, pickleball, archery) Bird Watching, and Food Trucks! RideWithGPS Route

  5. Museum Tour - Crystal Bridges, Amazeum & The Momentary RideWithGPS Route

Tour de Bentonville Coffee Shops

 

Bentonville is home to many amazing coffee shops—why not take a leisurely ride and explore them all? This ride starts and ends in the Bentonville Square, utilizing low traffic streets, bike paths, and bike lanes as much as possible. Every coffee shop featured has bike parking and welcomes cyclists.

 

Total Distance: 9.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 450 ft

Difficulty level: Green

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46430560

Visit the Kittens at Best Friends Northwest Arkansas 

 

Did you know that Bentonville has a community pet resource center where you can play with adoptable cats and dogs, learn more about fostering, give your own dog a bath, and enjoy a vegan, gluten-free coffee shop? Best Friends Pet Resource Center opened in April 2023 and has quickly become a favorite community hub. 

 

This ride, starting and ending in the Bentonville Square, uses low traffic roads and our new protected bike lane on 8th Street. Best Friends Pet Resource Center has lots of bike parking and welcomes visitors of all ages. This is a perfect family-friendly ride.

 

Total Distance: 3.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 68 feet

Difficulty Level: Green

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46161726

Go for a swim at the Bentonville Community Center

 

The Bentonville Community Center is a hub of activity for the whole family, with basketball courts, dance studios, soccer fields, and two indoor pools, complete with multiple slides, a lazy river, and kids water park area. Day passes are $7 per person, with options for annual passes for residents. The community center offers great family changing rooms as well. Be sure to bring your own toiletries and dry clothes to change into for after your swim!

 

Pack up your swimsuit and towel for this ride, which starts and ends at the Bentonville Square. This ride uses sidepath bike lanes on 8th Street and I Street, so while it's not the lowest traffic route, cyclists are separated from cars for nearly the entire route. Use caution when crossing 14th, 28th, and I Street (all are marked crosswalks with traffic controls.)

 

Total Distance: 7.7 Miles

Elevation Gain: 24 feet

Difficulty Level: Green

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46161759

A Day of Fun at Osage Park

 

Osage Park is an incredible 12-acre urban watershed just outside of Downtown Bentonville. With Lake Bentonville feeding a natural, preserved watershed you’re sure to encounter amazing bird watching and you might even see a beaver or turtle! The park also features The Quiver, a public archery range, eight pickleball courts (first come, first serve), a dog park, a playground, and a food truck plaza! Lake Bentonville is frequently stocked with fish, making it a popular fishing spot. Be sure to keep your eyes on the sky, as small planes are frequently landing and taking off at nearby Thaden Field.

 

This route starts and ends at the Bentonville Square, using low traffic roads and bike specific side paths. Use caution when crossing 14th Street and Walton, both of which are major streets but have signed, controlled crossing locations. 

 

Total Distance: 5.1 Miles

Total Elevation: 87 feet

Difficulty Level: Green

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46430937

Bentonville Museum Tour

 

Bentonville has a wealth of world-class museums, including Crystal Bridges, the Museum of Native American History, The Walmart Museum, The Amazeum and the Momentary. This ride visits each of these unique locations in a loop that starts and ends at the Bentonville Square. 

 

Use caution when riding the Walton sidewalk to the Museum of Native American History. We also recommend riding on the sidewalk on 2nd Street to access the Museum of Native American History.

 

Total Distance: 7.9 miles

Elevation Gain: 379 ft

Difficulty: Green-Blue 

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46431167