88 + Fun Things For Kids To Do in Northwest Arkansas – UPDATED

Are you looking for fun things for kids to do in Northwest Arkansas? You are in luck, in addition to the 88+ items listed, there are also other events that occur on a weekly or monthly basis.

For example, Bentonville and Fayetteville have charming town squares featuring many lively scheduled events, April – December. Eureka Springs, Rogers, Springdale and Siloam Springs also offer enjoyable fairs or festivals in their downtown areas throughout the year.

Of course, for sports lovers, you can’t beat the excitement of calling the hogs at Arkansas Razorback games or watching Arkansas Naturals games, as well as other special events.

This list is updated often so bookmark this page and check back often!

Below is a listing of things to do that kids will enjoy throughout Northwest Arkansas.

Bentonville

INDOOR ACTIVITIES
Bentonville Library –
Bentonville Community Center
Board Game Knights – Board game lounge
Climb Bentonville – Climbing Gym
Great Day Skate Place – Skating Rink
Let’s Imagine – Indoor Playground
Little Strider Bike Store – Opportunities for children as young as six months old the best first-bike experience
Meet Your Mini Maker NWA – Craft-ivity store designed to spark creativity through play and hands on crafts
NWA Rolling Video Games – Mobile Gaming Truck that serves Benton & Washington County
Oli & Meg – Make and Take Trucker Hats 
Trike Theatre -Theatre for YouthPainting With A Twist – Painting fun
Painting with Mrs. Guillory – Kids Art Studio
Pinspiration Bentonville – Art/Crafting studio offering a variety of options.

MUSEUMS
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art – World class art museum (free admission)
Museum of Native American History – Incredible collection of Indian art (free admission)
1875 Peel Mansion & Historic Gardens – Museum and gardens
Meteor Guitar Gallery – Vintage guitar and music history museum.
Walmart Museum – World-class exhibit gallery highlighting the history of Walmart and The Spark Café Soda Fountain.
The Amazeum – hands-on, interactive museum for children and families.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Bentonville Bike Playground – Tunnels, bridges, and a pump track to help improve cycling skills.
Buddy Pegs Family Bicycle HQ – Youth bicycle education center, bike shop
Coler Creek Mountain Bike Preserve – Enjoy the multi-use trail or the mtb trails.
Lawrence Plaza – A summertime splash pad and then Mid Nov – Jan it turns into an outdoor ice rink.
Orchards Park –
Osage Park – 55-acre urban park that offers opportunities to explore trails and wetlands, fish, playground, food trucks and local music.
Parks in Bentonville – 18+ parks in Bentonville and Bella Vista
Walking/Cycling Trails – Bentonville has a number of very pleasant parks with beautiful walking trails and playgrounds for the kiddos.

Eureka Springs

INDOOR ACTIVITIES
Escape Room 13 –  Offer two great events based on local Eureka Springs history and lore.
Intrigue Theater– Magical demonstrations, feats of astonishing mental capabilities, and other inexplicable mysteries.
Ghost Tours ~ Crescent Hotels hosts popular Ghost Tours.

MUSEUMS
Eureka Springs Historical Museum – Rich history of Eureka Springs
Quigley’s Castle – Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Quigley’s Castle is completely made from stone, out of a woman’s desire to have her own home. The gardens are credited with approximately 30 species of flowers.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Eureka Springs Gardens – One mile of garden trails at the Blue Spring Heritage Center.
Eureka Springs Trolley Service – Trolley service to various locations throughout town.
Eureka Springs Zipline – Zipline Canopy Tour with multiple ziplines!
Ozarks Mountain Zipline – A 2-hour canopy tour, billed as the largest zipline and the highest cables in Arkansas.
The New Great Passion Play – Outdoor drama of the last days of Christ’s life.
Snake World – Live educational reptile exhibit, 50+ snakes
Dinner Bell Ranch and Resort – Guided tours from a one hour ride to an all-day excursion on horseback. In addition a Saddle and Paddle adventure is available, an hour-long ride followed by a seven-mile canoe float.
Steve’s Stable at Pond Mountain Lodge – One-hour guided trail tour with six riders or less.
Hidden Valley Ranch Stables – Horseback riding on the 650 wilderness acres of this guest ranch. Rent a horse or bring your own.
Bear Mountain Riding Stable – Hour-long rides with incredible views of the surrounding hills.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge –  Turpentine Creek is a non-profit organization that provides lifetime refuge for abandoned, abused, and neglected “Big Cats”.
Promised Land Zoo – A drive-through wildlife adventure. Home to hundreds of rare and endangered animals from all over the world.

