Arkansas’s Ozark Mountains are a tapestry of spring-fed lakes, forested hills, and towns brimming with creativity. This 7-day itinerary pairs the quiet, lakefront pace of Horseshoe Bend with Bentonville’s museums and trail culture, then adds a whimsical day trip to Eureka Springs—home to Victorian architecture and tucked-away springs.

Once a frontier of timber and mining, the region now draws anglers to clear lakes, cyclists to 300+ miles of singletrack, and art lovers to Crystal Bridges. You’ll fish for crappie at sunrise, tour downtowns by golf cart, and sip coffee in treehouse-like cafés beside bike trails.

Practical notes: You’ll want a rental car to connect these small towns and scenic byways. Fly into Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) or Little Rock (LIT), book flexible stays through VRBO or Hotels.com, and check seasonal hours for attractions. Summer is for lakes and long trail days; spring and fall bring wildflowers and fiery foliage.

Bentonville

In Bentonville, small-town squares meet big-league art and the country’s most celebrated urban trail network. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art sits in a ravine beside forest trails, and The Momentary reimagines contemporary art in a former factory. Downtown hums with coffee bars, chef-led kitchens, and public art.

• Top sights: Crystal Bridges (don’t miss the Frank Lloyd Wright house), The Momentary, Compton Gardens, Bentonville Square, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, 8th Street Market.
• Eat & drink: Onyx Coffee Lab (third-wave espresso), Airship Coffee at Coler (open-air café on the trail), The Preacher’s Son (refined plates in a restored church), The Hive (Ozark pantry cooking), Conifer (seasonal, gluten-free menu), Yeyo’s (heritage Mexican at 8th Street Market), Wright’s Barbecue (Central Texas-style smoke).
• Fun facts: The region boasts 300+ miles of singletrack—arguably the best urban-adjacent MTB scene in the U.S.—and a public art program that spills from museums onto greenways.

Stay: Browse Bentonville stays on VRBO (lofts near the Square, trail-side condos) or Hotels.com (boutique and bike-friendly hotels).

How to get here: Fly into XNA via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Pick up a rental car at the airport for regional drives.

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is all lake breeze and unhurried mornings. Crown Lake anchors the community with sandy swim spots, quiet coves for paddling, and good fishing for bass, crappie, and bluegill. It’s the kind of place where sunsets stop conversations mid-sentence.

• Top ways to unwind: Paddle at dawn, cast from a dock, rent a small boat, or picnic at the water’s edge. Nearby day trips include Mountain View (Ozark Folk Center, live music) and Blanchard Springs Caverns (spectacular underground formations).
• Eat & drink: Papa Dick’s Pizza & Grill at Crown Point Resort (crowd-pleasing pies and pastas), Meacham’s Family Restaurant in Ash Flat (classic country breakfasts and daily specials). For catfish with a view, JoJo’s Catfish Wharf in Mountain View is a beloved staple.
• Fun facts: Crown Lake is spring-fed, and the town was developed in the 1960s as a lake-and-golf getaway—ideal for families and anglers.

Stay: Book a lakeside cabin or resort condo via VRBO or check area hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting there from Bentonville: Plan a scenic 3–3.25-hour drive (about 150–170 miles) on Ozark highways. With a fuel-efficient rental, budget ~$25–$35 in gas each way.

Day 1: Arrive in Northwest Arkansas, Settle into Bentonville

Afternoon: Fly into XNA with Trip.com or Kiwi.com, pick up your car, and check in near the Square via Hotels.com or a trail-side loft on VRBO.

Evening: Stretch your legs on the Crystal Bridges trails (free outdoor art along gentle paths). Dinner at The Hive: think Arkansas black apples, Delta rice, and Ozark mushrooms treated with finesse. Nightcap at Undercroft, the speakeasy tucked beneath The Preacher’s Son.

Day 2: Downtown Bentonville + Golf Cart City Tour

Morning: Espresso at Onyx Coffee Lab downtown; grab a financier or kouign-amann if you love pastries. Explore Compton Gardens and stroll to Crystal Bridges’ galleries.

Afternoon: Join this fun look at public art and murals:

Shared Golf Cart Tour of Bentonville, Arkansas — “Your time in Bentonville won’t be complete without discovering the city’s most popular Instagram-worthy landmarks...”

Lunch at Yeyo’s in 8th Street Market: house-made tortillas, heritage salsas, and slow-braised meats. Browse the market’s small vendors before heading back downtown.

