8 Adorable Small Towns In Arkansas
When you travel off the highway in Arkansas, you’ll stumble upon some of the most adorable towns that will steal your heart. These pocket communities hidden away in the mountains are places where there may be a bluegrass jam session on the courthouse steps, or where the town grocery, restaurant, and general store fit inside one old-timey building. These are communities where the few locals are eager to welcome a new face and love to tell the unique tale of their town. So when the open road calls, these adorable towns are well worth the drive.
Heber Springs
Heber Springs is a quiet lakeside getaway where everything moves at a slower pace. Heber Springs is like a time capsule where you can sit for a satisfying meal at locally owned diners like Angie’s Hideaway, known for their amazing chicken-fried steak. And if you want to relax, Sandy Beach is a great place to curl up with a good book along its sandy shores with gently rolling hills in the distance.
Heber Springs may be known for its relaxing atmosphere along Greers Ferry Lake, but its waterfalls and scenic hiking trails are its biggest attractions. Bridal Veil Falls is a steep (but short) hiking trail that leads to an isolated view of the falls. For the best views of the gently rolling hills, Sugarloaf Mountain is a must. There are easier hiking trails that provide stunning views at the top, and rock climbing portions of the trail as well.
Batesville
With lovely views of the White River and plenty of riverside dining and adventures, Batesville feels like stepping inside a Norman Rockwell painting from the 1950s. You can explore colorful landmarks in town like the Old Independence Regional Museum, which showcases Batesville's rich history with historical displays and interactive exhibits in the former National Guard Armory. It has riverside dining options like the River and Sandbar, where you can indulge in American classics on their outdoor patio, highlighted by the sounds of the rushing river below.
One of the biggest draws to Batesville isn’t its riverside views, but its antiques. There are quite a few fun and funky antique stores that pack their historical buildings with wall-to-wall treasures. In the heart of Batesville on Main Street is the Olde Towne Mall, found within the former Roberson Hardware building. For even more antiques, the Arkansas Antiques and Flea Market is just outside of central Batesville. It sells everything from pioneer crafts to Civil War antiques and is a must-see for avid treasure hunters.
Gilbert
Gilbert is one of those rare American gems that is untouched by the passage of time. With a population of just over 20 residents, it's a time capsule of the American South, and one of the smallest communities in the entire state. Walking the streets of downtown yields old-timey surprises, like the Gilbert General Store, where you can purchase almost everything you need to explore the beautiful wilderness of the area. Since Gilbert doesn’t have any local restaurants, the general store also serves up hot sandwiches.
Downtown Gilbert, and all its old-timey glory, is just a footnote to the natural beauty surrounding the area in the Ozark Mountains. The Buffalo National River is its biggest draw, where you can launch a canoe or a fishing boat out onto the calm waters at the Gilbert Gravel Bar. If you prefer hiking, the Old Railroad Trail is not only beautiful, but also historical. It follows the former Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad bed that led through Gilbert in the early 1900s. The old railroad bed is gone now, but in its place is a hiking trail that retraces its path through the lush, wooded landscape of the Ozarks.
Winslow
Winslow is another hidden town in the Ozark Mountains. With an elevation of over 1,800 feet above sea level, you don’t need to travel far for spectacular views. What makes Winslow so captivating is the delightful downtown area marked with 19th-century buildings that sprang to life alongside the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway. Unlike Gilbert, trains still run through Winslow, and you may hear it rumble through the tranquil mountains while grabbing a slice of pizza at Mikey's One Stop.
The biggest draw to Winslow is its proximity to Devil's Den State Park, a hidden gem tucked away in the Ozark Mountains. However, there’s far more than breathtaking views to experience at the park; there are also historical relics you won’t find anywhere else. The park is near Moonshiner’s Cave, accessible from one of the trails, which leads to a secret manmade cave supposedly used during Prohibition. Or you can hike the Fossil Flats Trailhead, which leads hikers to stunning waterfalls and through the untouched wilderness of the Ozark Mountains.
