How to Spend a Perfect Day in Bentonville – Things to do, eat & see

If you’re planning to visit Bentonville, Arkansas, and looking for the perfect 1-day guide to the city, here’s everything you need to know, from the top things to do to the best eateries and activities we discovered and highly recommend.

We were on a five-day road trip exploring the southern part of the Midwest USA and covered five states: Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. When people think of this region, they often associate it with farming and tornadoes. While there’s some truth about that, it’s far from the whole story. So, I decided to explore this part of the country myself, and boy, oh boy, it surprised me in the best way. 

We drove all the way from Overland Park, Kansas, covering a few spots along the way before reaching Bentonville. If you’d like to see our exact itinerary, you can watch my YouTube video by clicking the link below. 

In this blog post, I’ll share everything we covered during our time in Bentonville, including the top places to visit (especially if you only have a day), the best hotels to stay in, and the restaurants you shouldn’t miss. 

Where is Bentonville? 

Bentonville is a tiny city located near the Missouri–Arkansas border, mainly known for being the headquarters of Walmart. However, as I walked through the streets of the historic downtown area, I realized there was another side to the city, one that often stays hidden: its artistic soul.

I don’t know whether it was my entrepreneurial brain, my artistic side, or a mix of both, but I felt something different here, unlike anything I’ve felt in other cities. I was inspired, happy, and most importantly, stimulated by the abundance of art. It was the tiny details that truly caught my attention: a sparkling metal graffiti installation, or the delicate graffiti on the sidewalk leading to a cozy coffee shop.

I was also deeply impressed by the beauty of the Ozarks, even though we only caught a small glimpse of this vast and stunning region. I knew instantly that if I ever get the chance to visit Arkansas again, exploring the Ozarks would be at the very top of my list. 

Top Things to do in Bentonville 

In this section, I’ll share everything you can see and do during your visit to Bentonville. It’s a small town that can easily be explored in one day. However, if you have more time to spare, there are several interesting spots near the city that are well worth adding to your itinerary. 

I’ve included those recommendations in the “Things to Do Near Bentonville” section in case you’re looking to explore beyond Bentonville.

Get Inspired at the Walmart Museum

Whenever you mention Bentonville to someone, the first thing they usually say is, “Ah, the Walmart headquarters!” And for good reason, Walmart is what truly puts this small city on the global map. 

That’s why I highly recommend visiting the Walmart Museum, located right next to Bentonville City Square. It’s a wonderful place to learn about the city’s history and get inspired by the entrepreneurial journey of Walmart’s founder, Mr. Sam Walton. 

You can also take photos with the original truck Mr. Walton once owned and shop for unique merchandise that you won’t find anywhere else. Since I have an entrepreneurial streak myself, I had an absolute blast exploring the museum and diving into his inspiring stories. One of my favorite parts was the interactive displays, especially the custom sticker-making machine. 

Stroll at Bentonville Historic District

The historic district of Bentonville is where real magic happens. Think Hallmark-style downtown vibes, cozy bookstores and apothecaries, the iconic Walmart Museum, and the lively City Square, all wrapped into one charming area. We spent almost an hour strolling through the historic district, popping into every shop and store that caught our eye. 

One such gem was Once Upon a Time Books, a beautifully curated bookstore filled with artistic touches, multiple cozy reading nooks, and a huge collection of mystery novels, Abhi’s favorite genre. Another lovely discovery during our walk was Airship Coffee, which truly impressed us with its excellent coffee and inviting atmosphere. 

Explore the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art offers the perfect blend of art and nature. Even if you’re not particularly into art, I highly recommend visiting, purely for the vibe. Located on the outskirts of Bentonville, the museum sits on a sprawling campus nestled within a lush forest, and the setting alone is enough to instantly lift your mood. 

Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the building features multiple pavilions for housing galleries, meeting rooms, classrooms, and a stunning glass-enclosed gathering hall. Two spring-fed ponds surrounding the structure elevate its beauty even further and can be best admired from Eleven Restaurant and Coffee Bar, located on a scenic glass-enclosed bridge overlooking the water. 

If you’re an artist or art enthusiast, the museum store is a must-visit, featuring over 50,000 volumes of art reference material along with unique souvenirs. You can also explore the 5-mile walking trail network that connects this 134-acre park to downtown Bentonville. The trail beautifully blends art and nature, with sculptures scattered throughout. If you’re short on time, you can simply walk a portion of the trail right near the museum. 

Entry to the museum is completely free. I recommend parking at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Parking Garage and taking the complimentary shuttle to the museum entrance for a smooth and convenient visit. 

Watch a Live Show at The Momentary

The Momentary, also part of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, is a live music and performance center and one of the city’s key entertainment hubs. It’s housed inside a decommissioned cheese factory, thoughtfully transformed into a vibrant creative space for the people of Bentonville. 

Visiting The Momentary wasn’t originally on our itinerary. But on the day we arrived, it was raining cats and dogs, and we were looking for indoor activities around the city. That’s when we stumbled upon The Momentary and discovered a Johnny Cash tribute show happening that evening, which instantly caught our attention. Ever since our trip to Nashville, we’ve fallen in love with the country music scene, and attending this show felt like a beautiful full-circle moment for us. 

To be honest, the performance was an absolute blast, and both singers were incredibly talented, they truly knew what they were doing! I’m so glad these artists made their way to Bentonville and brought a slice of country music magic to our trip. 

