2025's 11 Best Small Towns To Visit In Arkansas
Arkansas is a wondrous and whimsical state that has long served as the ancient homeland of the Quapaw and Osage peoples. Within this landscape that oil and railroads have shaped, travelers will come across some of the best small towns to visit in Arkansas that have long endured as the crossroads of history and culture. Each one preserves and embodies stories of resilience, creativity, and natural beauty, from the world-famous baths of Hot Springs to the pioneer fables found in Pocahontas and Arkansas Post. These destinations maintain scenic landscapes, quirky museums, and vibrant festivals, all of which make them perfect elements to create 2025’s best small towns to visit in Arkansas.
Eureka Springs
Cloaked in the verdant foliage of the Ozark Mountains, the stellar town of Eureka Springs is a captivating destination filled with historic allure and natural enchantments. Revered by Native Americans for its therapeutic mineral springs, the town still carries that legacy through its preserved historic bathhouses, inviting visitors to unwind in soothing, heritage-bubbling surroundings. Towering above the town sits the striking Christ of the Ozarks, a 67-foot, seven-story statue built entirely by hand and posed atop Magnetic Mountain, offering sweeping views and standing free to the public from sunrise to sunset. Animal lovers can roam the rolling Ozark foothills at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, an accredited sanctuary sheltering nearly 100 rescued big cats—including tigers, jaguars, lions, and more—and open daily (except Christmas) with guided tram tours departing hourly. Beneath the surface, Onyx Cave Park, the oldest show cave in Arkansas (open March through late November), beckons with a self-guided audio tour through cool 57°F flowstone chambers and fun activities like axe-throwing, gem panning, and a charming gift shop. With an eclectic and eccentric number of amenities to try out, Eureka Springs will have you shouting and praising in fervent glee at all the wonders to experience in one of Arkansas’ best small towns.
Pocahontas
Quietly settled along the peaceful currents of the Black River, the Arkansas town known as Pocahontas whispers with centuries of layered history, ranging from its Osage hunting grounds and French trading posts to its pivotal role on the Southwest Trail. One of its most enduring and popular landmarks is the Eddie Mae Herron Center & Museum, housed in the historic St. Mary’s AME Church, which was originally built as a one-room schoolhouse and church in 1918. Today, this museum preserves African American history through compelling exhibits and community events like Juneteenth and Black History Month programs. Nearby, the stately Old Randolph County Courthouse (built in 1871) anchors the downtown with more of Pocahontas’ local history. For more modern thrills and excitement, you can cool down from the summer heat by playing around in the Pocahontas Aquatic Center, a family-friendly swimming facility sprinkled with merriment and enthusiasm. At the end of the day, you will discover this unassuming little town named after Pocahontas is an excellent and exciting destination to revisit more often than usual.
Batesville
Batesville is Arkansas’s second oldest small, boasting various Victorian-era architecture amid Ozark foothills. With its position along the White River and its 90-mile proximity to Little Rock, Batesville has served as a simple and laidback retreat, drawing numerous individuals to destinations such as the Mark Martin Museum & Gift Shop, a high-tech tribute to the NASCAR icon who began his racing journey here. Open Monday through Saturday with free admission, the museum/gift shop displays several of Martin’s remarkable race cars, trophies, memorabilia, interactive video monitors, and original race gear. The vibrant downtown also includes the Old Independence Regional Museum, which showcases over 19,000 items, including transcripts of public records for some of the regions in Arkansas, 19th to 20th century photographs, and other artifacts and memorabilia from a bygone era. Others might be more invested in splashing and playing about in places like the Batesville Community Center and Aquatics or the Fitzhugh Water Park, both thrilling and rejuvenating playgrounds for water-based sports and activities. In a town that once served as a temporary headquarters for Confederate General Sterling Price during the American Civil War, Batesville has since developed into one of the best small towns to visit in Arkansas, thanks to its many attractions and amenities to seek out.
Van Buren
Just across the Arkansas River from Fort Smith, Van Buren charms newcomers with its riverside setting and historic treasures. One of its most well-praised and well-maintained features is the Drennen-Scott Historic Site, a beautifully preserved 1830s home exhibiting the early pioneer lifestyle in addition to the history of the American Civil War through guided tours. Meanwhile, one of the town’s quirkiest and most intriguing facts is that famous humorist Bob Burns once worked in a plumbing shop there, where he invented a musical instrument he called the “bazooka” that World War II soldiers eventually reused to name their rocket launchers. On Van Buren’s Main Street, the King Opera House, an 1880s Victorian theater, still hosts plays and concerts in a lovingly restored setting. Additionally, the Historic Downtown District brims with antique shops and eateries, while nearby Lake Fort Smith State Park provides hiking trails, fishing, and stunning views of the Ozark Mountains and the neighboring landscapes of Oklahoma. In spite of its relatively small size and simple attractions, Van Buren is a splendid and serene small town perfect for a weekend getaway or a week-long vacation this summer.
El Dorado
Known as “Arkansas’s Original Boomtown,” El Dorado rose to fame during the oil boom of the 1920s. The Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in nearby Smackover tells this fascinating petroleum story with immersive exhibits and vintage equipment. Within the downtown area, the lively Murphy Arts District (MAD) has become a hub for music, theater, and festivals that newcomers from all over will definitely enjoy. Visitors can also explore the stately Newton House Museum, a restored 1840s home filled with period furnishings that harken back to different times. For even more cultural depth, the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society offers exhibits on the area’s African American history and regional heritage. There are plenty more historic artifacts and exhibits to discover from this storied small town, so you ought to give El Dorado a chance to provide golden experiences and opportunities in Arkansas’ Original Boomtown.