Magnolia
If any town captures classical Southern opulence, it’s the charming retreat of Magnolia. There’s no better example of Magnolia’s beauty than the Columbia County Courthouse in Courthouse Square. The courthouse, which boasts an elegant Renaissance Revival-style, is accented by a beautiful mural that captures what life used to be like when Magnolia was founded in the 1850s. Magnolia is a place where you can enjoy upscale American cuisine at Lefty's on the Square and then walk the brick sidewalks to Cecil Traylor Wilson Garden.
Located in the Gulf Coastal Plain of southern Arkansas, Magnolia also has stunning natural scenery in nearby parks. The most popular of its parks is Magnolia Bluff County Park, locally beloved for its charming hiking trails, wide open spaces that bloom with wildflowers in the spring and summer, and challenging climbs along bluff edges. East of Magnolia is Lake Columbia, an idyllic 3,000-acre lake known for its fishing and canoeing on its tranquil waters.
Eureka Springs
There’s so much to love about the cozy community of Eureka Springs. Amid the dense isolation of the Ozark Mountains, walking the narrow, winding streets of Eureka Springs feels like stepping inside a storybook. It beautifully blends Southern charm with a touch of European opulence, and there’s no shortage of things to discover. North Main Street has delightful little shops like Crystal Waters rock shop and friendly neighborhood watering holes like Missy's White Rabbit Lounge, just to name a few.
You could spend an entire weekend combing your way down Main Street, popping into unusual stores and cozy diners. But Eureka Springs’ biggest attraction is Basin Spring Park, which serves as the community's heart and soul. The public park was originally designed around Eureka Springs’ natural healing springs in the 19th century. While you can’t access the springs anymore, the park offers a different type of healing with beautiful park benches overlooking fountains and beautiful gardens.
Mountain View
Mountain View is known for two quintessentially southern things: mountain views (hence the name), and folk music. As the Folk Music Capital of the World, it’s a place where you’ll always hear a jam session going down on the steps of the courthouse. When the temperatures rise above 70 degrees, you can either head to the steps of the Stone County Courthouse or to the Pickin Park Cottage off Washington Street to watch a live jam session from local musicians.
There’s also the Ozark Folk Center State Park, which hosts annual community music events like the Spring Bluegrass Festival. But the park is so much more than a lively music venue. It's a place tucked away in the mountains where you can watch live demonstrations of blacksmithing and basket weaving, explore living history exhibits depicting what life was like in the mountains in the 19th century, or shop for homemade goods at its artisan market.
Jasper
It is unlikely you will ever stumble upon Jasper by accident. Far from the noise of highways and busy cities, Jasper is an idyllic place where the air just smells clean, and the locals are eager to welcome visitors. Downtown Jasper boasts colorful shops and restaurants that feel locked away in time. The Ozark Cafe, for instance, offers diners a blast from the past with its 1950s-style diner ready to serve up juicy burgers and thick milkshakes. One of the most charming stops in the area is the Turquoise Buffalo Mercantile, a quirky antique store with an antique water wheel on the front lawn.
Mountain views are in high supply in Jasper, and there are quite a few trails to choose from to spend an afternoon. There’s one place in Jasper that stands out from other parks in the Ozarks, and that's the Arkansas Grand Canyon. Carved by the Buffalo River over thousands of years, the 500-foot-high limestone bluffs tower over the river, offering visitors breathtaking views. From an overlook, you’ll feel on top of the world as the vast greenery of the mountains stretches out as far as the eye can see.
Fall in Love with Arkansas’ Most Adorable Small Towns
When you want to get away for a weekend, these adorable retreats will immediately feel like a home away from home. Whether it's wandering the storybook-inspired streets of Eureka Springs or exploring the riverside hamlet of Batesville, time just seems to move more slowly in the hidden communities of Arkansas. From the majestic beauty of the Ozark Mountains to the sweeping vistas of the Arkansas Valley, these small escapes are what Arkansas is all about. When you’re ready to hit the open road, skip the tourist attractions and get ready to fall in love with these adorable towns.
