Northwest Arkansas
Around Northwest Arkansas
Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Arkansas · 605k people
Northwest Arkansas
“Razorback Country”, “NWA”
Fayetteville · Springdale · Rogers · Bentonville
Where the Ozarks meet a vibrant, growing community.
Razorback Cardinal RedOzark Forest GreenBeaver Lake Blue
Welcome to Northwest Arkansas! Whether you're here for the trails, the art, or the food, you'll find a friendly community ready to share what makes this corner of the Ozarks special. Grab a coffee on a downtown square and say hi.
Clubs for Northwest Arkansas
No clubs for Northwest Arkansas yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Northwest Arkansas. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Northwest Arkansas. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art World-class art museum with trails and a pond
- University of Arkansas Campus Home of the Razorbacks, with historic Old Main
- Devil's Den State Park Hiking, caves, and camping in the Ozarks
- Razorback Regional Greenway Paved trail connecting Fayetteville to Bentonville
- Beaver Lake Large reservoir for boating, fishing, and swimming
- Downtown Bentonville Square Historic square with the Walmart Museum and shops
- Outdoors Mountain biking on the Razorback Regional Greenway
- Outdoors Hiking at Devil's Den State Park
- With kids Scott Family Amazeum
- With kids Crystal Bridges Museum
- Evenings George's Majestic Lounge
- Evenings Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP)
- Locals love Mountain biking trails
- Locals love Downtown squares
Through the year
- Bikes, Blues & BBQ September Motorcycle rally and music festival in Fayetteville
- Walmart NW Arkansas Championship September LPGA golf tournament in Rogers
- Bentonville Film Festival June Film festival founded by Geena Davis
- Fayetteville Roots Festival August Americana and roots music festival
- Northwest Arkansas Naturals home games April-September Minor league baseball at Arvest Ballpark
Northwest Arkansas has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The best times to be out are spring and fall; summers are hot, winters are mild with occasional ice storms. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “The Hill”
- University of Arkansas campus
- “Dickson”
- Dickson Street entertainment district
- “The AMP”
- Arkansas Music Pavilion
- “Razorback”
- Referring to the university or its teams
Getaways
- Branson Shows and family entertainment
- Fort Smith Historic frontier town
- Tahlequah River floats and scenic drives
- Harrison Gateway to the Buffalo River
Local flavour
Teams
- Arkansas Razorbacks NCAA Division I
- Northwest Arkansas Naturals MiLB Double-A
Also rooting for Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals
Eat and drink
- Fried chicken Tyson Foods is headquartered in Springdale, and fried chicken is a local staple.
- Barbecue Southern-style BBQ, often pork, with regional sauces.
- Catfish Fried catfish, common in Ozark and Southern cooking.
- Chicken-fried steak A Southern comfort classic found in local diners.
Where people go
- Mountain biking trails Bentonville is a world-class mountain biking destination, with trails like Slaughter Pen and Coler Preserve.
- Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art A landmark museum set in the woods, blending art and nature.
- University of Arkansas campus The heart of Fayetteville, with its historic buildings and Razorback spirit.
- Downtown squares Bentonville and Fayetteville have vibrant, walkable squares with shops and eateries.
- Beaver Lake A large reservoir popular for boating, fishing, and camping.
Heritage and traditions
Northwest Arkansas is proud of its Ozark mountain heritage, the Razorback spirit, and a unique mix of small-town Southern charm with a global, forward-looking economy.
This time of year in Northwest Arkansas
- Razorback football tailgating Fall Fall Saturdays bring crowds to Fayetteville for tailgate parties.
- Bella Vista Arts and Crafts Festival October Juried arts and crafts show in the Bella Vista area.
Say it like a local: “creek” — A creek, often pronounced 'crick'
Festivals
- Tontitown Grape Festival August Italian-American festival with spaghetti dinners, grape stomping, and carnival rides.
- Rodeo of the Ozarks July Professional rodeo in Springdale with bull riding, barrel racing, and a parade.
- Siloam Springs Dogwood Festival April Celebrates spring with arts and crafts, live music, and a dogwood trail.
