August 20, 2026
Why aren’t more people talking about this place?
Well, we did it. We packed up our life, said our goodbyes, and officially hit the road as full-time nomads. And Bentonville, Arkansas was the very first place we dropped anchor. Honestly? What a way to kick things off.
If you would’ve told me a year ago that our first stop as we chase this nomad life across the country would be a small town in Northwest Arkansas known for Walmart’s headquarters, I probably would’ve laughed. But Bentonville is not what you think. It’s bikes and world-class art, moody cocktail bars and sunrise views, all tucked into one impossibly charming little town. Hunter and I are still talking about it. So let’s just get into it, because I have so much to tell you.
Where We Called Home: Bentonville Bike Camp
Okay, first things first, I have to gush about where we stayed, because this one was extra special. We got to collab with Bentonville Bike Camp for our stay, and y’all, they did not disappoint.
Picture this: 10 acres tucked away in the quietest little pocket outside of town, glamping cabins with just enough rustic charm to make you feel like you’re really out there, and mornings that started with the kind of sunrise that makes you forget you still need coffee. We’d open the RV, step outside, and just stand there for a minute soaking it in before the day even started. That’s the kind of quiet you can’t manufacture. It just is what it is out there.
And here’s the best part, even though it felt worlds away from everything, we were only a quick 13 minute drive from downtown Bentonville. So we got the best of both worlds. Total peace and privacy at night, and easy access to explore during the day. If you’re road tripping through Arkansas and want a home base that feels like an experience in itself, not just a place to crash, this is it. We cannot recommend Bentonville Bike Camp enough.
Loveless Cocktail Club: Our First Stop, No Contest
Okay so here’s how our first night actually went. We had been on the road for hours. Hours, you guys. By the time we finally rolled into our campsite it was already around 8pm, and let me tell you, the absolute last thing either of us wanted to do was cook. Like, not a chance. We were tired, we were hungry, and we needed somewhere easy.
Enter Loveless Cocktail Club. We’d heard whispers about this place before we even left, and it did not disappoint. It’s got this moody listening lounge vibe going on, red lighting, a killer sound system, live DJ sets, and somehow the menu is craft cocktails paired with elevated hot dogs, which sounds random but trust me, it works. We sat at a table off to the side, ordered a night cap, and just let the evening melt away. It was exactly the reset we needed after a long day of driving. If your first night in Bentonville needs saving too, start here.
@brookemichellestewart And Loveless Cocktail Club is holding it down in Bentonville ❤️ After a 6 hour travel day and getting into our campsite at 8pm, the last thing I wanted to do was cook. So naturally we went and found gourmet hot dogs and a little cocktail. This was our first impression of Bentonville and I have to say it didn’t let us down. We left saying “I could live here” which is always a sign of a good trip. #bentonvillear #arkansasphotographer #thingstodoarkansas #lovelesscocktailclub #bentonville
Undercroft: The Speakeasy We Didn’t Know We Needed
A couple nights later, once we’d actually settled in and explored a bit, we found ourselves wandering downtown looking for a low-key evening, and we stumbled into Undercroft. This place is tucked beneath a historic 1898 church, which, come on, how cool is that? You walk down these stairs into this dim, intimate little bar and it genuinely feels like you found a secret. We grabbed a corner table, ordered their perfectly crafted cocktails, and just talked for hours. No agenda, no rush. Just us, low light, and really good drinks. We actually forgot it was going to be bright outside when we left around 7pm. After sitting the dark, the bright summer sun was a little bit of a jump scare.
Oven & Tap: Wood-Fired and Worth the Wait
Somewhere between museum-hopping and downtown wandering, we got hungry and Oven & Tap delivered. The dining room has this easy, unfussy energy — exposed wood beams, string lights, an open kitchen where you can watch the pies go in and out of the fire. We ordered the Spicy Joe, because we can not resist an jalapeño. It’s the kind of place that feels like a neighborhood spot even if you’ve never been before.
Turnbuckle Farm: The Mirrored Stand That Broke the Internet (Ours, Anyway)
We needed a mid-day pick-me-up and ended up somewhere far more interesting than a coffee shop. Turnbuckle Farm sits just outside Bentonville on McNelly Road, and their little roadside stand is the kind of thing you almost drive past until the mirrored panels catch the light and catch you completely off guard. We pulled over just for coffee and left having taken about forty photos of a farm stand, which is typically how our mid-day errands go.
@brookemichellestewart Turnbuckle farm was right next to our campsite at Bentonville Bike Camp. As we e-biked in town town I legit squealed to pull over. Like are we joking? I wasn’t even in need of a coffee but I had to pull off and see what this was all about 🥹 #bentonville #bentonvillearkansas #fayettevillearkansas #arkansas #thingstodoarkansas
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
If you only do one “touristy” thing in Bentonville, please let it be this. We spent an entire afternoon wandering Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and it completely exceeded our expectations. The building itself is stunning, tucked around a spring-fed pond in the woods, and the art inside spans everything from colonial America to present day. What really got us though was how the museum flows right into nature. You can walk straight from a gallery onto a wooded trail and just keep exploring. General admission to the permanent collection is free too, so there’s really no excuse not to go. We left feeling inspired in a way we didn’t – but try to avoid a Tuesday afternoon.
The Walmart Museum
We also popped into the Walmart Museum, which sits right in the original Walton’s 5&10 storefront on the downtown square. This one surprised us. Who knew I would be crying at videos about Walmart to end the day? It’s such an interesting look into Sam Walton’s story and how this massive company grew out of one small town storefront. There’s an old-school soda fountain inside too, so obviously we had to stop for a treat. It’s a quick visit, but it gave us a whole new appreciation for how this little town became what it is today.
Art Everywhere You Look
Honestly, one of my favorite parts of Bentonville wasn’t even a specific stop, it was just walking around. Public art is everywhere here. Murals, sculptures, little installations tucked into corners of downtown and scattered right along the trails. It’s not confined to a museum wall, it’s just woven into the everyday fabric of the town. Every time we turned a corner we found something new to look at, and it made even a simple walk feel like an experience.
And Can We Talk About How Bikeable This Town Is?
I have to end on this because it truly might be the most impressive thing about Bentonville. This town has fully committed to being one of the most bikeable places in the country, and you feel it everywhere. Hundreds of miles of connected trails run straight into downtown, so you can genuinely ride from a campsite to a museum to a cocktail bar without ever needing your car. Trail systems like Slaughter Pen and The Back 40 offer something for every skill level, and the whole thing is stitched together by the larger OZ Trails network. This city even contains the only bikeable building in the US, which Hunter and I walked since we visited downtown that day without our bike haha. Bike racks everywhere, bike-friendly patios, drivers who actually expect to share the road with you. It’s a completely different way of moving through a town, and we loved every second of it.
First Stop, Officially a Favorite
Bentonville set the bar high for this whole nomad chapter of our lives, and we cannot wait to see what the road has in store next. If this first stop is any indication of what’s ahead, we are so, so ready.
Loved This? Let’s Capture Your Story Too
Since we’re living life on the road full time now, here’s the fun part: we can meet you anywhere in the US, with zero travel fees. Whether you’re getting married, celebrating an engagement, or just want some real, candid photos of your own adventure, we’d love to be the ones behind the camera for it. Wherever you are, we’re probably not far. Let’s chat and get you on the calendar!
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