Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a sweet, funky town in the Ozark Mountains that’s commonly known as a Southern hippie town. Eureka Springs holds many festivals, an impressive Pride celebration and the town just has that amazing, free-spirited feel to it. There are a lot of old-school hippies, hipsters, retirees and locals who have all melded into this unique-feeling town in the Ozarks.
Because it’s close to the border with Missouri, I’ve taken many weekend trips and day trips here. If you’re looking to plan a trip there, these are our favorite things to do in Eureka Springs!
Stroll the Streets of Downtown + Hit the Shops
Downtown Eureka Springs has oh-so-much charm. Wandering through town is one of my favorite things to do in Eureka Springs. The narrow streets wind up a hill and are lined with buildings that are well over 100 years old that are now filled with shops, art galleries and cozy places to stay. You could easily spend your entire trip simply popping into these shops. They have everything from bead shops to candy shops, bath shops and even a charcuterie shop! It’ll be hard not to pick up a few things to bring home, trust me.
Eat All the Delicious Foods
There are many cafes, restaurants and coffee shops that serve up delicious foods. Not all of it is the typical southern food you might think of. There are lighter options, delicious brekkies, Indian food, sandwiches and even a German/Czech restaurant! Our top favorites are Mud Street Cafe, Eureka Springs Coffee House, New Delhi Cafe and Local Flavor Cafe.
Get Outside at Beaver Lake
There is a beautiful lake just outside of Eureka Springs called Beaver Lake. There are multiple marinas, places to swim + boat and even hiking trails around this beautiful lake. Some locations of the lake are a short 15-20 minute drive from downtown. Matt and I even stayed at a cabin on Beaver Lake one year while spending a weekend in Eureka Springs. It’s a beautiful location to get the best of the fun of town and the beauty of nature.
Visit a Local Brewery
There are two breweries in Eureka Springs. Eureka Springs Brewery and GotAHold Brewery are both located within a 10 minute drive of downtown Eureka Springs. Matt and I went to GotAHold and we had such a wonderful experience we went back a second time the very next day. Every beer we had there was exceptional and the owners were so kind and informative about their beers. We will be going back, for sure! Some of my girlfriends and I went to Eureka Springs Brewery and we were totally enchanted by the location and there were a some good beers on tap as well!
Bask in the Beauty of Thorncrown Chapel
Thorncrown Chapel is a beautifully designed and built chapel located in the solitude of nature. The structure itself mirrors the nature around it. Most of the structure is made of glass, so it truly brings the outdoors in. The other building materials all feel very natural: river stones, wood and metal beams that almost look like tree branches. It isn’t simply a destination for those who are Christians, anyone who finds spirituality in nature, or a closeness to the universe in nature, this is a structure that gives shelter while experiencing nature. It’s truly, truly stunning!
Take a Ghost Tour or At Least Visit The Crescent Hotel
The Crescent Hotel, along with a few other places in Eureka Springs, are notorious for being quite haunted. Taking a ghost tour is actually one of the most popular things to do in Eureka Springs. The Crescent especially, though, has been dubbed the most haunted hotel in the U.S. The Crescent was built in 1886 and about 45 years later became the site of a cancer treatment center that ended up being a scam and a lot of patients passed here. This is the time and circumstance that a lot of the hauntings are supposedly from. Now, it’s been brought back to a good amount of glory and is a beautiful place to stay with gorgeous mountain views. You can also visit this hotel for a meal. They offer breakfast and dinner and even have a gourmet pizza restaurant open from 11am-11pm.
Simply Relax and Rejuvenate
One of the easiest things to do in Eureka Springs is to simply relax. In fact, Eureka Springs was founded as a place of healing because of the spring water here. So, why fight a good thing? Whether you’re there in peak season or off season, you’ll always be able to find the time and way to relax. There are spas in many of the hotels and their treatments look really nice. Matt and I typically skip the spa, but we always get jacuzzi rooms whenever we go to Eureka Springs overnight.
Go Up Razorback Tower
On one of our trips to Eureka Springs, we stumbled upon Razorback Tower. This tower is located just off the road and it’s very worth taking the quick climb up to the top. From the top you get some spectacular views of the Ozark mountains surrounding Eureka Springs. Plus, there’s a cute little gift shop at the base of it as well!
Other Outdoor Adventures in Eureka Springs
Hiking Trails: Lake Leatherwood Loop (4.2 miles), Minor’s Rock (1.9 miles), Startlite N (1.3 miles) and Black Bass Lake Trail (1.8 miles) are a few of the options very near the city.
Onyx Cave: Only a 15-minute drive from Eureka Springs’ downtown is a fun experience for cave-lovers. It’s a self-guided walk through cave and they have other activities available outside of the cave!
Ozark Mountain Ziplines: I freaking love ziplining and just recently learned that this is in Eureka Springs. Matt has never ziplined before and now I want to go simply for this.
They Put On The Great Passion Play
If you’re interested in the story of Christ, there are shows of the Great Passion Play throughout the year from spring to fall. In addition to the Great Passion Play, there is also a replica of Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer in the mountains surround Eureka Springs. You can drive up to it or simply catch a glimpse of it from the Crescent Hotel’s viewfinder on their patio. We’ve not attended this, but I’ve heard great things from those who have.
Where to Stay in Eureka Springs
There are all kinds of unique places to stay in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The thing I highly recommend, no matter where you choose to stay is a place with a jacuzzi. I know that you can get a jacuzzi room anywhere, but Matt and I always find a place with a soaking tub on every visit and it’s just a perfect way to wind down and relax at the end of the day.
Eureka Springs is a lovely hippie town in Northern Arkansas that gives off the vibes of other, more frequently-visited cities like Asheville, Austin or Portland. You won’t be disappointed by the cozy, quaint, funky things to do in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Did You Enjoy This Post? PIN IT So Others Can Too!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a reservation with Booking.com, a travel insurance policy with World Nomads or a purchase with Amazon through For the Love of Wanderlust, you will help me stay on the road + keep my site running at no additional cost for you.
Be sure to read the terms + conditions of these sites when booking or purchasing!
No Comments