Arkadelphia
Cradled at the base of the Ouachita Mountains, Arkadelphia is as much a college town as it is an epicenter for outdoor exploration, with access to some of the many natural beauties that compose Arkansas. Travelers will enjoy attending the much-beloved Festival of Two Rivers, held each April, which celebrates the Ouachita River and Caddo River with canoe races, food, and live music. Beyond the town’s confines, the DeGray Lake Resort State Park is a nearby favorite for boating, fishing, and picnicking beside the lush waters of the DeGray Lake. Within the Arkadelphia Commercial Historic District, on the other hand, you can admire a number of historic edifices such as the Clark County Library, a delightful repository of books that detail much about the town’s past. Having a casual and simplistic ambiance, Arkadelphia is a lovable small town with many charms and amenities to savor in your journey throughout the state.
Arkansas Post
As the state’s first European settlement, Arkansas Post dates its founding back to 1686 when traders from France established the town alongside the Quapaw village known as Osotouy. Its history unfolds at the Arkansas Post National Memorial, where trails wind past battlegrounds, wetlands, and interpretive exhibits about Arkansas Post’s role as the territorial capital of Arkansas and the site for Colbert’s Raid in the American Revolutionary War. For a closer look at pioneer life, the Arkansas Post Museum State Park preserves artifacts, period furnishings, and outbuildings for further perusal. Not far away, the A.M. Bohnert Rice Plantation reflects the agricultural traditions that once dominated the region. With a history dating back to the early years of the American Revolution, Arkansas Post has since evolved into a tranquil and tantalizing small town with a number of attractions to discern in the summer.
Calico Rock
Calico Rock, so named for its colorful limestone bluffs, is a thriving and bountiful small town on the White River that beckons newcomers to a plethora of breathtaking adventures. This particular spot on the White River is an ideal and peaceful location for trout fishing. Close at hand, the scenic Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail guides trekkers and hikers to a landscape of wooded wonderlands and arboreal areas, among these regions, the undeniable beauty of the Ozark National Forest. Local landmarks such as the Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center display Native American artifacts and pioneer memorabilia that educate visitors on the values and traditions of Calico Rock. Last but not least is the quirky destination known as Peppersauce Alley, lined with antique shops and historic storefronts that offer all sorts of amusements and trinkets to peruse. However you wish to proceed in this whimsical and welcoming small town, Calico Rock ensures a rock-solid experience in one of the best towns to visit in Arkansas.
Camden
Formerly a vital cotton port during the American Civil War, Camden has become an influential and intriguing little town on the banks of the Ouachita River. Only around 34 miles from El Dorado, visitors to this historic town can go exploring at the Poison Spring Battleground State Park to learn more about Camden’s involvement in the Civil War, particularly how it was affected by the Red River Campaign. Even more of the town’s history can be perceived at the McCollum-Chidester House, a Victorian home filled with 19th-century artifacts. Similarly, you can head over to the Missouri Pacific Depot, restored into a museum and community space that highlights Camden’s focus on kaolin clay, petroleum, and the manufacturing of explosives and ammunition during the Civil War. Outside of all the history, you can also opt to go gallivanting through verdant forests and areas like the White Oak Lake State Park, which provides plenty of trails, fishing, and wildlife watching in a peaceful forested setting. Where the roots of American history still run deep, Camden allows travelers to immerse themselves well into the distant past that founded the beginnings of both a state and a nation.
Hot Springs
Known worldwide for its steamy thermal waters, Hot Springs is both a spa retreat and a cultural playground to soak in the varied histories and natural splendors of the state. At Hot Springs National Park, visitors can stroll Bathhouse Row, where elegant early-20th-century bathhouses still welcome guests in addition to luxuriating in the many thermal hot springs that compose Hot Springs. The colorful past of gangsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano lives on at the Gangster Museum of America, filled with interactive exhibits on the numerous mobsters who once rested and relaxed in Hot Springs. Families will definitely enjoy the Mid-America Science Museum, featuring hands-on experiments and Arkansas’s only Tesla coil. Finally, for some outdoor escapades, the Garvan Woodland Gardens astonishes with landscaped trails, seasonal tulips, and a striking glass chapel for reflection and exploration. There are many more surprises in store from this hot and popular destination, so give this small town a chance to amaze and dazzle you with its steaming delights.
Magnolia
Charming and tree-filled, Magnolia takes its name from the blossoming magnolia trees that thrive across town. Its signature event, the Magnolia Blossom Festival & World Championship Steak Cook-Off, draws thousands every May with sizzling grills, live music, and local art. Meanwhile, Southern Arkansas University buzzes with student life, public concerts, and athletic events for scholars and non-scholars to admire. Additionally, it also supports the welfare and development of the West Gulf Coastal Plain Magnolia’s Agricultural and Horticultural Farm, which in turn contributes much to the growth and sustainability of Magnolia’s rural countryside. Just outside town, Logoly State Park offers hiking trails through Arkansas’s first environmental education park, while nearby Lake Columbia is a favorite destination for leisurely strolls and laidback fishing and boating. With an energetic air and strong cultural sense of community, Magnolia is the type of town that welcomes strangers as one would a friend.
Hot Springs’ healing waters, Arkansas Post’s colonial stories, and Magnolia’s festive spirits are just some of the many attractions and features that many will come to adore from 2025’s best small towns to visit in Arkansas. Each of these towns has history etched into courthouses, battlefields, and museums, while nature thrives in the surrounding rivers, forests, and gardens of these magnificent communities. Festivals, music, and art add vibrancy to communities like El Dorado, while the serenity of Calico Rock and Van Buren offers peaceful moments of tranquility and ease for everyone. Ultimately, you will be drawn to these towns that all promise an engaging mix of heritage and hospitality. Exploring them in 2025 means stepping into Arkansas’s past while savoring the pleasures of the present.
