Just under two hours south of Springfield, tucked into the hills of Northwest Arkansas, sits a little Victorian town that feels like it was built straight into the mountainside. Streets curve around limestone bluffs, staircases connect one level of downtown to the next, and every storefront seems to have a story.
Eureka Springs has drawn visitors for well over a century, first for its healing spring waters and now for its charm, food and scenery. Whether you are planning a girls trip, a quiet getaway with your husband or a family weekend, this Eureka Springs weekend itinerary covers our favorite ways to spend three days in town.
Friday: Settle In and Stroll Downtown
Check in. For the full experience, book a night at the historic Crescent Hotel, perched above town since 1886, or stay right in the middle of everything at the Basin Park Hotel. If you prefer something quieter, the hills around town are full of cabins and bed and breakfasts with wooded views.
Walk Spring Street. Drop your bags and head downtown before dinner. Spring Street and Main Street wind through the historic district with boutiques, galleries, antique shops and candy stores. Stop at Basin Spring Park in the heart of downtown, where the town’s story began.
Dinner at Grotto. For your first night, make a reservation at Grotto Wood Fired Grill and Wine Cave. The dining room sits beside a natural spring and rock formation, which makes for a cozy, romantic setting, and it is one of the most loved restaurants in town. Book ahead, especially on fall weekends.
Evening ghost tour. If you are staying at the Crescent (or even if you are not), the hotel’s famous evening ghost tour is a fun, slightly spooky way to end the night and learn the building’s colorful history.
Saturday: Trains, a Chapel in the Woods and Downtown Treasures
Breakfast at Mud Street Cafe. Start your morning underground. Mud Street sits a flight of stairs below today’s sidewalk in a building that was at street level back in 1888, when a spring under town kept flooding the road and gave the street its name. Think limestone walls, wood beams, great coffee and homemade pie. Good to know: Mud Street and its sister spot, the Annex, are both closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Check out their website here.
Ride the train. Head to the Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway for a ride on a vintage train. Excursions run on 2.5 miles of restored track and last a little over an hour, and kids love watching the engine get turned around on the working turntable. Plan ahead: in 2026 the train runs Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday through October 31, with the depot opening at 9:30 at 299 North Main Street.
Visit Thorncrown Chapel. If you only do one thing in Eureka Springs, make it this. Just outside town, Thorncrown Chapel rises from the forest floor in wood and glass. Designed by architect E. Fay Jones, it holds 425 windows and more than 6,000 square feet of glass, and the American Institute of Architects ranked it fourth among the top buildings of the twentieth century. Sit for a few quiet minutes and take in the light coming through the trees. Need to know: admission is free with donations welcome, and GPS often shows the wrong location, and the chapel sometimes closes early for weddings and special events, so call ahead if you are going later in the day.
Lunch at Local Flavor Cafe. Back downtown, grab lunch at this longtime favorite on Main Street with a patio perfect for people watching.
Afternoon shopping. Spend the afternoon wandering the shops and galleries downtown. Wear comfortable shoes, because the hills are real. If you have little ones along, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge just south of town is a wonderful alternative, where rescued big cats live out their lives in a sanctuary setting.
Meet the working bunnies. Don’t miss East By West at 9 Center Street, just off Spring Street. When you check out, a live rabbit takes your card or change from the owner and turns to hand it right back to you, then does the same with your shopping bag. They are paid in treats and get regular breaks to visit with shoppers. It is one of the sweetest little surprises in town, and kids (and grownups) will be talking about it the whole drive home. Good to know: the bunnies are not always on duty, so call ahead at 479.253.6016 if seeing them is a must.
Dinner at Ermilio’s. Ermilio’s is a Eureka Springs fixture for Italian food. Expect a wait on weekends, and expect it to be worth it. For a special occasion, Le Stick Nouveau is another excellent choice. somewhereinarkansas
Sunday: Worship, Fresh Air and the Drive Home
Sunday service at Thorncrown. There is nothing quite like worshiping surrounded by trees and sky. Thorncrown holds Sunday services at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM April through October, then one 11:00 AM service from November through the third week of December. Services last about an hour with music and Bible based preaching, and everyone is welcome. thorncrownthorncrown
Visit Christ of the Ozarks. After church, make the short drive up Magnetic Mountain to see Christ of the Ozarks, the seven story statue that has watched over Eureka Springs since 1966. With arms outstretched over the hills, it can be seen for miles, and standing at its base is a humbling way to close out a weekend. Good to know: the statue is free to visit, though a donation is requested at the gatehouse on the way to the parking lot. It sits on the grounds of The Great Passion Play, which also has a Bible museum and Holy Land tour if you want to linger. The statue faces west, so if you’re able to swing back before sunset, the evening light is beautiful.
One last coffee. Grab a drink for the road at one of the local coffee shops downtown, then take the scenic route home through the hills.
Tips for Your Eureka Springs Weekend
Park once and walk (or ride the trolley). Downtown streets are narrow and parking is limited. Leave the car at your hotel and use the trolley or your feet.
Book dinner early. Popular restaurants fill up fast on fall weekends.
Check seasonal hours. Some restaurants in Eureka Springs close during the off season, so confirm hours before you go, especially in winter. somewhereinarkansas
Go in fall. Eureka Springs is lovely year round, but October and early November bring cool weather, changing leaves and the coziest version of this little mountain town.
Eureka Springs is one of those places that rewards slowing down. Wander without a plan, sit on a bench in Basin Park, and let the weekend unfold. We think it might just become your favorite Ozarks getaway.
