60+ Family-Friendly Things to Do in Northwest Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas delivers family fun in every season — from wild rivers and mountain trails to roller rinks, art parks and retro arcades.

This region invites kids (and their grownups) to roam — across lakeshores and bike parks, downtown squares and wooded ridgelines. Families can paddle the Buffalo National River, hike beneath a bluff, explore a cave, or catch a game and fireworks show under the stadium lights. 

You’ll also find plenty of excitement indoors, with hands-on museums, climbing gyms, laser tag, and sweet treats that hit the spot after a day of adventure.

Here are 60+ family-friendly things to do in Northwest Arkansas — a mix of outdoor adventure and indoor play perfect for your next weekend getaway, school break or family vacation.

Bentonville

1. Climb Bentonville is an indoor fitness and rock climbing facility offering 16,000 square feet of climbing terrain with bouldering, top rope and auto-belay routes, plus space just for kids to climb and explore.

2. Coler Mountain Bike Preserve features over 17 miles of purpose-built trails for every level of rider. It also offers scenic walking paths, play structures, open green spaces, and a trail-side café.

3. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is set within 120 acres of Ozark landscape, blending art and nature through trails, sculpture-line paths, art exhibits, a children’s area, a museum store and a restaurant overlooking the water.

4. The Museum of Native American History takes visitors through 14,000 years of history, starting with the loud woolly mammoth skeleton that surprises guests as they walk through the front door. This free museum has a significant collection of ancient artifacts, an amazing gift shop and self-guided audio tours.

5. Osage Park blends outdoor recreation with natural beauty, featuring wetland boardwalks, pickleball courts, an archery range, open green space, and frequent food trucks — all in one lively, family-friendly setting.

6. Scott Family Amazeum brings STEAM learning to life with interactive exhibits, outdoor playscape and space to invent, build and imagine.

7. The Walmart Museum begins with a functioning five-and-dime store and leads into exhibits that trace Walmart’s growth and founder Sam Walton’s small-town roots. Don’t miss the ice cream shop!

Berryville

8. Cosmic Cavern offers a 1.25-hour guided tour of unique cave formations and two bottomless lakes, plus gemstone panning and a wild cave tour.

9. Memory Lane Museum contains a collection of memorabilia, from vintage toys and signage to quirky keepsakes spanning the early 1900s to 1960s.

Boxley

10. Buffalo National River, the nation’s first national river, runs wild through the Ozarks for almost 135 miles. Towering limestone bluffs, calm pools, whitewater rapids, historic homesteads, trails and canoe/kayak outfitters make it a favorite for paddling, hiking, horseback riding, camping and cabin rentals.

Dardanelle

11. Mount Nebo State Park, perched high above the Arkansas River Valley, offers cabins,  trails, tennis courts, hang gliding launch area, visitor center and sweeping views in every direction.

Eureka Springs

12. Aviation Cadet World highlights cadet history with hands-on experiences and static displays including a T-33 jet trainer and the only F-105-G mobile display in the world, plus an F-16 Simulator and more.

13. Belle of the Ozarks/Beaver Lake Cruises offers a 12-mile cruise across scenic Beaver Lake, with more than a dozen points of interest.

14. Blue Spring Heritage Center contains Blue Spring, which pours 38 million gallons of water each day into its trout-stocked lagoon. The area was once a stop on the Trail of Tears.

15. Crescent Hotel Ghost Tour is a guided nighttime tour of the legendary Crescent Hotel — known as one of the most haunted hotels in America.

16. Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway offers train excursions and dining car rides aboard vintage railcars, complete with lunch or dinner service.

17. Eureka Springs Trolley System provides a fun and convenient way to get around town, with hop-on, hop-off access and narrated historic tours of this Victorian mountain city.

18. The Great Passion Play takes place on a large outdoor set with a huge cast and live animals. Also on site is the towering Christ of the Ozarks Statue and so much more.

19. Intrigue Theater delivers a 19th-century-style paranormal performance by illusionist Sean-Paul and medium Juliane with special guests from “the other side.”

20. Onyx Cave offers a self-paced audio tour through underground chambers filled with natural rock formations and unique features.

