River Valley, Arkansas travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

River Valley is in northwest Arkansas along the Arkansas river.

3 sights · 5 bars & cafés

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about River Valley

Scenic 7 Byway

Mount Magazine Scenic Byway

Lake Dardanelle

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 31°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Apr and May. (climate data from nearby Little Rock)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
HRO Boone County Airport, Harrison — 61 mi away. Directions
HOT Memorial Field Airport, Hot Springs — 62 mi away. Directions
TUL Tulsa International Airport, Tulsa — 164 mi away (major hub). Directions

The Arkansas River Valley extends along Interstate 40. Fort Smith also has a regional airport, with connections to Atlanta and Dallas.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Sample 3-day trip

Day 1: Fort Smith — Trolley Museum, Bowling World, Jack's Skateland.
Day 2: Altus — Chateau aux Arc, Mount Bethel, Post Winery.
Day 3: Russellville — explore the town.

Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Places in River Valley

Fort Smith

City / town · 35 listings

Altus

City / town · 6 listings

Russellville

City / town · 5 listings

Van Buren

City / town · 2 listings

Alma

City / town · 1 listings

Clarksville

City / town

Greenwood

City / town

Ozark

City / town

Understand

It is the valley area on the southern edge of the Ozarks between the Ouachita mountains to the south and the Boston and Ozark Mountain to the north. There are rich soils along the Arkansas river and this helps to make the region Wine Country of Arkansas. The Tri-Peaks area is in the River Valley region and includes Petit Jean Mountain, Mt. Nebo and the highest peak in Arkansas Mt. Magazine at 2753 feet. You will find hiking, canoeing, fishing, scenic driving and back country driving trails.

Cities

Alma
Altus — wine country
Atkins — the "pickle capital of Arkansas"
Barling
Booneville
Charleston
Clarksville
Dardanelle — gateway to Lake Dardanelle
Fort Smith — the second largest city in Arkansas, and gateway to the Wild West
Greenwood
Hackett
Morrilton
Mountainburg
Mulberry
Ozark
Paris, Arkansas— in the shadow of Arkansas's highest peak Mt. Magazine at 2,753 feet
Russellville — overlooks Lake Dardanelle and sitting along Scenic Highway 7
Van Buren

Other destinations

[https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/lake-fort-smith-state-park Lake Fort Smith State Park] — a 260-acre (110 ha) Arkansas state park with 30 camp sites, 10 cabins, picnic sites, marina with rental boats, a boat ramp, a swimming pool, playground, and an visitor center with exhibit gallery, gift shop, a patio with an outdoor wood-burning fireplace, and an expansive view of the lake and mountains.