Overview
Van Buren is a city in the River Valley region of Arkansas.
1 things to do · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Van Buren
Excursion Train
Ride the Arkansas Missouri Railroad excursion train into the Ozarks of Arkansas.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 94°F; winter lows dip to about 28°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Tulsa)
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.
- FSM Fort Smith Regional Airport, Fort Smith — 8 mi away. Directions
- XNA Northwest Arkansas National Airport, Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers — 58 mi away. Directions
- TUL Tulsa International Airport, Tulsa — 101 mi away (major hub). Directions
The town should be easily accessible from Fort Smith, which it is across the Arkansas River from. Driving along US Route 71 northeast out of Fort Smith should quickly take you to Van Buren.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
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
Photos
Get in
The town should be easily accessible from Fort Smith, which it is across the Arkansas River from. Driving along US Route 71 northeast out of Fort Smith should quickly take you to Van Buren.
See
- Historic Downtown Arts, Antiques and Shops in downtown Van Buren. Scenes from The Blue And The Grey were filmed around here.
- King Opera House, 427 Main St. 19th century Victorian building.
- The Old Frisco Depot, 813 Main St. Historic train depot where part of Biloxi Blues was filmed and which now serves as the Van Buren Visitor Center and point of embarkation for train tours (see next section).
Do
Sleep
Nearby
Fort Smith
City / town · 35 listings · 6 mi away
Alma
City / town · 1 listings · 8 mi away
Pocola
City / town · 2 listings · 16 mi away
Greenwood
City / town · 17 mi away
Spiro
City / town · 1 listings · 21 mi away
Sallisaw
City / town · 21 listings · 25 mi away
Winslow
City / town · 3 listings · 27 mi away
Ozark
City / town · 29 mi away
My experience
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