LAKES/PARKS
Belle of the Ozarks – A 12 mile cruise on Beaver Lake.
Blue Spring Heritage Center – 38 million gallons of water pour from the center of Blue Spring into a trout-filled lagoon.
Cosmic Cavern – View two underground lakes in one of the Ozarks prettiest caves.
Harmon Park – City park with playground equipment and a cement skate park.
Lake Leatherwood Park – 1,600 beautiful acres of Ozark mountain countryside with something for everyone to enjoy.  Includes an 85-acre lake to swim, fish, paddle or simply to sit and gaze upon; and there are 20+miles of maintained trails for cycling or hiking.
Onyx Cave Park – Take a 30-minute self-guided tour of Onyx Cave.
SUP Outfitters – Stand-up Paddle-boarding on Beaver Lake.
Withrow Springs State Park – Features a spring flowing from a small cave, and a creek that runs through the park. Picnic areas, swimming pool, campsites, and hiking trails are available.

Fayetteville

INDOOR ACTIVITIES
Altitude Trampoline Park – Indoor trampoline park
Arkadia Retrocade– Nearly 130 vintage arcade games that feature an array of classic games like Pac Man as well as newer games like Mortal Kombat. The arcade offers unlimited play for a set price.
Arkansas Razorbacks – Call the Hogs indoors and cheer on the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. 
Big Box Karaoke  – You can rent a private suite to sing all the karaoke songs you want, with the people you want.
Fayetteville Public Library – Voted one of the 10 best American libraries to tour by USA Today. Incredible childrens programs.
Malco Razorback Cinema –  A movie multiplex that screens primarily first-run
Hollywood movies.
Modern Mission – Outdoor Laser Tag – Indoor Battlefield – Modern Mission brings tactical and outdoor laser tag combat to a whole new level
NWA Escape Room – Escape Room
Regal Fiesta Square 16 –  A movie multiplex that screens primarily first-run Hollywood movies.
Starlight Skatium – A 10,000 square-foot, hardwood skating rink, snack bar and plenty of seating.
Terra Studios – A glass art studio and gallery.
TheatreSquared – A professional theatre that is locally produced and provides nationally acclaimed production.
Walton Arts Center – Arkansas’ premier center for performing arts and entertainment.
White River Creamery – A family run farmstead dairy and creamery

MUSEUMS
Arkansas Air and Military Museum–Colorful history of aviation in Arkansas through numerous displays of original artifacts and aviation memorabilia.
Headquarters House Museum – Civil War home offering living history tours. (appointment only)

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Arkansas Razorbacks – Call the Hogs indoors and cheer on the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.
112 Drive-In Theatre – A drive-in movie theatre that offers first-run Hollywood movies and a delightful concession stand. Open late spring and summer months with shows times over the weekend evenings.
Botanical Gardens of The Ozarks – A collection of twelve themed gardens and includes the region’s only butterfly house. (Free on Tuesdays 5-8)
Gator Golf – Miniature Golf
Lokomotion Fun Park – A family-fun entertainment park that includes bumper boats, arcade, go karts, miniature golf and laser tag.
OZ Cycling Tours – Cycling tours for kids, families and groups.
Ozark Bowling – A bowling alley with 40 synthetic bowling lanes.

LAKES/PARKS

Buffalo River – The First National River, is located 119 miles out of Fayetteville, it is a popular camping, canoeing, swimming, hiking and fishing destination.
Devil’s Den – A picturesque Arkansas State Park nestled Lee Creek Valley. Camping, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking and pedal boating are available.
Lake Fayetteville – A 640 acre city park, offers many recreational opportunities—boating, fishing, softball, volleyball, hiking, mountain biking and picnicking. 
Botanical Garden of the Ozarks – The park is located on 86 acres adjoining Lake Fayetteville. It includes 12 themed gardens and a butterfly house.
Lake Wedington – A 102 acre lake and 424 acre red area are popular for swimming, canoeing, picnicking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Mulberry Mountain – 39 miles from Fayetteville, Mulberry Mountain offers cabins, campgrounds, ATV trails, canoeing, hiking, fishing and more in the beautiful Arkansas Ozark Mountains!
Wilson Park – A park that features a small castle and a gazebo. This popular park can be used for baseball, basketball, tennis and volleyball and has a swimming pool, walking trail and playground.

Gentry

INDOOR ACTIVITIES
Arkhoma Hobbies & Lapidary – Amazing rock shop with geological and archaeological findings from all over the world

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Eagle Watch Nature Trail – Wildlife habitat, pavilion and nature trail with Bald Eagles being a common site.

Lowell

INDOOR ACTIVITIES
Cartpath Social – Indoor golf (kids can play on the simulators with adult supervision up to age 15, and anyone 15 and older can book tee times for themselves).
Arkansas Gold Gymnastics –  6,000 ft recreational gymnastics facility
Fast Lane Entertainment – A family entertainment center, that includes 22 bowling lanes, a laser tag arena, go-karts, arcade and a ball blaster system. 
Flip Side Ninja Park– entertainment and fitness for the kids

MUSEUM
Lowell Historical Museum – Rich history of Lowell.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Golf Mountain Mini Golf – The business offers 36 miniature golf holes.

