Bentonville ranks highly among our top mountain bike towns in America, but there’s more to it than just bikes. Our columnist Graham Averill takes us with him to see public art, the emerging food scene and more.
Published on July 29, 2026 01:30 pm
Is this America’s model city? It’s definitely close; This is one of my top cities for mountain biking (number 2 on my list).
Bentonville is known for its unique approach to trail access, which it blends with a progressive approach to public art. Furthermore, they also throw away incredible amounts of food. This is an attractive combination that you must check out.
This city is all about bikes, and if you are not traveling on your bike, this is the first place you need to visit. Scott Adventure Lab For rent. They will arrange for you to get a mountain bike or electric mountain bike so you can hit the local trails, which are all e-mountain bike compatible.
Ride the All-American Trail
The first trail every mountain biker should hit up when they visit Bentonville All-American Trail. It is a mile-long flowy piece of singletrack and connects to Greater Slaughter Pen Trail System. One of the best things about All-American is that the trailhead is just blocks from Bentonville’s downtown square.
So when you’re done, you can have an amazing brisket Wright’s BarbecueWhich is located right next to the trailhead. take a room at 21c Museum HotelWhich is just outside the square. 21C blends modern art into every aspect of the hotel experience. They also have a bike concierge. But don’t get too comfortable as you have a lot of mountain biking to do.
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve + Crystal Bridges Art
The next ride on your list has arrived Coler Mountain Bike PreserveWhich has 20 miles of flowing and technical single track, as well as a coffee shop that you can only access from the trail. And no trip to Bentonville is complete without a detour to the new OZ Trails Bike Park, a lift-serviced bike park with more than 20 miles of single track.
Now that you’re tired of biking, it’s time to get acclimated. Bentonville has a public art program featuring murals and installations scattered throughout the city. is the centerpiece of the program crystal bridgeA free museum with a stunning collection of American art. You could spend a whole day in this museum and not even scratch the surface of what is available.
where to eat in bentonville
Now let’s talk about food. Bentonville has a surprisingly good culinary scene, and there are some spots you have to check out. is the first Yeyo’sA Mexican family-run restaurant featuring a five-time James Beard Award semifinalist chef. I like their food truck right outside the intersection. you also have to check Bentonville Food TheaterWhich features a rotating selection of pop-up kitchens. I went in one night and had the best ramen I’ve ever had in my entire life.
If you’re looking for a fun place to grab a drink, you have to check out danger dave. It’s an eclectic bar in an old house just a few blocks outside of town. I love it because it’s weird in every way. And when you need a pick-me-up in the morning, I highly recommend Onyx Coffee Lab. recognized as The best coffee shop in the world.
Easy trail access, great food, public art. That’s Bentonville.
