9 Best Small Towns In The Ozarks For A Crowd-Free Summer
The Ozarks run past the Arkansas line. They climb north into Kansas and reach west into Oklahoma. That spread is the secret to a crowd-free summer here. Stilwell spends a May Saturday crowning a Strawberry Queen. Galena fires off Route 66 fireworks for about 2,750 neighbors. Tahlequah posts its street signs in Cherokee and English. Mountain Home serves fried green tomatoes within sight of a trout river. These nine small towns swap the heat and the crowds for strawberries and whitewater and quiet shorelines.
Mountain Home, AR
Due east of Harrison is another small town located in the southern Ozarks, Mountain Home, and one of their big attractions is Bull Shoals-White River State Park, a local park considered high on the list of places to see. An immediate draw for its trout fishing, the park spreads out along the shores of Bull Shoals Lake and the White River. It has a 15,744-square-foot visitor center with an incomparable view of the Bull Shoals Dam, an amazing 2,256-foot-long structure 256 feet above the stream bed, completed in 1951.
There's also Lake Norfork, with up to 510 miles of shoreline and clear water that's ideal for swimming, fishing, and even scuba diving. Between it, Bull Shoals Lake, and the White River, Mountain Home gives summer visitors plenty of room to fish, swim, boat, or just take in the slow shoreline views. For good eating, you can’t beat The Skillet: Order their Fried Green Tomatoes and Ozark Sampler, and you just might consider returning to the park to walk off some of these well-earned calories.
Harrison, AR
There is so much to see and do in Harrison, Arkansas, that it’s going to be difficult trying to sort them all out, but here goes: If you’ve always been intrigued with hot air balloons, Arkansas’s annual Hot Air State Championship event is for you. Held in early September and complete with concerts and competitions, this is an adventure you won’t want to miss. Then there’s Harrison’s Cecil Cove Loop Trail: approximately seven miles in length, it winds through woods, crosses Cecil Creek, and takes you up a mountain, climbing more than 500 feet for some great views.
The trail then continues about three miles to Old Compton-Erbie Road and follows the road about two miles back to the trailhead. Or maybe it’s time to head indoors and learn more about this beautiful location. In the Boone County Heritage Museum, you'll find hundreds of exhibits on its three floors, including a railroad showroom, a genealogy library, a Civil War display, an old post office, and much more. So enjoy Harrison: Outside or inside, it’s a great place to explore.
Stilwell, OK
If you can plan to arrive on the second Saturday in May in Stilwell, just 24 miles from Tahlequah, you'd be in time to attend their annual Strawberry Festival for great food, fun ambiance, plenty of strawberries, and the chance to meet their Strawberry Queen. If that timing doesn't work out, WOKA Whitewater gives Stilwell its strongest summer draw. Set on a 30-acre property with a 1,200-foot-long by 100-foot-wide man-made channel, the park packs in whitewater paddle sports and tubing for anyone after a more boisterous afternoon.
And finally, having built up an appetite, head for Okie Joe's BBQ, right in the center of town, whose name alone is enough to make you want to delight in some Southern-style barbecue, slow smoked over premium wood, and so good you’ll just have to return for seconds and thirds!
Tahlequah, OK
Tahlequah is not only the capital of the Cherokee Nation: if you are walking around their Historic District, you’ll see that all the signs are bilingual, all in both Cherokee and English. A must-visit is their Cherokee National History Museum, located in the historic Cherokee National Capitol building, where 7,000 square feet of space features details and artifacts that reveal the complex history of the Cherokee Nation, dating back to before European discovery and through the many years that brought them to where they are today.
Once you’ve taken in this amazing history of the Cherokees, you might want to peruse Tahlequah’s Farmers Market with its abundance of fresh produce, farm-raised beef, and all kinds of jams and cakes. From there, book your float on the Illinois River over at All American Floats, whose trips are family-friendly, but are also available for a more challenging experience should you opt for the rapids. Or maybe you’re in the mood for some local talent, in which case, hustle over to University Playhouse (aka NSU Playhouse), sit back, and enjoy the show!
Galena, KS
Originally formed in 1877 after the discovery of lead in the area, this region grew in prosperity until it reached a population of 30,000 in the early 1900’s. As interest in the mines faded, though, the population gradually declined, yet Galena is still revered as an important part of the Ozarks region of Kansas. Let’s start you off with Schermerhorn Park, a beautiful park in Galena with a picnic area, playground, and a shelter house. With origins on the historic Route 66 Byway, it remains a great place to explore Galena's history and be part of “The Mother Road.” As long as you’re exploring, take a trip over to Southeast Kansas Nature Center, located on a hilltop in Schermerhorn Park overlooking Shoal Creek. This is an exceptional area offering bird viewing, nature and history films, native animal and plant exhibits, and a large collection of North American artifacts, all illustrating the 55-square-mile Ozark Plateau geologic region of southeast Kansas.
