Bentonville, Arkansas, has emerged as a notable destination for cycling enthusiasts and art lovers alike, driven in large part by investments from Walmart and its founding Walton family. This northwestern town, home to approximately 61,000 residents, blends cultural attractions with outdoor recreation, making it an increasingly prominent hub in the Ozark region.

The city’s cultural offerings include the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which boasts a significant collection funded by Walton family heir Alice Walton. The modern campus, designed by Safdie Architects, continues to grow; a 114,000-square-foot expansion is scheduled to open this June, expanding both exhibition space and outdoor trail systems adorned with sculptures. Visitors can also tour a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house relocated from New Jersey, accessible by reservation at no extra cost.

Complementing its arts scene, Bentonville is gaining acclaim as a cycling destination. The new Oz Trails Bike Park, set to open during the Bentonville Bike Festival this June, will feature a mountain bike chairlift and approximately 20 miles of new trails. The park is expected to be Arkansas’s first mountain bike facility with such amenities. Meanwhile, the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, located just outside downtown, offers trails catering to various skill levels. These developments are closely linked to the mountain biking interests of Walmart founder Sam Walton’s grandsons, Tom and Steuart Walton, who have contributed to the city’s extensive cycling infrastructure.

The city’s historical roots and local culture are showcased at the Museum of Native American History, a compact institution with a collection spanning thousands of years of Indigenous North American traditions. The museum features artifacts such as arrowheads, feathered headdresses, and quillwork, and offers free admission. Nearby, Bentonville’s downtown square serves as a commercial and social hub, housing shops, galleries, and the Walmart Museum. The latter chronicles the company’s growth from a small five-and-dime store into a global retail giant, including interactive displays and a hologram of Sam Walton.

Bentonville also features a growing culinary landscape. Options range from Southern barbecue at Wright’s Barbecue, known for its smoked brisket and pork, to upscale dining at the Hive, located inside the 21c Museum Hotel, where locally inspired dishes are paired with rotating art exhibitions. For more casual fare, food trucks like Witching Hour offer creatively themed burgers, while Crêpes Paulette has expanded from a food truck into a brick-and-mortar location, serving a variety of sweet and savory crepes.

The city’s beverage scene includes bars such as Scotch and Soda, a whiskey-focused establishment near the square with a speakeasy ambiance offering classic and inventive cocktails, as well as Fry, a relaxed beer bar that opened in early 2023.

Visitors seeking a scenic start to their day can head to Cafe Louise at Thaden Fieldhouse Airstrip, just outside downtown, where breakfast is served with views of private planes. The cafe is named after Louise Thaden, a pioneering aviator from Bentonville.

Bentonville’s combination of art, cycling, history, and a welcoming community atmosphere continues to attract a growing number of visitors, positioning it as a vibrant destination in the Ozark Mountains.