This Town in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains Is One of the Best Places to Go in 2026—and It Got a Brand-new Hotel Today

Bentonville, Arkansas, known as the Mountain Biking Capital of the World, welcomes a new hotel today.

The Compton, named for local conservationist Dr. Neil Compton, is a 142-room boutique hotel in the city’s historic square. The opening adds another stay to a city that’s home to Walmart’s global headquarters and a growing roster of arts and outdoor attractions.

The hotel’s interior spaces, envisioned by Brooklyn-based design firm Crème, are rooted in its natural surroundings. “Our overarching concept was completely inspired by the Ozark Mountains,” says Jun Aizaki, the firm’s founder and principal. “We wanted to bring the outdoors indoors as much as we could and blur the distinction between outside and in.”

Guests enter via a covered patio into a two-story atrium anchored by an Ozark limestone bluff wall and a 900-foot skylight overhead. The front desk and lobby fireplace are built from locally sourced stone, echoing the cliffs and creek beds found across northwest Arkansas. Throughout the public spaces, artworks curated by local initiative OZ Art NWA highlight artists tied to the region and underscore Bentonville’s budding reputation as an art hub.

On the mezzanine, the Ozark Room serves as both a guest lounge and a pre-function space. A small library is stocked with books on local folklore, geology, and natural history, along with vintage records and mineral specimens curated in partnership with the University of Arkansas Department of Geological Science. Guests can even cue up field recordings from the Buffalo River to listen to the sound of water and wind from the surrounding hills.

The nature theme extends to the hotel’s guest rooms. Built-in window seats replace standard desks, bathrooms feature turquoise tile, and green-blue accents nod to the area’s waterways. Rooms come with a yoga mat and foam roller, and nightly turndown service is inspired by Ozark folklore, with small tokens like red string, wildflower seeds, or stones left as mementos. Dogs are also welcome, with plenty of dog beds and pet amenities on offer.

The Compton is especially geared toward cyclists looking to tap into Bentonville’s 70 miles of in-town trails and over 400 miles across the Ozarks. A dedicated cycling concierge, powered by local outfitter 37 North, offers complimentary route planning, guided group rides, and Saturday shuttles to major trail systems, plus private outings and rentals for an additional fee. A bike valet handles secure storage, curbside staging, and post-ride towels.

The hotel’s dining options include Sestina, a relaxed steakhouse built around a wood-burning grill and local ingredients; The Eddy, a cocktail bar overlooking the Bentonville square; and Field Notes, an all-day café with a patio, serving pastries and coffee in the morning, sandwiches and salads at lunch, and wine, beer, and live music in the evenings.

“The Compton rises from the Ozarks with purpose,” says Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality, the Dallas-based hotel operator behind The Compton. “It gives Bentonville a space worthy of its momentum, its makers, and its quiet genius.”

Nightly rates at the Compton start from $350, and you can book your stay at thecompton.com.