Authentic Arkansas

DAY 1: WELCOME TO ARKANSAS!

Arrive in Bentonville for our evening Welcome Dinner and overnight stay. D

DAY 2: CRYSTAL BRIDGES, WALMART MUSEUM

This morning, depart Bentonville, but not before an insightful visit to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Your guided tour takes you around the grounds to experience the unique architecture and one-of-a-kind art collections. After, stop at the Walmart Museum to see the story of Walmart from modest beginnings in the 1960s to becoming the world’s largest retail store. Continue to Fort Smith and settle into your hotel. B, D

DAY 3: U.S. MARSHALS MUSEUM, FORT SMITH

Today begin with a visit to the U.S. Marshals Museum. Recently opened, this state-of-the-art museum celebrates the long history of the United States Marshals Service, from George Washington’s appointment to present-day operations. Enjoy some free time exploring Fort Smith on your own. B, L

DAY 4: HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK

Spend the day in Hot Springs, Arkansas—a town known for attracting three distinct groups over the years: athletes, gangsters, and tourists! Trace the footsteps of early Spring Training baseball players who came to soak in the healing waters and dip your fingers into the very springs that drew them here. One of the most unique destinations in the region, Hot Springs brims with history and charm. This afternoon, travel to Little Rock for a visit to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum followed by a special dinner. B, D

DAY 5: OLD MILL, EDGEMONT HOUSE, MOUNTAIN VIEW

Wake up in the capitol city of Arkansas, where you’ll visit the charming Old Mill, most famous for its opening scene in Gone with the Wind. Head to the Capitol building for a special guided tour. Enjoy a welcoming lunch at the Edgemont House, a beautifully restored, privately owned Spanish Colonial Revival style home. After lunch, depart for Mountain View, the heart of Appalachia in Arkansas. Check in for a one-night stay at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. B, L, D

DAY 6: OZARK FOLK CENTER STATE PARK, EUREKA SPRINGS

Spend the morning with musicians, craftsmen, and women who give this part of the state its character. Shop for handmade goods, watch demonstrations, or walk the nearby easy trails before departing for Eureka Springs. B, D

DAY 7: HOME

For one last activity, visit the Thorncrown Chapel. Nestled in a woodland setting, the chapel rises forty-eight feet into the Ozark sky. Then say farewell to the Natural State, taking home fond memories of the scenic beauty. B

ACCOMMODATIONS
Night 1: DoubleTree Suites Hotel, Bentonville, AR
Nights 2-3: Courtyard Fort Smith Downtown, Fort Smith, AR
Night 4: Four Points by Sheraton, Little Rock, AR
Night 5: Ozark Folk Center, Mountain View, AR
Night 6: Basin Park Hotel, Eureka Springs, AR

Departure Cities:

• St. Louis
• Springfield, MO

Depart: October 17, 2026
Return: October 23, 2026

Price per person:

• DB $2,399
• SG $2,899

Price per person includes roundtrip deluxe motorcoach transportation from St. Louis and Springfield.

Mobility Note
Guests should be comfortable walking and standing through museums, historic districts, gardens, and outdoor attractions, with some uneven pavement, hills, and steps. Crystal Bridges includes both indoor galleries and outdoor grounds; several of its major trails are hard-surfaced, but guests may still encounter inclines. Eureka Springs is especially hilly, with steep streets, sidewalks, and stairs throughout the historic downtown.

Packing Tips
Pack comfortable walking shoes with good traction, removable layers, and a light rain jacket or umbrella. A small day bag and refillable water bottle are useful for museum visits, outdoor sightseeing, and the Ozark Folk Center.

Hotel Note
The DoubleTree Suites Bentonville offers all-suite accommodations, giving guests additional space for the first night of the tour. The hotel also features an indoor pool.

The overnight at Ozark Folk Center State Park keeps guests immersed in the Ozark experience rather than returning to a conventional hotel. The park’s cabins feature a relaxed mountain setting close to the Craft Village and music venues.

