Bella Vista, Arkansas, is situated right in the northwestern corner of Arkansas beside the Missouri-Arkansas border. The city was first established in 1917 as a summer resort destination, and over the last century, it has evolved and redesigned itself. Bella Vista became a retirement community in 1965 and remained one until 2006 when it was officially incorporated as a city. The scenic Arkansas city had a population of around 30,000 people as of the 2020 census.
Bella Vista is perhaps most known for the outdoor beauty of the city and surrounding area. There are seven lakes in and around the city, some of which are designated to permit certain activities, such as fishing, boating, and participating in water sports. Outdoor enthusiasts will also have several pleasant hiking trails in the area to choose from as well as streams and waterfalls to explore. Bella Vista is also known as an excellent mountain biking destination because of its large natural-surface trail system.
If you're looking for an educational destination in the area, the Bella Vista Museum is a great place to learn about the area's history. The Walmart Museum is an interesting visit as well for anyone interested in the history of the massively popular chain. Alternatively, if you and the family are hungry you can check out the Ozark Culinary Tours, in which you'll get to try lots of delicious food. Bella Vista is also known for its golfing, and visitors can check out spots like the Highlands Golf Course or the Bella Vista Country Club Golf Course.
New Year's Day Ride - To celebrate each New Year's Day, the area hosts a community bike riding event taking place on Blowing Springs Road. The ride is a great way to ring in the new year and get some fun exercise as well.
Bentonville Film Festival - This annual film festival takes place in August every year and champions inclusion in all forms of media. This festival is a wonderful event to attend for anyone who enjoys the arts.
Hot Springs National Park is located about 150 miles southeast of Bella Vista and is known mostly for its soothing thermal baths. The national park surrounds the north end of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and allows visitors to soak in the natural warm baths and make use of the on-site spa. There are also multiple beautiful hiking trails through the mountains and trees of the area.
The next closest national park to Bella Vista is the Gateway Arch National Park, which sits smack dab in the middle of St. Louis, Missouri. The famous arch towers 630 feet over the Mississippi River and marks the starting point of the 19th-century expedition of Lewis and Clark. Visitors can actually climb to the top of the monument and observe the incredible view from 630 feet up in the air. In addition to the arch itself, the park also features modern-day museums and historic buildings.
Mammoth Cave National Park is located in the rolling green hills of central Kentucky. The park's main claim to fame is being home to the longest known cave system in the world, which consists of over 400 miles of explored caverns. There are cave tours available for people of every fitness level, and the park also offers plenty of outdoor recreation on the surface as well. Visitors to the area can go hiking, horseback riding, biking, and even fishing or boating in the park's rivers.
Honey Creek State Park is located about 25 miles northwest of Bella Vista, and the park is perhaps most known for the beautiful Grand Lake that it surrounds. In addition to the many water-based activities available on the lake, there is also plenty of lush forested area to explore on foot. There are a couple of RV parks near the state park as well: Cedar Oaks RV Park and Riverside RV Park.
Also located across the border into Oklahoma is Natural Falls State Park, which covers 120 acres and features a majestic 77-foot waterfall. In addition to the impressive Natural Falls, the park also features miles of trails that are excellent for hiking or biking. If you're looking to stay overnight, the Natural Falls State Park Campground has over 66 campsites—44 of which are RV sites with full and partial hookups. They also offer water and sewer hookups as well as many other amenities, and the nightly rate for camping there is $22 to $25.
Withrow Springs State Park is found about 40 miles southeast of Bella Vista, just north of the town of Huntsville. The park is located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains and offers many opportunities for climbing, hiking, and mountain biking. Those looking to camp overnight in the area can stay at the Kings River Hitchin' Post RV & Campground or the Tugboat's Place Happy Camper RV Park & Restaurant.
There are several impressive landmarks and monuments in Arkansas, and one that's very close to Bella Vista is the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs. The chapel was designed by the visionary E. Fay Jones as a meditation space and features incredible architecture. Another impressive monument in the same area is the famous Christ of the Ozarks statue. This religious likeness rises over 65 feet into the blue sky and is truly a sight to behold.
Lake Wedington Campground is located in Fayetteville and offers a quiet, primitive camping experience. The beautiful campground also offers dump station services. Another nearby option is the Eureka Springs KOA, which has full hookup campsites that are available by reservation. The campground features a gigantic pool, an on-site dog park, a nearby basketball court, a playground, and much more. Also in the Fayetteville area is the Southgate RV Park, which features 50 full hookup RV sites that can be rented for $38 per night.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Bella Vista, AR, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Bella Vista?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Bella Vista from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Bella Vista?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.