8 Top-Rated Small Towns In Arkansas
From the Algonquin term "south wind" to describe the territories of the Quapaw people, the state of Arkansas has remained a breezy place to find relaxation and adventure. You will especially feel merry on those southern winds in the many top-rated small towns in the region. Nature-prosperous villages like Bella Vista and Mountain View will please outdoors lovers. Meanwhile, resplendent towns like Eureka Springs and Russellville have unique amenities and historical sites to discover.
With an apt title, "The Natural State," the state of Arkansas is home to many prominent landmarks and features, as seen in the awesome Mount Magazine, the tranquil Buffalo National River, and a handful of soothing springs that will wash away your big city worries. Start your journey through Arkansas now in the state’s top-rated small towns.
Batesville
Batesville is the seat of Independence County and is about 90 miles northeast of Little Rock. The Osage people once governed the land lying in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains on the White River until they ceded the territory to the United States in 1808. Since then, Batesville has prospered by supplying early settlers with state commerce. It was here that Confederate General Sterling Price moved troops during Price's Raid, and has thus been marked one of the many historic trails in the Arkansas Heritage Trails System. Among the many amenities in Batesville is the Mark Martin NASCAR Museum, built in honor of NASCAR racing star Mark Martin, where many racing mementos can be admired.
Consider visiting Polk (or Poke) Bayou Park, located along the White River, for summertime kayaking, boating, or swimming in a place called “The Rocks.” Watch films in style in the Melba Theater, one of the oldest edifices in town remodeled in the Art Deco style. Then, find a luxurious spot to rest in Ramada Inn, The Royal on Main, or Hampton Inn Batesville.
Bella Vista
The Spanish word for "beautiful views" is the right name for the town of Bella Vista. Bordering Missouri to the north and about fifteen minutes from Bentonville, Bella Vista sits at an elevation of 1,033 feet above sea level, offering unspoiled vistas of the Ozark Mountain. Sinuous biking and hiking trails like Tanyard Creek Trail and Bluebird Trail weave through several lakes like Lake Windsor and Lake Ann. The Cooper Memorial Chapel—a Gothic-arched, profoundly ambient edifice that blends past and present architectural formats—stands magnificently amidst towering trees. Nearby, the Veteran Wall of Honor pays homage to many American heroes.
Just south in Bentonville, explore the region's history at the Museum of Native American History and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Afterward, return to the town for impeccable lodgings like the Inn at Bella Vista.
Eureka Springs
Cradled in the heart of the Ozark Mountains near Beaver Lake, Eureka Springs is a mythic and magical town where a Christ of the Ozarks Statue hovers protectively over Victorian-style buildings. Native American legends say that the cold spring waters of the area could cure any ailment. There is a collection of amenities in Eureka Springs that will cure your troubles.
In Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, admire bears and big cats like lions, tigers, and cougars. Beneath the ground at Onyx Cave Park, numerous "living" caves and caverns await spelunking. Finally, the many accommodations, like the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, the Basin Park Hotel, and Osage Creek Lodge, will be as soothing as the cold spring waters.
Russellville
Russellville, situated halfway between Little Rock and Fort Smith, reflects the evergreen majesties of the Arkansas River. The town’s four verdant and vibrant parks—Lake Dardanelle, Mount Nebo, Mount Magazine, and Petit Jean—are beautiful locations worth exploring. Other local attractions include the Confederate Mothers Memorial Park, where mothers of Confederate soldiers are dedicated, and the Arkansas Tech University Museum.
More importantly, unlike other towns, Russellville is the only place in Arkansas with a nuclear power plant, Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO). The ANO power plant, owned and operated by Entergy Arkansas, Inc., continues to provide a clean and efficient source of energy for the town. Not only that, but lodgings such as Courtyard by Marriott Russellville, Clarion Inn & Suites, and La Quinta Inn & Suites continue to offer splendid customer services and resting places for everyone.
Jasper
Jasper serves as the gateway to the scenic and spectacular hiking trails and forest camps around the Buffalo National River, also called the Little Buffalo River. Aside from canoeing across those placid rapids, get a chance to climb the awesome Round Top Mountain, where features of the daunting Ozarks can be surveyed from an unspoiled vantage. Stand atop the lookout tower of Scenic Point for a 40-mile view as far as Missouri.
Consider touring the Bradley House Museum and Bradley Park. You might also enjoy a lofty stroll through the Koen Experimental Forest. To extend your stay, book rooms at the Arkansas House, Riverview Motel, or the Little Buffalo Terrace.
El Dorado
Looking for a mystical metropolis bright with golden wonder? Then, venture into the magnificent town of El Dorado, "Arkansas’s Original Boomtown," when the 1920s oil boom was at its highest in South Arkansas. One of the many festive attractions of El Dorado is the "Showdown at Sunset," held every Saturday evening during summertime, which showcases a re-enactment of a notorious 1902 shootout between the Tucker and Parnell families.
Visitors can explore El Dorado’s past in the historic John Newton House, the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in nearby Smackover, and the South Arkansas Museum of African-American History. For outdoor enthusiasts, trek through the South Arkansas Arboretum, a 13-acre expanse of walking trails and spectacular fauna. Finally, find accommodations at the Haywood El Dorado Tapestry, El Dorado Inn, or Candlewood Suites El Dorado.
Mountain View
Get a good view of the Ozark Mountains in the town of Mountain View. Known for its lovely and lively traditional folk music, Mountain View creates an air of exhilaration and an outback community. Joyous travelers can listen to some of the many folk songs in the Ozarks at the Ozark Folk Center State Park, where the Ozark Cultural Resource Center preserves local music and culture through music, theater, and crafts. You might fancy attending the Mountain View Bluegrass Festival in March and November or the Beanfest and Championship Outhouse Races held once a year every late October.
Venture into beautiful and natural locations like the Blanchard Springs Caverns, the Ozark National Forest, or the nearby Hell Creek Natural Area. Book rooms at the Knotty Squirrel, the Dogwood Motel, or the Bunk House at the Broom Factory for a well-deserved break and recharge.
Paris
As fun as it might be to say Vive la Paris! in Paris, France, the town of Paris in Arkansas is a more convenient and cheaper visit since it is about 45 minutes from Russellville. Standing on the slopes of Mount Magazine, the highest point in Arkansas, and the vast Ouachita Mountains, Paris provides sweeping sceneries of the forest-carpeted state. The Mount Magazine State Park hosts a special event called the Butterfly Festival, where visitors can marvel at the various butterfly species in full mating bloom. You might also be interested in seeing the Logan County "Old Jail" Museum, which exhibits the last legal hanging in Arkansas.
Named after the French capital, there is an Eiffel Tower to admire despite its 18-foot-tall frame—but at least it has a 7-foot-tall, two-tiered water fountain at the top. Lastly, consider a decent night’s sleep or afternoon hiatus at the Paris Inn.
Arkansas is a land of untamed, untrampled natural beauty. You will be shouting "eureka!" in Eureka Springs, and perhaps Vive la Paris! in the town of Paris. But most of all, you will be sighing in utmost relief at the placid quietude and undisturbed tranquility of the top-rated small towns that "the Natural State" cradles. Want a remarkable view of the Ozarks? Go to Mountain View and Bella Vista. Want to explore towns housing unique features and attractions? Head to Russellville and Jasper. And to experience the heart and soul of Arkansa, travel to all of these top-rated small towns with folk music singing in the south winds.