Next: a visit to Miners Park, also along the Route 66 Byway, a renowned rest stop (aka photo op) to gaze at the iconic Route 66 mural that graces this area. Then there's Galena's annual Big Bang Event at Schwartz Park, on June 27th this year, celebrating America's 250th anniversary. It’ll be an amazing night for all who gather, so don’t miss it and don’t miss Galena, Kansas: about 2,750 people welcoming you into this small, fun town this summer, where you can beat the heat and beat the crowds, all at the same time.
Muskogee, OK
About 50 miles off the famous Route 66 in Oklahoma lies the small Ozark town of Muskogee. At one time immortalized by country star Merle Haggard in his hit song “Okie from Muskogee,” it remains a town filled with museums, hiking trails, great shops, ranches, fabulous cuisine, and an appealing, very welcoming way of life. Let’s get you started at Muskogee’s own Pecan Creek Winery, a seven-plus-acre vineyard with six different varieties of grapes and even a tasting room located one mile from the main winery.
Now that you’ve enjoyed a few sips of some wonderful home-grown wines, head over to Civitan Park, a 43-acre hillside park. Originally surveyed by none other than Daniel Boone’s son, it has picnic areas, playgrounds, and even a 0.8-mile trail loop to work off that delicious lunch. If a focus on more scenic trails is your pleasure, however, Muskogee has one that you might enjoy: Audubon Trail, a half-mile nature trail just perfect for birdwatching and communing with nature. And finally, there’s the fabulous and fun River Country Water Park with its water slides, lazy river, and even beaches to indulge in. A glass of wine in the shade, a hike, a morning of birdwatching, a careening trip down a water slide: Muskogee packs a full summer day, all without the usual crowds.
Bella Vista, AR
Plan a trip to Bella Vista: That’s what its website declares, and it’s clear they’re onto something. Start with the Lake Bella Vista Walking Trail: its 1.75-mile paved trail offers scenery that's not only lovely to look at but also ideal for an easy walk, a quick run, or a leisurely biking excursion. Another option is the Bluebird Art Trail, a paved walking trail that runs along the banks of Sugar Creek, featuring a picnic area, art installations, and plenty of parking.
One more option is the Snowbird Art Trail: touted as family-friendly, it offers the chance to bike and hike while enjoying art installations along the way. Snowbird also has an open field for picnics and whatever summertime scenario requires: a big tree with a swing. This is all good to know for some pleasurable exercising, but if you’re ready to hang up your hiking shoes, consider a visit to Bella Vista’s 477-acre, 80-foot-deep Loch Lomond. Completed in 1981, it has become a magnet for tourists and locals alike with a great marina, boat slips and rentals, fishing, picnic areas, and skiing.
Heber Springs, AR
Congratulations: You’ve made it to Heber Springs, Arkansas, a great small Ozarks town of 7,000 friendly people. Let's jump right in, literally, at their Sandy Beach on Front Street, a public spot for swimming, picnicking, playing volleyball, and even reserving a pavilion if you have a party in mind. Another option is the 50-foot-high Bridal Veil Falls, with an observation deck looking out over the water. Just note that the walk to the deck is easy; however, if you plan to descend to the bottom of the falls, take your time and wear good shoes.
Now, if you want to put more use to those good hiking shoes, next consider a trip to Sugarloaf Mountain, where there are several hiking trails at varying levels of difficulty, and there is sure to be one you’ll love to traverse, perhaps even to its 690-foot summit. If you’re planning to stay in the area for a day or longer, check out Fat Possum Hollow, a resort on the Little Red River where you might continue with your walks or simply lie back, relax, and sit a spell.
Prairie Grove, AR
Welcome to Prairie Grove, a small town in northwest Arkansas that shares a close proximity to Stilwell. It reached notoriety in 1862, 26 years before it was officially incorporated, due to the famous Battle of Prairie Grove. Considered a pivotal battle in the ongoing Civil War, the town created an entire park encompassing over 1,000 acres of this area, and it is well worth a visit for anyone looking to escape the summer crowds. Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, despite its history steeped in battle, is a bucolic site offering walking and driving tours, as well as the Hindman Hall Museum, which serves as the park's welcome center.
For sheer summertime fun, however, Prairie Grove’s Aquatic Park should be on your to-do list. With depths up to 10 feet, a multi-story waterslide, and a dedicated kiddie pool, you’re sure to beat the heat in its 300,000-gallon pool! And if getting wet isn’t your thing, head on over to Prairie Grove’s fabulous Flea Market on its historic downtown Main Street, where you can explore the 12 participating stores and leave with a souvenir to help you always remember your time in this memorable small Ozark town.
A Quieter Way To See The Ozarks
And so here we are, back where we started with the magnificent Ozarks: That wild and transcendent tapestry of forests and plateaus, of waterfalls and water parks, of pristine nature hideaways and fireworks, of barbecues and museums and wineries, of hidden trails and the celebrity of Route 66. Above all, the Ozarks beckon: Come visit, come experience, come enjoy our wonderful small towns. Stay for a day, stay for a year: The Ozarks are forever.
