Biking in Bentonville 2025 - The RC Bickett Gang

How do we find our next family adventure? Sometimes, it’s easier to go to places we’ve already been — like Moab. Other times… it’s what Brian finds on this thing called the YouTube. This time, it was mountain biking footage from Northwestern Arkansas that caught his eye. Then he showed it to Jackson — and just like that, Bentonville made it to the top of our travel list.

We loaded up the bikes, packed the car, and hit the road. It took two days to get there, with a pit stop at Jody’s in Sioux Falls before moving on our way. We rolled through South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and finally into Arkansas.

The snuggle was real at the BNB while we were out.

We rented the cutest little Airbnb just minutes from the trailheads, which made for the perfect home base. Our biking adventures began at the incredible Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. The trails were fantastic, and one of our favorite moments was grabbing a coffee on the trail at Airship at Coler. We even returned one evening just to see the fireflies light up the woods—absolutely magical.

Enjoying the swing seats at Airship Coffee.

Next up we headed to the stunning Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to give our legs a little rest and cool off a bit. We loved seeing works from artists we recognized, and we also toured a real 1950s Frank Lloyd Wright house — a perfect mix of nature, design, and history.

Outside after our Frank Lloyd Wright tour.

We kept the wheels spinning with more trail time at the Slaughter Pen Trails, where the All American Trail became a fast family favorite. The kids tested their balance and courage at the skills park, and Brian and Jackson made it all the way to The Castle and back down in one piece—cue applause. We rewarded ourselves with lunch (and dessert first!) at the beloved Piehouse Bakery—absolutely worth it.

Brian & Jackson with the warrior at the castle

We also snuck in some sushi, pizza, and browsing at local gems. We made new friends at The Quilted Cow and scored some thrifted school clothes — souvenirs with a purpose!

One of the most unexpected leg workouts came from THE RISE — a 185-step climb equivalent to 11 stories; the kids ran it twice for fun, while I made it up once, hauling a 10-pound weighted vest in the shape of a wiener dog.

Jackson & Dottie taking a couple flights.

Over four adventure-packed days, we visited only four of the 12 trail parks in the Bentonville area and logged a total of 264 miles — yes, our bums felt all of them (especially the bumpiest ones). We did have a couple of flat tires, but we came prepared with extra tubes and the trip was so worth it. Bentonville surprised us in the best way: charming, well-kept, and full of good food, art, and trails.

Not going to lie, there were a number of times we thought their green trails were more like blacks, but we feel incredibly blessed to have experienced it together and, honestly, we were already talking about going back on our trip home.