21. Ozark Mountain Ziplines sends visitors soaring up to 200 feet above ground on zip lines that stretch as long as 1,800 feet through hardwood forests and past limestone cliffs.

22. Pivot Rock and Natural Bridge showcases unusual rock formations tucked deep in the woods. Visitors can hike short trails to see these gravity-defying natural wonders.

23. Quigley’s Castle is a curious home filled with family-collected stones, shells and found objects, with two-story tropical plants growing inside its sunlit spaces.

24. Spirits of the Basin Tour explores the Basin Park Hotel from rooftop to hidden limestone cave, sharing stories of legends, hauntings and the city’s colorful past.

25. SUP Outfitters provides everything you need for stand-up paddleboarding on Beaver Lake, with rentals and local guidance for beginners and experienced paddlers alike.

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26. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, a nationally recognized sanctuary, offers daily guided tours of its lions, tigers, bears and other animals that are all victims of the exotic animal trade.

Fayetteville

27. Arkadia Retrocade brings out the kid in everyone with a wall-to-wall lineup of vintage arcade games from the ’80s and ’90s, all set to unlimited play for a low entry fee.

28. Arkansas Air and Military Museum showcases aviation history from biplanes to jets inside a massive wood hangar that once served as a World War II training post.

29. Botanical Garden of the Ozarks spans 6.5 acres with 12 themed gardens, the region’s only butterfly house and a paved trail that connects to Lake Fayetteville.

30. Modern Mission uses high-tech laser tag gear across indoor and outdoor battlefields, offering walk-in games and multi-objective missions for all ages.

31. Terra Studios invites families to explore a whimsical world of art, with glassblowing demos, sculpture gardens, oversized games, a labyrinth and creative classes.

Fort Smith

32. Arkansas River Valley Nature Center features interactive exhibits, educational programs and wildlife viewing areas that highlight the natural environment of the surrounding region.

33. Creekmore Express delights kids with rides around the park on a working mini steam engine that loops through a shady route.

34. Fort Smith Museum of History highlights the city’s frontier past with exhibits, artifacts and an old-fashioned soda counter still serving up cool treats.

35. Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves the remains of two frontier forts, replicas of the federal court, courtroom and jails, and exhibits on the army, Trail of Tears, marshals, outlaws and the Wild West.

36. Fort Smith Trolley Museum lets visitors ride a restored 1926 streetcar along a three-quarter-mile route through the heart of historic downtown from Garrison Avenue and the Bass Reeves Statue to the National Cemetery.

37. Fort Smith Murals turn the downtown into an outdoor gallery with more than 30 large-scale works created by local and international artists through The Unexpected project.

Fort Smith cont'd

38. The Park at West End offers retro amusement with a 1937 Ferris wheel, hand-painted Italian carousel, outdoor pavilion with penny arcade games, calliope circus wagon, 1957 Pullman dining car restaurant and 1962 English Double-Decker Bus concession stand.

Huntsville

39. Withrow Springs State Park offers peaceful campsites, canoe rentals, river fishing, a visitor center, hiking trails, sports facilities and easy access to gentle floating on War Eagle Creek.

Jasper

40. Hilary Jones Wildlife Museum and Elk Information Center features educational exhibits, videos, brochures, river maps, a gift shop and loaner fishing poles and tackle near the heart of Arkansas elk country.

41. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch is a full-service guest ranch with a restaurant and cabins offering activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing, and a 2,300-foot 50 mph zip line.

Mountainburg

42. Lake Fort Smith State Park combines wooded serenity with modern amenities, including cabins, trails, a marina with boat rentals, campsites and a visitor center.

Paris

43. Mount Magazine State Park, located on the state’s highest peak at 2,753 feet, provides camping, rappelling, hang gliding launch sites, hiking trails, a visitor center, cabins, a 60-room lodge, a restaurant, an indoor swimming pool, an exercise room and a gift shop.

Pea Ridge

44. Pea Ridge National Military Park, one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the nation, has 4,300 acres and offers a self-guided driving tour, orientation film, museum, bookstore, hiking, biking and horse trails.

Ponca

45. Buffalo River Canopy Tour features nine zip lines through hardwood forests with views from 40 to 60 feet above ground on a two-and-a-half-hour guided adventure.

