7 Cutest Small Towns in Arkansas
Attractive, authentic, and auspicious, Arkansas sits humbly in the South-Central section of the United States. This landlocked entity is known as "The Natural State," which is fitting for both the scenery and the communities. Arkansas knows it has a good thing going, but lets the tangible experiences do the talking. Throughout the six distinct subregions of the state, there are lots of adorable small towns to demonstrate the grounded cultures, fertile landscapes, and warm welcomes that this place has to offer.
Eureka Springs
In the Northwest corner of the state, within the Ozark Mountains and Carroll County, the tiny city of Eureka Springs (population: 2,166) awaits. The cute-factor is high in this pious, friendly Victorian-themed community. The aesthetically-pleasing downtown packs in lots of fun, without spoiling the pleasant vibes. There are some 50 independent shops and galleries, historic hotels and B&Bs, cool bars, and nice restaurants. Come May, over 400 resident artists put their best foot and artwork forward at the annual Festival of the Arts, and the Second Saturday Art Walk that occurs monthly. In terms of nature, surrounding Eureka Springs are forests, punctuated by the petite Lake Leatherwood, within town limits, and the much larger Beaver Lake, which sits immediately west.
El Dorado
The road to El Dorado heads straight to Union County, in the southern region of Arkansas. With a revitalized downtown core that still accents its 1920s oil "boom-town" roots, a couple of top-tier golf clubs, the acclaimed Murphy Arts District (MAD), Oil Heritage Park, South Arkansas Arts Center, South Arkansas Symphony, Newton House Museum, and plenty more, it is no wonder that this place continues to catch attention long after its resource-rich era. USA Today Reader's Choice named El Dorado as the best small-town cultural scene in the country. This place also sports a strollable Main Street, and the 12-acre South Arkansas Arboretum, with lovely paths through a quiet, wooded area, right near the central core.
Mountain View
North Central Arkansas' Mountain View is the "folk music capital of the world," and an all-around adorable place to check out. This Stone County city has a population of only 2,877, with what must be a nation-leading percentage of skilled musicians. Hear the twangs of melodies of impromptu concerts as they break out in the local music store, on shaded porches, or on stages throughout town. Fittingly, the Arkansas Folk Festival was born here in the 1960s, with the Ozark Folk Center State Park following suit a decade later. Though the height of the scene may have passed, its spirit lives on in Mountain View. This place is also a great locale to explore the outdoors, with the 50-mile, highly-regarded Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail rolling just North of town, adjacent to the White River.
Paris
An imaginative glance at the 25-foot model of the Eiffel Tower (with a 7-foot fountain at its base) may briefly fool visitors into thinking they have been transported to the City of Love. But even after the spell wears off, Paris, Arkansas, in the Northwest's Logan County, is a decent consolation destination. This rural community rests just North of Mount Magazine (in Mount Magazine State Park), the highest peak in the state, and one with a challenging yet stunning, Tour-de-France-esque cycling route to the summit. The quaint downtown features many buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places, and during the fair-weather season, a wholesome farmer's market takes place twice a week in the square. The Short Mountain Creek also winds along the West side of town, leading into the sizable Paris Reservoir at the South end.
Hot Springs
This modest-sized resort city (population: 37,930) rests in central Arkansas, within Garland County. Hot Springs enjoys a prime location within the Ouachita Mountains, next to the Ouachita River/Lake Hamilton, on top of a well of natural thermal waters. Visitors and residents alike can enjoy these relaxing, therapeutic pools at several spas along Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park. This urban green space surrounds the uptown portion of Hot Springs, with downtown sitting immediately adjacent. A deeper wilderness escape can be had in the Northwoods section of town (just North of the park), and visitors can cool off anywhere along Lake Hamilton, which has a total of 200 miles of shoreline.
Jasper
Another Northwest entry comes from the quaint Newton County city of Jasper, roughly 60 miles southeast of Eureka Springs. Here, the Little Buffalo River slices through town and kicks off the nation's first national river (the Buffalo). Surrounding Jasper are lush rolling hills, which are great for exploring on foot, bicycle, or horseback, with soothing drives along Scenic Highway 7. Or absorb the deep, expansive Arkansas Grand Canyon located just south of town with a motorcycle tour. You will find travelers of all sorts in the character-rich downtown, while the outdoorsy types explore the outskirts, likely mingling with free-roaming elk, given that Newtown County is the "Elk Capital of the World."
Calico Rock
The North Central portion has another cool little spot called Calico Rock, an Izard County city of only 1,545 people, a half-hour drive north of Mountain View. Here, on the shore of the White River, the flowing water, beautiful rocky bluffs, ubiquitous forest, and textured sky create a soothing aesthetic tapestry (or calico cloth, rather). This place kicked off as a steamboat landing in the early 1800s, got another boost the following century when the railroad rolled into town, but then petered out in the second half of the 20th century. What remains is a simple but charming settlement for retirees, a low-key tourist attraction for folks wanting to escape all the fuss, and also an intriguing ghost town, on display within the city limits.
Arkansas tends to fly under-the-radar compared to the more populated shoreline states. However, what it lacks in oceanfront beaches or snow-capped mega mountains, it more than makes up for in rolling forests, non-threatening wildlife, palpable history, and a quirky personality. From top to bottom, there are some rather nifty towns to spend a few days touring, but among other things, these are arguably the cutest.