Evening: Dinner at The Preacher’s Son (book ahead; the stained-glass glow is magical at dusk). If you’re in a casual mood, Wright’s Barbecue delivers deeply smoked brisket and ribs—go early before it sells out.

Day 3: Day Trip to Eureka Springs — Golf Cart + Downtown Walking Tour

Morning: It’s a scenic 50–60 minute drive to Eureka Springs through winding Ozark hills. Fuel up at Mud Street Cafe (legendary coffee cakes and hearty scrambles) before a breezy overview of town:

Eureka Rocket: Eureka Springs City Tour by Golf Cart — “Ride a street-legal golf cart through ‘The City of Stairs’ at a leisurely pace and see far more without the climb.”

Afternoon: Lunch at Local Flavor Cafe (seasonal salads, trout, and pastas), then dive deeper on foot:

70-Minute Guided Downtown Eureka Springs Walking Tour — “Wander past iconic springs, gingerbread-trimmed storefronts, and learn the stories behind this hillside spa town.”

Make time for Thorncrown Chapel—a glass-and-wood sanctuary in the woods—then head back to Bentonville.

Evening: Watch small planes take off over dinner at Louise at Thaden Field (comfort classics with runway views). Stroll the Square for dessert or a scoop at a local creamery.

Day 4: Bentonville on Two Wheels — Guided Singletrack

Morning: Breakfast at The Buttered Biscuit (biscuits three ways, lemon-blueberry pancakes). Ride the paved Greenway to Coler Mountain Bike Preserve; grab another espresso at Airship Coffee’s open-air café among the trees.

Afternoon: Get the most from the trail network with a local guide:

Bentonville Singletrack Mountain Bike Tour — “Shuttle or pedal to a mix of flow trails, jump lines, and cross-country routes tailored to your level.”

Alternatively, go bespoke with a private guide:

Half-Day Private Guided Mountain Bike Tour in Bentonville

Evening: Dinner at Conifer (thoughtful, seasonal plates; reservations recommended). Cap the night with a pint at Bike Rack Brewing near the Square.

Day 5: Bentonville → Horseshoe Bend (Scenic Transfer)

Morning: Depart after breakfast. The drive to Horseshoe Bend runs ~3–3.25 hours through Ozark backroads. If you want a stretch-and-snack stop, Mountain View sits roughly halfway with music shops and old-time stringed instruments on display downtown.

Afternoon: Check into a lakeside cabin or resort condo via VRBO Horseshoe Bend or browse options on Hotels.com. Unpack and head straight to Crown Lake for a swim or paddle.

Evening: Dinner at Papa Dick’s Pizza & Grill (crowd favorites: classic pepperoni, hearty pastas, and big salads). Toast the first lakeside sunset from your deck.

Day 6: Crown Lake Day — Paddles, Picnics, and Ozark Side Trip

Morning: Early risers can cast for crappie and bass when the lake is glass-calm. Prefer a hot breakfast out? Drive ~20 minutes to Meacham’s Family Restaurant in Ash Flat for biscuits and gravy, omelets, and coffee refills.

Afternoon: Rent kayaks or a small fishing boat and explore Crown Lake’s inlets; pack a picnic and beach towels for a lazy afternoon. If you crave exploration, head ~1 hour to Mountain View to hear live picking on the square (most active spring–fall) or book a guided tour at Blanchard Springs Caverns (check seasonal schedules).

Evening: Return for golden hour on the water. If you’re out in Mountain View, JoJo’s Catfish Wharf is a classic for platter-style catfish and hushpuppies; back in Horseshoe Bend, keep it simple with takeout and stargazing from the dock.

Day 7: Slow Morning on the Lake, Depart via Little Rock or XNA

Morning: One last paddle or coffee on the deck while the mist lifts off the water. Pack up and aim for an early afternoon flight.

Afternoon: Drive ~2.5–3 hours to Little Rock (LIT) or ~3.5–4 hours back to XNA depending on your route. Book flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If time allows, grab lunch on the road and stretch at a roadside overlook.

Optional Extras You Can Swap In

• Enchanting Eureka Springs Scavenger Hunt for a playful, app-led adventure downtown.



• Private Golf Cart Tour of Bentonville for a custom, photography-forward spin around town.

This Arkansas Ozarks itinerary balances active days with restorative lake time. You’ll leave with mud on your tires, art in your camera roll, and a few new favorite porches to daydream about—especially the ones that face Crown Lake at sunset.