The 1905 Basin Park Hotel is a historic limestone landmark built directly into the hillside in downtown Eureka Springs. Because of the steep terrain, the eight-story building unusually has ground-level access on multiple floors. Its central location places shops, restaurants and historic streets immediately outside the hotel.

Notes on Highlights
Crystal Bridges completed a major 114,000-square-foot expansion in June 2026, increasing the museum’s size by approximately 50%. Guests on this tour will experience newly expanded galleries, studios, and public spaces in addition to the original museum designed by Moshe Safdie. The museum sits within 134 acres of Ozark landscape, with more than five miles of trails connecting architecture, outdoor sculpture and natural scenery. The integration of art with the surrounding landscape is an important part of the Crystal Bridges experience, not simply an addition to the indoor galleries.

At Hot Springs National Park, the thermal water emerges from the ground at an average temperature of approximately 143°F. By the time it reaches the designated display pools along Bathhouse Row, it has cooled enough for visitors to safely touch.

The Ozark Folk Center is a working center for traditional culture rather than a collection of static exhibits. Around 20 artisans demonstrate crafts such as blacksmithing, pottery, weaving, broom making, wood carving, spinning, quilting, and soap making, while traditional folk, bluegrass, and old-time music remain central to the park’s mission.

Thorncrown Chapel was designed by Arkansas architect E. Fay Jones, who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. Jones called its distinctive architectural style “Ozark Gothic.” The chapel contains 425 windows and more than 6,000 square feet of glass, yet its construction was intentionally designed so that no structural piece was larger than two people could carry through the surrounding woods. Thorncrown is considered one of the most acclaimed modern buildings in the country. It received the American Institute of Architects’ 25-Year Award and was ranked among the AIA’s top designs of the 20th century.

Other General Information
Tour Communications: You will receive three key communications leading up to your tour:

• Get Ready: Your email confirmation and initial tour information, sent after you register.
• Get Set: An email with additional tour details, sent approximately two months before departure.
• Go: Your final trip documents, mailed via USPS approximately three to four weeks before departure. This packet will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags, and final departure information.

Travel Protection: Travel Protection is optional but highly recommended and may be purchased until the day before departure. Sunrise Tours offers plans through battleface. Additional information will be included with your Get Ready email and can also be found HERE.

Inclusions: Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes:

• A professional Sunrise Tour Director
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Local step-on guides, including gratuities
• International tour guide gratuities when specified for the individual tour
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation with an onboard restroom
• Admission to activities and events as indicated
• Airfare from designated airports
• Transportation to and from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*
• Luggage handling at hotels when available

Gratuities: We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver is $6 to $10 per person, per day of the tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers also appreciate gratuities for excellent service, with a suggested amount of $5 per person. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or distribute gratuity envelopes.

Refreshments: We are happy to provide refreshments on most motorcoach travel days. We also recommend bringing a refillable water bottle to help you stay hydrated throughout your tour.

Pickup Points: If fewer than four travelers request a particular pickup point, we may ask those guests to select another available pickup location. Travelers are also welcome to join a tour from a city that is not listed as a departure point. Please contact our friendly reservations team to discuss available arrangements. For departure cities not listed, airfare is typically $100 more than the published fare for domestic tours and $200 more for international tours.

TSA PreCheck and Airline Rewards Numbers: TSA PreCheck, Known Traveler Numbers, and airline rewards numbers must be provided to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure. Numbers received after this deadline may not be applied to your reservation.

Airline Seating: Preferred seating may not be available with group airfare. In some cases, seats are not assigned until travelers arrive at the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy-class seat but does not include advance seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available for an additional cost.

Motorcoach Capacity and Seating: To provide one of the most comfortable motorcoach experiences in the industry, Sunrise Tours generally limits motorcoaches to 80% capacity. This allows for a maximum of 44 passengers on a motorcoach designed to accommodate 55. Sunrise Tours reserves the right to amend this practice. Your Tour Director will rotate motorcoach seating each day of the tour. Payment of a single-occupancy fare does not guarantee two motorcoach seats, and you may be seated beside another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.

Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.