- Bella Vista Arts and Crafts Festival October Juried arts and crafts show in the Bella Vista area.
- Northwest Arkansas Hispanic Heritage Festival September Celebrates Latin American culture with music, dance, and food in Springdale.
Landmarks with a story
- Shiloh Museum of Ozark History Springdale museum focusing on the region's pioneer and Ozark heritage.
- Peel Mansion 1875 Victorian mansion in Bentonville, home of a Confederate colonel.
- War Eagle Mill Working grist mill on War Eagle Creek, originally built in 1832.
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church Built by Italian immigrants in Tontitown, a symbol of their heritage.
- Historic Downtown Fayetteville Square The old courthouse, shops, and restaurants anchor the city's original center.
- Rogers Historical Museum Exhibits on the railroad, local industry, and the town's history.
Food traditions
- Fried pickles Invented at the Duchess Drive-In in Fayetteville in the 1960s, now a Southern staple.
- Chocolate gravy A Southern/Ozark breakfast of chocolate sauce over biscuits, often served with sausage.
- Tontitown spaghetti dinners Italian immigrants brought their recipe; served at the annual Grape Festival.
- Marshallese cuisine In Springdale, you can find traditional dishes like rice, breadfruit, and coconut-based stews.
- Tamales Mexican immigrants introduced tamales, now a popular snack and holiday food.
Music and arts
- Ozark folk and bluegrass music Traditional Appalachian-style music with fiddle, banjo, and guitar is still played at local gatherings.
- Bentonville arts district Crystal Bridges and The Momentary anchor a growing contemporary arts scene.
- Fayetteville's Dickson Street music scene Live venues on Dickson Street feature rock, blues, and indie bands.
- Marshallese dance and music Springdale's Marshallese community shares traditional stick dances and chants at cultural events.
A little history
- 1830s Cherokee removal (Trail of Tears) passed through the area
- 1862 Battle of Fayetteville during the Civil War
- 1871 University of Arkansas founded
- 1950 Sam Walton moved to Bentonville and opened his first store
- 1980s Marshallese migrants began settling in Springdale
Rivalries
- Arkansas Razorbacks vs. LSU Tigers Football rivalry
- Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Texas A&M Football rivalry (Southwest Classic)
- Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Missouri Tigers Football rivalry (Battle Line)
- Game day Razorback football tailgating
- Game day High school football Friday nights
- Outdoors Mountain biking on the Razorback Regional Greenway
- Outdoors Hiking at Devil's Den State Park
- With kids Fayetteville Farmers Market
- With kids Peel Mansion
People here speak with a Southern drawl mixed with Ozark hill country inflections. You'll hear 'y'all' and 'fixin' to,' and sometimes 'warsh' for wash. The accent is milder than the Deep South but still distinct.
Only here
- The Walmart Visitor Center in Bentonville, where you can see the original store and a 5-and-dime.
- The Razorback mascot and the 'Woo Pig Sooie' cheer heard at every game.
- The Tontitown Grape Festival, an Italian-American tradition since 1898.
- Springdale is home to the largest Marshallese community in the U.S.
New here? A few tips
- Learn the Razorback cheer 'Woo Pig Sooie' – it's the local greeting during football season.
- Traffic on I-49 can be heavy during rush hour; give yourself extra time.
- The weather is changeable – bring layers and an umbrella, especially in spring.
- Try fried pickles at a local diner – they were invented here.
- Explore the outdoors: the Razorback Regional Greenway and Devil's Den are must-dos.
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Nearby
Every areaStilwellOklahomaWhere the Ozarks meet Cherokee heart and strawberry fields.Eureka SpringsArkansasWhere the Ozarks cradle a Victorian dreamTahlequahOklahomaRiver town, Cherokee heartFort SmithArkansasA river town with a frontier heartClarksvilleArkansasWhere the Ozarks meet the river, and everyone knows your name.Table Rock LakeMissouriLake days, Ozark nightsHarrisonArkansasWhere the hills meet the river, and everyone knows your name.BransonMissouriWhere the Ozarks meet the stage.
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.