The 10 Coolest Activities in Bentonville, AR

By The Backseat View

Bentonville is known as the home to Walmart but it’s quickly growing into a cultural art and outdoor center. I was surprised to find Bentonville, Arkansas filled with museums, wall art, excellent restaurants, world-class mountain biking and small-town charm. Bentonville is nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains near Missouri and it’s rising fast with the outdoor and arts crowds. The Wall Street Journal sees Bentonville as the new “Capital of Cool.” There’s nothing better than an underrated city that leave you stunned by their character and delighted to have visited. Let’s get off the beaten path and explore the Top 10 Activities in Bentonville, AR!

Bentonville Travel Guide

1. Downtown

Like everyone else, we came to see the first Walmart store and museum. I was so surprised to find the charming Bentonville’s Town Square filled with a fountain park, restaurants, and boutique stores. I loved eating ice cream and people-watching under the peaceful trees. Plan for an hour or two shopping at the independent and imaginative stores.

Wall Art

Let’s walk around the town square buildings and admire the wall art that’s unique and full of personality. Y’all, I was blown away with the designs at every turn. The Walmart Museum is on the town square so let’s head there next.

2. Walmart Museum

The Walmart Museum, the original Walton’s 5-10 store, was more than I expected with videos and interactive displays. There’s a Sam Walton hologram that answers your questions. The history of Walmart artifacts such as Sam’s truck and office are here. The museum is finishing a renovation in 2025. It’s free and it includes so much about American history, that it’s worth your hour. As you leave, the Spark Café Soda Fountain serves ice cream in a 50’s style setting. Alice Walton bought art so her art museum is our next stop.

3. Crystal Bridges

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a beautiful facility with sculpted outdoor grounds, walking trails, outdoor sculptures, and the stunning architecture of the building. I came for the Chihuly Glass sculptures, and the Rockwell painting, but I was surprised by the variety of art.

There’s also a Frank Lloyd Wright House available to tour. The museum is free and that’s unbelievable for touring almost 2 billion dollars worth of art. I didn’t realize this was a bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the 120 acres of outside grounds type of museum but everyone else knew. You could stay an hour or half a day.

4. The Momentary

The Momentary continues the arts with indoor and outdoor concerts, art shows, and a variety of classes. The old Kraft Cheese Factory provides a perfect industrial setting for contemporary art. While general admission is free, the events are ticketed. The Momentary has two bars. The Rode has outdoor patio services and bikers ride up. The Tower Bar is at the top for views of Bentonville. There’s also a food truck and Onyx Coffee shop.

5. Museum of Native American History

The Museum of Native American History offers a “Walk Through America’s Past” for America’s first inhabitants. The museum has over a thousand five-star reviews with everyone being impressed with the mammoth skeleton, displays, and educational information. It’s free so enjoy over 1,000 artifacts from Native American History.

6. The Amazeum

The Scott Family Amazeum is a children’s interactive museum where imagination is limitless. It’s all hands-on from climbing through a tree canopy, exploring an indoor cave, and cooking in a Hershey’s Lab. It’s learning fun for under eight located near Crystal Bridges.

7. Gardens

• The Peel Museum and Botanical Garden is a historic family home from the 1800s turned into a museum. There’s an old log cabin that’s the museum store. The seven gardens are storybook worthy with plants from the Victorian era. It’s free so enjoy a little history.
  
• Compton Gardens and Arboretum is six acres of a peaceful oasis filled with trees and plants. It’s a nice place for a stroll in downtown.
  

8. Biking

Honestly, I wasn’t prepared for a bike-friendly town and I didn’t leave enough time. Bike paths connect all over the town so rent bikes and go for a ride. Over a dozen places offer rentals including E-bikes such as Bentonville Bicycle Company, Phat Tire Bike Shop located on the square in a beautiful building, Mojo Rentals, and Gearhear Outdoors to name a few.

Coler Mountain

Coler Mountain Bike Preserve is a walk, run, and bike trail for world-class biking. The camp is clean and well-kept and close to downtown.

Slaughter Pen Trail

A 20-mile mountain bike trail that connects to the Blowing Springs mountain bike trail system. The trail features log rides, drops, and jumps.

The Razorback

The Razorback Greenway has 40 miles of trails that connect seven communities, including Bentonville.

9. Outdoors

• Farmer’s Market -Stroll the movie-worthy square on the First Friday night of every month for art booths, food vendors, and live music. On Saturday mornings, the Farmer’s Market brings local cheese and meat suppliers, produce, flowers, and local musicians.
• The Tanyard Creek Nature Trail offers views of waterfalls, and creeks, and is pet-friendly only 10 miles outside Bentonville. The 2.2-mile loop is a family-friendly hike.
• Osage Park is a 12-acre wetland explored by boardwalks. The urban park has archery and pickleball.
  

10. Let’s Eat

• Tavola Trattoria was the best Italian food of my life complete with Desiree’s Cake for dessert. The location on the square, the dining environment, and service made an exceptional meal.
  
• The 8^th Street Market is a classic food hall with plenty of food trucks, and restaurant options.
  
• Conifer is highly recommended and was recently rated #2 Best New Restaurant in the South by Southern Living Magazine. They were nominated for The James Beard Best Chef in the South award. The menu changes with the seasons for the freshest ingredients. Reservations are recommended.
  
• Preacher’s Son has the neatest dining area inside a gorgeous old church. Reservations are recommended and the meals are upscale with monkfish, duck, steak, and chicken. The Undercroft is the basement bar with speakeasy vibes. They also have a rooftop bar for views of the Bentonville water tower.
  
• The Pedaler’s Pub for biking jerseys on the walls and wood-fired pizza.
  
• YeYo’s for the local’s favorite Mexican restaurant.
  
• Airship & Onyx are the two most popular coffee houses in town with several locations each.
  

Sweets

• The Spark is next to the Walmart museum on the square for old-fashioned sundaes.
  
• Trash Ice Cream does fun custom creations with everything.
  
• Superfine Sweet Shoppe for ice cream, cookies and desserts.
  

Lodging

• 21 C Museum Hotel has over 12,000 square feet of space dedicated to art exhibitions and it’s free. If you love art, the hotel does not care if you stroll around their lobby. It’s near the cute town square, and on the walking path to Crystal Bridges but the price reflected that at almost $400 a night.
  
• Home to Suites by Hilton is more affordable.
  
• The newest upscale option is The Bentonville Hotel on the square with bike storage and wash areas.
  
• The Motto by Hilton is on the square and runs $350 a night.
  

Bentonville Travel Guide

Thanks for reading my Top 10 Activities in Bentonville, AR Travel Guide. We flew into Kansas City and drove the three hours for a 5-day road trip. Kansas City is filled with fountains, gorgeous architecture, and the best barbecue. This road trip checked Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma off my 50-state goal. Be ahead of the crowd and head to Bentonville, now!