8 Romantic Small Towns In Arkansas For A 3-Day Weekend
Love is alive and well in Arkansas. What better backdrop for a cozy, intimate weekend escape than a quiet cabin tucked into the Ozark Mountains? In these smaller communities, you can hike near waterfalls or to the top of an overlook and then cap the evening with a candlelit dinner by a roaring fire. Whether you opt for a scenic drive down Skyline Drive in Mena or a soak in a historic bathhouse in Hot Springs, love blooms and thrives in Arkansas's sweet spots.
Eureka Springs
Eureka Springs is a great option for adventure-seeking lovebirds. It has classic Ozark views with plenty of hiking trails and scenic spots, like Little Lake Eureka, and the town itself also has a storybook downtown district. In Basin Spring Park, you’ll find paved walking paths, fountains, and beautiful gardens a stone's throw from all the best shops.
Razorback Tower is another popular spot for those who don't mind a good climb. The 100-foot tower provides some of the most dramatic views, and is especially beautiful in the fall. For a romantic meal, Rogue’s Manor is a dimly lit, vintage restaurant serving everything from steak and lobster to pasta. To top off your stay at Eureka Springs, the Crescent Hotel and Spa is like staying in a real-life castle! It has a pizzeria, resort-like pool area, and upscale amenities perched on 15 mountaintop acres just a mile from downtown.
Bella Vista
Hidden away in the northwest corner of the state is Bella Vista, one of the most romantic escapes in Arkansas. Think waterfalls, wedding chapels, and calm lakes with sunset views. It is also home to the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's star pupil, E. Fay Jones. The chapel serves as a lovely place to get married, but it's open year-round, so you can also tour the inside of the chapel or walk the shaded hiking path around the property to your heart's content.
Whether you're wandering the colorful downtown district or walking the many trails, Bella Vista is the perfect setting for a romantic escape. There’s Pinion Creek Falls, a breathtaking waterfall you can view on a bridge over the White River, or the falls along the Tanyard Creek Nature Trail. After a full day of exploring, Cedar Lodge is the perfect place to relax, featuring a wet bar and coffee bar, saunas, hot tubs, and a covered cabana and fire pit.
Siloam Springs
Siloam Springs, on the Oklahoma border, is known for its charming small-town atmosphere in the daytime and exciting nightlife once the sun goes down. Here, you’ll find lesser-traveled parks like City Lake Park, where you can walk along the water’s edge, or check out the intimate observation deck that overlooks Siloam Springs Lake. For more adventure, there’s City of Siloam Springs Kayak Park. Don’t worry, the park isn’t just for kayaking! It’s also just a lovely place to wade in the water or walk the rocky shoreline.
Siloam Springs is also home to the Cherokee Hotel and Casino West Siloam Springs, where you can test your luck at the slots, catch a live show, or grab an intimate dinner at Flint Creek Steakhouse. If you don't want to stay where you play, the Apple Crest Inn is a delightful Victorian Bed and Breakfast where you can curl up next to a roaring fire in the sitting room.
Mountainburg
Mountainburg is a hidden gem that is well worth the drive. You can start your day exploring the darling downtown with a cup of coffee from B’s In The Burg before browsing local shops like the Shepherd’s Cottage market and farm store. From there, you can head to the calm shores of Lake Fort Smith State Park for a lovely hike overlooking Frog Bayou.
For truly unique accommodations, the StoneWind Retreat is an intimate place where couples can rest, rejuvenate, and reconnect with nature in the heart of the Boston Mountains. Couples can stay in romantic deluxe yurts with private decks with hot tubs. The retreat also offers a range of spa treatments in the comfort of your yurt, including couples' massages. It's one of those isolated retreats where you may find you spend the entire weekend soaking in the views while soaking in your hot tub, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Mena
Mena is a romantic getaway known for its scenic drives, pristine parks, and unique resorts. The best way to get to know the region is to take a relaxing cruise down Skyline Drive, part of the Talimena National Scenic Byway that weaves through the Ouachita Mountains. Along the way, you’ll discover lovely stops, like Lovers' Leap Overlook and Blue Haze Vista, that provide some of the most breathtaking views of the landscape that stretches out for miles. To spend some time in downtown Mena, Janssen Park is marked by wide-open green spaces, ponds, fountains, and paved walking paths. Centrally located in the heart of Mena, a cozy coffee shop or diner is always within walking distance.
There are quite a few secluded resorts and bed and breakfasts on the outskirts of Mena, but few are as lovely as the Bethesda Lake Resort and Cabins. Ten beautiful cabins line the shore of Bethesda Lake and feature comfortable accommodations and amenities like private decks, hot tubs, fire pits, and quiet outdoor seating areas, making it feel like an isolated mountain getaway just a few miles down the road from downtown Mena.
Hot Springs
Spending a long weekend in a town called Hot Springs is just as lovely as it sounds. Also located in the Ouachita Mountains, it’s a relaxing destination of calm lakes, local restaurants, and, of course, hot springs! If you long to wake up to lake views from your secluded front porch, the Edgewater Resort offers peace and quiet. Each rustic cabin provides calm views of Lake Hamilton, small private beaches for quiet evenings, and cozy accommodations.
If you choose to venture away from your lakeside escape, Hot Springs has plenty for couples to enjoy. The best attraction in the area is Hot Springs National Park, where you can go for a soak in one of its historic bathhouses or hike or bike over 26 miles of shaded trails. For a stunning overlook, the Goat Rock Trail is a great option, and is particularly beautiful at sunrise. To cap off a perfect day in Hot Springs, be sure to swing by Fisherman's Wharf Steak and Seafood to dine on a wide array of fresh dishes on its outdoor patio with a view of the lake.
Jasper
In the heart of the Ozark Mountains is the little town of Jasper, a place one doesn’t stumble upon by accident. With a population of just over 500 residents, it’s a picturesque community that takes life slowly. In downtown Jasper, you can grab a bite to eat at the Ozark Cafe before setting out on your mountain adventure.
A scenic drive south down Highway 7 leads to the Arkansas Grand Canyon with one of the most breathtaking views of the Ozark Mountains in the state, where the world unfolds before you in lush green mountains and wide open skies. Not too far from the overlook are the Arkansas Grand Canyon View Cabins, where you can wake up every morning, cup of coffee in hand, to watch the sun rise over the dramatic mountain landscape.
Calico Rock
Along the banks of the White River in north-central Arkansas lies the hidden escape of Calico Rock. Far removed from the traffic and crowds of bigger cities like Fayetteville and Little Rock, Calico Rock feels like stepping back in time. The Calico Rock Historic District is a neat place to explore the remains of an old mining town and old jail, as well as a feed store and other businesses. The Calico Riverview Inn was built in the 1920s as a railroad hotel and now serves as a romantic riverside escape with modern rooms, lovely views, and on-site dining.
When you are ready to explore the sights beyond Calico Rock, there are plenty of places for romantic walks. The Sugarloaf Mountain Lookout Tower is one of the best ways to enjoy the views of northern Arkansas. It’s a bit of a climb to the top of the 65-foot tower, but the sweeping panoramas are well worth it.
Explore Charming Arkansas Towns Made For Two
These Arkansas communities are places made for quiet weekends lost in the mountains. From waterfalls, breathtaking overlooks, historical districts, and chapels hidden deep in the Ozarks, they’ll make the weekend feel just a bit longer in all the best ways. Whether you want to curl up next to a roaring fire in a retreat in Bella Vista or spend your time in a yurt in the remote community of Mountainburg, these Arkansas escapes are made for romance.
