10 Must-Visit Small Towns in Arkansas

Jasper is one of those small towns where everyone knows everyone else, and it features a walkable main drag downtown with several small shops and restaurants to enjoy. It's a dry town, however, so the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

Jasper is very near to several historic landmarks, natural points of interest, hiking trails, and other adventures to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. You could spend a day visiting the Arkansas Grand Canyon, the Dr Hudson Sanitarium Agricultural Building, the Round Top Mountain Trail, or Little Bear Cave Hollow.

The town of Eureka Springs is nestled within the Ozark Mountains and is famous for its historic district. Here you’ll find a wealth of Victorian buildings such as the Crescent Hotel, Basin Park Hotel, and Palace Bath House.

You can also head into the hills to see the stunning wood and glass Thorncrown Chapel or head to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge where you can see big cats and bears in their natural habitat. The entire city, of course, is built around its namesake natural springs that provide a picturesque and relaxing environment.

Siloam Springs is a town located within the Cherokee Nation which offers a wealth of cultural attractions as well as a quiet, relaxing small-town escape. One of the top attractions you'll find in Siloam Springs is the Siloam Springs Museum Society, where you can view artefacts and exhibits tracing the history of the town.

At the Sager Creek Mountain Bike Trail or Bob Henry Park, you can go hiking, biking, or have some outdoor adventures. If water activities are your thing, you can go kayaking at the City of Siloam Springs Kayak Park.

The city of El Dorado may be a large town, but it still has a wholesome, welcoming, small-town feel. As the seat of Union County, it's a cultural hub with a downtown area that offers a wealth of shopping, dining, and nightlife options to enjoy on your vacation.

Just a few of the attractions include the South Arkansas Arboretum, where you can walk serene trails lined with colorful flowers, the Newton House museum with artifacts of days gone by, and Oil Heritage Park and Mattocks Park with their picnic areas and green spaces.

The city of Mountain Home offers the majestic surroundings of the Ozark Mountains and is nestled in a space that offers a wealth of sports and outdoor adventures, historic attractions, and natural escapes.

A few of the points of interest in this small town include Cooper Park, where you can grab a swim in a mountain lake, the historic Casey House, and Keller Park, which has baseball diamonds and sporting fields. You could also visit the museum and art installations at Duane Hada's Rivertown Gallery or the hiking and biking trails at Davids Trail HWY 1010 Trailhead South.

Van Buren is one of Arkansas's larger ‘small towns' and is an important town in the Fort Smith metropolitan area. It offers a chance to experience the history of this great state up close as you walk the Van Buren Historic District with its wealth of landmark buildings, museums, shops, and restaurants.

You can visit the Drennen Scott House, which dates to 1836 and today stands as a museum and window to the past, or you can get away from the hustle and bustle at places like Louemma Lake, Fort Smith Park, or the Lee Creek Reservoir Recreation Area.

Batesville is famous for, among other things, its Mark Martin NASCAR Museum that houses trophies, uniforms, memorabilia, and even full race cars driven by the famed Batesville native. The town is situated right along the shores of the White River and has a rich history, having played an important role in the Civil War.

Today, many of the buildings in the historic downtown area are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Melba Theater. The Old Independence Regional Museum explores the area's great history, and there are also plenty of shopping and dining opportunities on the strip to enjoy while you're in town.

Heber Springs was originally founded in the mid-1800s as a health resort named Sugar Loaf. The original Spring Park mineral springs are still there, but today its centerpiece is the 31,500-acre manmade lake, which is available for recreational use like fishing and boating.

You can walk the downtown historic district and view landmark buildings like the county courthouse and traditional town square, and you'll also discover a wealth of antique stores, a museum, and even a restored theater where you can catch a show.

The town of Magnolia in Arkansas in many ways exemplifies Americana. It's the home of a quirky roadside attraction, the World's Largest Charcoal Grill, and hosts the annual Magnolia Blossom Festival, which includes the World Championship Steak Cookoff.

If you're interested in learning about the history of the area, you can visit the landmark Columbia County Jail and the South Arkansas Heritage Museum. To get away from it all and enjoy some hiking, biking, and outdoor adventure, head for Logoly State Park.

Mountain View, a city famed for its roots in this traditional musical style and for being a cultural hub of Stone County. It’s certainly a go-to in Arkansas if you're a fan of folk music. You'll find a wealth of activities in this area to visit and take in the atmosphere and history of the region.

Among the top spots are the H.S. Mabry Barn, the Ozark Folk Center State Park, and the Stone County Museum, where you can learn all about the folk tradition of the area. If you're into outdoor adventure, you'll love the rope climbing and zip lines at Loco Ropes! Treetop Park.