46. The Elk Education Center details the introduction of Rocky Mountain elk to the Ozarks, houses an exhibit on elk ecology, has trails, picnic tables, a covered pavilion and a gift shop.

Pottsville

47. Potts Inn Museum preserves a mid-1800s stagecoach station along the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, and features a circa-1850 antebellum home, five log structures, a gazebo, period furnishings, hat and clothing collections, antique farm equipment and a children’s dress-up area.

Prairie Grove

48. Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, one of America’s most intact Civil War battlefields, includes a one-mile battlefield trail, a five-mile driving tour, a museum, exhibits, tours and programs. Arkansas’ largest battle re-enactment takes place here biennially on even-numbered years the first weekend of December.

Rogers

49. Railyard Bike Park features eight dirt jump lines for all skill levels, with a standout design element — a full-scale railcar set on tracks that riders can ride through. From balance bikes to BMX and full-suspension builds, the park welcomes every kind of rider. Amenities include lights for night riding, a pavilion, restrooms, water fountains, a bike wash station, observation decks, a dog park and plenty of parking.

50. Daisy Airgun Museum showcases airguns from the 1600s to today, including the iconic Red Ryder BB gun made famous in A Christmas Story. A gift shop rounds out the visit — and outside, don’t miss the World’s Largest Daisy BB Gun leaning against the building.

51. Fast Lane Entertainment is a family destination for food, fun and games with bowling, an arcade, laser tag, bumper cars, play structure, indoor roller coaster, and laser maze.

52. Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area is a 12,054-acre natural park full of hiking and mountain biking trails, primitive camping and a visitor center with interactive exhibits, wildlife viewing area and educational activities.

53. Rogers Historical Museum features engaging, hands-on exhibits that explore the history and culture of the Rogers area in a welcoming, family-oriented setting.

54. War Eagle Cavern on Beaver Lake offers a one-hour guided cave tour along an underground stream, plus gemstone panning, a maze, unique shopping and play and picnic areas.

55. Blue Zoo offers an interactive aquarium experience where visitors can get up close with stingrays, sharks, seahorses and other marine life, with opportunities to touch and feed select animals. Themed exhibits, hands-on activities like a pirate ship play area and water tables, plus live shows and educational programs make it a destination that blends entertainment with learning.

Russellville

56. Lake Dardanelle State Park facilities include campgrounds, a swim beach, a barrier-free playground, a state-of-the-art fishing tournament weigh-in pavilion, a lakeside visitor center with four aquariums focusing on the local waterways, and interpretive exhibits.

Siloam Springs

57. Siloam Springs Kayak Park on the scenic Illinois river has rapids running about 700 feet in Class II and III difficulty along with an ADA-designed riverbank, climbing boulders, picnic area, accessible walking trails and rain garden.

Springdale and Van Buren

58. The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad runs scenic train excursions between Springdale and Van Buren, winding through tunnels and over trestles in the foothills of the Boston Mountains

Springdale

59. The Jones Center features the area’s only indoor ice-skating rink, two indoor swimming pools with a fun slide, gymnasium, fitness center, classroom space, auditorium, food court, pump track and more.

60. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals, a Minor League baseball team, play at Arvest Ballpark and often end a weekend game with a stellar fireworks show.

61. Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, nestled in a park-like, two-acre wooded setting, offers free admission to exhibits, historic buildings and programs focused on everyday Ozark life.

Sulphur Springs

62. Old Spanish Treasure Cave offers guided tours of this cavern filled with fascinating legends of hidden treasure buried by Spanish Conquistadors.

War Eagle

63. War Eagle Mill and Bridge invites visitors to spend a laid-back day fishing, picnicking and exploring this historic riverside site. Inside the working water-powered grist mill, you can watch grain being ground, shop the gift store and enjoy a meal upstairs at the café.

West Fork

64. Devil’s Den State Park has about 2,500 unspoiled acres adjoining the Ozark National Forest between Winslow and West Fork, perfect for hiking, backpacking, equestrian and mountain bike trails, and RV and tent camping. Plus, it has a swimming pool, nature programs, cabins and interpretive programs.

Whether you’re local or visiting, these family favorites are just the beginning. Pack the snacks, charge the devices and get ready to explore Northwest Arkansas.