Enjoy the FREE Ride

Step aboard the Ozark Regional Transit Route 17, Bentonville’s new direct bus line that takes you all over downtown for free! Recently, I took a ride on the bus to explore the city's latest and greatest assets. Here is everything you need to know to catch a lift on the ORT!

 

First things first: download the Passio GO! App (on your mobile device). You can also pull up the live bus map on the web, but the app makes you feel a little more like a public transit power user. From there, select your route - in this case, the pink Route 17 - and watch the bus move across the map in real time. You’ll be able to track where the bus is, how close it is to your stop, how crowded it might be, and any alerts for special events, detours, or road closures all within this app. Basically, it’s your cheat code for never awkwardly sprinting after a bus again.

Bus stop sign for Ozark Regional Transit Route 17 beside a pedestrian crossing sign under a bright blue sky with trees and downtown buildings in the background.

For my trip, I started at our offices inside the historic Massey Building and made my way toward the Downtown Square. Naturally, I had to make a few important stops first: a snackie from the Wednesday Farmers Market and a seasonal lemonade from Field Notes. From there, I caught Route 17 at the E Central Ave stop right outside The Compton, making it an especially easy hop-on spot for visitors staying downtown. Look for the blue-and-white Ozark Regional Transit signs.

Comfort, Convenience, and Destinations Worth Riding To

 

On a hot summer day, the cold AC and comfy seats feel like absolute luxury. The doors shut, the bus rolled out, and suddenly I was cruising toward some of Bentonville’s best stops without touching a steering wheel.

 

One option is to hop off at Orchards Park for a cold brew from Red Kite or a slice from the new Pizza Lotties. Bring a picnic blanket, stretch out in the grass, and pretend you totally planned a slow afternoon all along.

 

Keep riding, and you’ll hit two favorites for families, visitors, and honestly anyone looking for a good time: the recently expanded Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the Scott Family Amazeum. After looping through the museum campus, the bus heads back downtown, and with service running until 7 PM, there’s plenty of time to explore and still catch your ride home.

On my ride back downtown, a few more people hopped aboard. They had spent their lunch break downtown and were heading back to work at the Walmart campus. Watching them skip the whole “who’s driving?” group text situation, I couldn’t help but think: this might be the most relaxed commute in town.

 

After the Walmart associates exited to their stop, I got to chatting with the bus drivers and asked what they thought the best part of the new Route 17 line was.

"The bus is really comfortable and can accommodate a large number of people. Everyone can get really close to where they’re traveling, and it’s very predictable,” Terry said. Then he added, laughing, “The best part is the drivers!”

Ozark Regional Transit bus at a designated stop with a 'BUS STOP' sign displaying contact information, set against a sunny backdrop with a colorful ice cream truck in the distance.

Can’t Be Beat!

 

I hopped off right outside our offices at the SW A Street & SW 2nd St stop. All in all, the ride took about 40 minutes — quick, easy, and more relaxed than dealing with traffic.

 

Next time you’re in Bentonville, ditch the car and hop on Ozark Regional Transit. It’s one of the simplest ways to get around town. Enjoy the ride while you’re at it.