XNA is one of those special airports that nonrev travelers love. Because Northwest Arkansas is the home of Walmart, a number of major airlines have nonstop service to XNA from multiple hub cities. This means getting to & from this airport is a breeze. You have tons of flights every day, and XNA is often used as a connecting city on days when nonstop flights between hubs are full. If you work for a major, chances are that you will eventually pass through XNA at some point in your non-rev life.
While some nonrevs are content with viewing XNA as nothing more than an a connecting airport for quick layovers, the Northwest Arkansas (NWA) area is actually worth a visit. Many out-of-towners lured to NWA by Walmart’s presence find that the metropolitan area (made up of Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale and Rogers) is a nature lover’s dream.With rivers & trees as far as the eye can see, there are tons of outdoors activities available in NWA. Spoiler alert: there’s more to do here than just visit Walmart!
What can I do during a layover at XNA?
If you are simply passing through XNA on a quick layover, you likely won’t have enough time to leave the airport to explore the NWA area. You can explore the airport in no time at all. The terminal itself is larger than you might expect for a regional airport, but it’s not a large airport by any means.
If you are just looking for a quick snack, Say Si Bon offers grab-and-go meals (though good luck making the walk past Auntie Anne’s shack without getting distracted by the smell of their perfect pretzels). If you have a little extra time to kill, I recommended grabbing an Arkansas Red Ale or the Mixtape milk stout from Core Brewing Company’s XNA location. There isn’t much else to do inside XNA’s terminal, but there is a Quiet Room (I think it’s for yoga?) and a larger-than-life chess set that might keep you entertained for a bit.
If you have more than a few hours before your next flight from XNA, I think a quick visit to Bentonville is your best bet.
How do I get to Bentonville from XNA?
There are a few airport shuttle buses that will take you from XNA to Bentonville in about 30 minutes for ~$40. Grabbing a Lyft or Uber will cost you closer to $30 each way.
However, you can snag a 24-hour rental car from any of the major rental car agencies at XNA. Renting a car, even if only for a few hours, will be your cheapest option if you want to explore the nearby NWA area on a XNA layover.
What is there to do in Bentonville?
Get Lost at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Crystal Bridges is an architectural masterpiece. Every inch of the exterior is interesting enough to photograph, and the walking trails that link up to the massive bike trail network behind the museum’s pond provide a tranquil escape. The museum itself is fairly new and was opened to the public on 11/11/11. The exhibits are chock full of American art collected by Alice Walton (pretty much everything in this area can be traced back to the family behind Walmart), and general admission is provided free of charge to all visitors (again, thanks to the Walton family).
Explore History at the Walmart Museum
The Walmart brand is more than just a store here in NWA, and the free Walmart Museum offers a free self-guided tour for anyone interested in learning more about the roots of the international powerhouse. While the history is surprisingly interesting, the real treat is the Spark Cafe. This old-timey parlor offers irresistible ice cream at a very affordable price point.
Sip the Perfect Pour Over at Onyx Coffee Lab
Anyone who is even remotely interested in specialty coffee has probably heard of Onyx. Their high-quality coffee beans speak for themselves, but it’s the expertly shot YouTube pour over tutorials that introduced me to Onyx for the first time. When I found out that they were based in NWA with a location in Bentonville, I had to make the pilgrimage to their shop. Onyx Coffee Lab is an absolute for any true coffee lover.
Sample Craft Beer at Bike Rack Brewing
This brewery is tucked away in Bentonville’s industrial 8th Street Market. You can’t go wrong with the Slaughter Pen IPA or Devils Den DIPA, but I think the Guided Maple (a Belgian quad) is the most interesting brew on tap here. Bike Rack Brewing has indoor & outdoor seating to suit any mood.
Where are the best places to eat at in Bentonville?
The Holler
The Holler is seriously cool (and it’s right next to Bike Rack Brewing!). This eclectic hangout boasts shuffleboard & Instagram-worthy backdrops. With a full cocktail bar and a wide selection of pub fare, this self-purported “local hangout” truly has something for everyone.
Pho Thanh
If you love pho, look no further than Pho Thanh. This lowkey joint near the airport was the perfect place to stop for a last-minute meal in NWA. Both pho variations I tried were tasty, and the crispy egg rolls were the perfect addition. I didn’t get a chance to try the banh mi here, but they looked tasty from a couple tables over!
Pedaler’s Pub
This bicyclist-themed pizza joint serves up mouth-watering pizzas. Pedaler’s wood-fired pizza oven produced the perfect crisp crust, and they offer vegetarian & vegan options too. Pair any of their dishes with a local beer from the tap and you have yourself a winning meal. My favorite was the Alpe Pizza topped with ribeye steak, feta cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes paired with a rich amber ale.
CO-OP
This ramen house right around the corner from The Holler was actually closed when we swung by, but it was highly recommended by the locals we chatted with while visiting Bentonville. We took a peek inside and felt a pang of FOMO as we marveled at the geometric wooden interior. Next time we are in the area, we will have to report back on our favorite bowls from here.
Conclusion
Next time you fly through XNA, whether it’s for work or simply as a convenient non-rev connection, consider extending your stay.
I barely scratched the surface of Bentonville during my afternoon in the city. Not only is there a ton more to do here, but I didn’t even get a chance to see what the rest of Northwest Arkansas has to offer. I would love to return to XNA again in the future to visit some of the other nearby cities.
Have you explored Northwest Arkansas? Send your recommendations to @StandbyWithMe on Twitter or add to the conversation in the comments below!