Rogers

INDOOR ACTIVITIES
6th Dimension of NWA – Virtual Reality arcade
Blue Zoo Aquarium Rogers – interactive aquarium
Imagine Studios –  Art Studio for Kids and Adults
Goldfish Swim School – Rogers NWA – Year-round swim lesson in indoor pool
Rogers Bowling Center – Offers 28 lanes of bowling with shoe rental.
Rogers Aquatics Center – A 3 acre water park provides a variety of water activities including the bucket dump, lazy river and sand volleyball court as well as swim competitions.
Defy | High Rise Extreme Air Sports – Ultimate Trampoline Park and Extreme Air Sports Center.
K1 Speed – Indoor Go Karts
NWA R/C Raceway – Indoor radio control track and hobby shop.
Pinnacle Hills Cinema – Malco Theatres – 12 screen theatre showing first run movies.
Rogers Splash Park – 10 in-ground sprinklers, 2 Moveable water cannons and playground. 
Rogers Towne Cinema – Malco Theatre showing first run movies.
The Little Gym of Rogers – premiere enrichment and physical development center for kids 4 months through 12 years.
Top Golf – Golf, party venue.
Young Chefs Academy Rogers AR – Cooking school for kids

MUSEUMS
Daisy Airgun Museum – The Daisy museum displays an expanded collection of airguns, antique furnishings, posters, postcards, photos, letters, advertisements, catalogs, promotional materials, and World War II items.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Walmart AMP – The top Arkansas live music venue

LAKES/PARK
Beaver Lake – The man-made lake has approximately 487 scenic miles of shoreline, with campsites, picnic sites, swimming areas, trails, and several other activities, for the entire family to enjoy
Hobbs State Park – A park filled with woodland hiking and biking trails.
Pea Ridge National Military Park – Civil War battlefield that includes self-guided tours and a bookstore.
Railyard Park – Splash Water Stop splash pad, Play Yard for the kids, picnic tables, benches, shade structures in downtown Rogers.
War Eagle Mill – A working grist mill that grinds corn and wheat daily.  
War Eagle Cavern – Spectacular cavern located between Rogers and Eureka Springs. Visitors enjoy guided tours, panning for gems, scenic picnic spots and miles of hiking trails.

Siloam Springs

INDOOR ACTIVITIES
Arch & Axe – Adventure sports center that focuses on archery and axe throwing.
Community Bowl – A bowling alley with 16 different lanes, an arcade and a snack bar.
Siloam Springs 6 – A six screen movie theatre that shows primarily first run Hollywood movies.

MUSEUMS
Siloam Springs Museum Society – A historical museum that seeks to educate visitors about the history of the local area. 

Sulfur Springs

Old Spanish Treasure Cave – Cavern filled with fascinating legends of hidden treasure buried by the Spanish Conquistadors.

Springdale

INDOOR ACTIVITIES
J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center – Indoor and outdoor Nature Center.
Jones Center– Premier facility for recreation, learning, community events, and parties.
Springdale Bowling Center – Bowling alley that offers full service dinner too.
Sunset Cinema 9 – A 9 screen theatre discount movie theater, that shows second-run movies.
Kyya Chocolate – Kamp Kyya – teaches kids how to make chocolate.
Roller City – The largest skating rink in Northwest Arkansas

MUSEUMS
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History – A regional history museum focusing on the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Arkansas and Missouri Railroad – This 8-hour scenic tour through the Boston Mountains that includes a two and a half hour stay in Historical Van Buren, where you can enjoy shopping at over 80 stores and dine at several fine restaurants.
Arkansas Naturals @ Arvest Ball Park –  A minor league team of the Kansas City Royals. – 
Farmland Adventures – (Only open weekends Sept -Nov )  9 acre giant corn maze, pumpkin patch, pony rides, petting zoo, pig race and kid’s play area.
JB Hunt Park –  Massive, 200-acre mainstay for recreation, with sports fields, disc golf,  hiking & biking trails & swing sets.
Ozark Climbing Gym – A climbing gym that offers a rock climbing experience without the use of ropes or safety harnesses. Guests of all climbing levels are offered a safe environment to climb..
Rodeo of the Ozarks – A professional rodeo
Shaw Family Park  –  a 120-acre open space park featuring 3 miles of paved trails, 4 Tennis courts, 3 playgrounds, 2 pavilions, a Splash Pad area, a dog park and 5 ponds.

Please let us know if there are additional things to do for kids and families in the Northwest Arkansas area.

Things To Do in Fayetteville|Bentonville|Rogers|Springdale|EurekaSprings|BellaVista

Photo at top of the page is Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art ~ Courtesy Arkansas Dept of Parks and Tourism

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