Things to do near Bentonville

Bentonville is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes and historic towns that make for perfect day trips. From natural caves and charming historic cities to stunning chapels tucked away in the woods, this region truly showcases the unique charm of Arkansas. 

In this section, I’ll share some of the top places you can add to your itinerary, along with their driving distance from downtown Bentonville. And if you discover any hidden gems during your trip, feel free to drop them in the comments, I’d love to add them to the list! 

1. Bella Vista – This is the first major town you’ll come across when driving down from Kansas or Missouri. It’s best known for the breathtaking Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel, a stunning wedding chapel nestled deep within the forest. The area is also home to beautiful waterfalls like Bella Vista Waterfall and Pinion Creek Falls. If you love exploring caves, don’t miss Crystal Cave, located just 10 minutes from downtown Bella Vista, a quick and fun stop for adventure lovers.
   Driving Distance: 16 minutes 
2. Fayetteville – A vibrant college town near Bentonville, known for its lovely green spaces and cultural attractions. Highlights include the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Lake Fayetteville Park, and museums such as the Arkansas Air and Military Museum and the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History.
   Driving Distance: 46 minutes 
3. Eureka Springs – A charming Victorian town in the Ozarks, slightly farther from Bentonville but perfect for a scenic day trip. To soak in the magic of the Ozarks, visit the breathtaking Thorncrown Chapel, another beautiful chapel hidden in the woods. For adventure seekers, try the Ozark Mountain Ziplines, and don’t miss catching sunset at Inspiration Point, the views are absolutely worth it.
   Driving Distance: 1 hour 

Where to Eat in Bentonville

One thing that surprised both Abhi and me was the huge presence of Indian restaurants and grocery stores. It was only while searching for places to eat that we realized just how many Indian options Bentonville had. After a little digging, we understood that this was largely due to Walmart, which attracts a diverse workforce from across the globe. It genuinely made us happy to find our people so far away from home. 

Indian food is one of the major cuisines you can try in Bentonville, and there’s no shortage of options. We chose Flavors Indian Cuisine & Lounge for dinner, which I’ll share more about below. Another popular food scene we noticed was pizza buffets, and of course, we had to try one! 

Here are a few restaurants and cafés we tried in and around Bentonville, including an excellent coffee shop you should definitely add to your list. 

Flavors Indian Cuisine & Lounge 

Flavors Indian Cuisine & Lounge was conveniently located close to our hotel and became our dinner stop for the evening. Since it was raining, we were craving some comforting Indo-Chinese food, hot and sour soup, fried rice, and Manchurian would have been perfect. Unfortunately, fried rice wasn’t available on their menu, so we decided to order a thali instead. 

We weren’t too hungry, so we shared a Chicken Thali, which turned out to be more than enough for the two of us. The food was flavorful and satisfying, although the service was quite slow. That said, if you’re not in a rush and looking for a wholesome Indian meal, this is a solid option. Every dish on our plate tasted great, and honestly, one thali is easy enough for two people.

📍 Location: 211 SE Walton Blvd Suite #100

Airship Coffee 

Airship Coffee is an independently owned specialty coffee company founded in Bentonville. They have four cafés and a roastery across the city, so you can easily visit one depending on where you’re staying. 

We stopped by their location inside The Ledger, a stunning office space that even features a bicycle track inside the building, can it get any more creative than that?

I ordered my usual latte with caramel syrup and absolutely loved it. The coffee was made using medium roast beans, the baristas were warm and friendly, and the branding added a fun, playful touch to the whole experience.

📍 Location: 240 S Main St

Cicis Pizza 

Cicis is a Texas-based all-you-can-eat pizza buffet chain that we’d been wanting to try for a while. Finding two locations near Bentonville felt like a clear sign that this should be our lunch stop, especially since we had a long drive ahead and wanted something filling. 

We visited the location near Fayetteville, as it had better Google ratings. And honestly, it was a blast! There were 10+ varieties of pizzas, along with a salad bar, pasta, soup, soda, and, yes, desserts. 

If you LOVE pizza, this place is heaven. You can try unlimited slices without getting bored. Watching the chefs toss dough and prepare pizzas live was super fun and cheering them on as they walked out of the kitchen added to the experience. 

What I loved most was that the slices were cut smaller, making it easier to sample multiple varieties. I ended up eating the equivalent of an entire 14-inch pizza, and it was 100% worth it. 

📍 Location: 637 E Joyce Blvd #101

Where to Stay in Bentonville 

We stayed at Sparks by Hilton Bentonville, and this was our first experience with this hotel brand. The hotel is located just 10 minutes from downtown, and we had a very comfortable stay. 

What truly stood out was the welcome gift we received upon check-in, a small gesture, but one that instantly made us smile after a long, exhausting drive. It’s always the little things that make the biggest difference, right?

We paid $100 for the night, which felt like excellent value for money, especially considering how much we’ve paid elsewhere for very average stays. The rooms were comfortable, the service was warm, and overall, it was a great experience. 

I highly recommend staying here if you’re visiting Bentonville; you’ll thank me for it! 😉 

My overall thoughts about Bentonville 

I think Bentonville was my favorite city on this entire trip, although Kansas City did give it a tough competition. It completely surprised us and blew our minds with its Hallmark-style downtown, calm and artistic vibes, and incredibly friendly people. 

If you’re planning a southern road trip or looking to discover hidden gems in the USA, I can’t recommend Bentonville enough. It truly deserves a spot on your travel list.