Bentonville Bike Fest

Bentonville Bike Fest runs June 9 through 14, 2026, transforming Northwest Arkansas into a cycling celebration with races, demos, clinics, and community rides spread across the city and its surrounding trail network. Events span from dawn group rides on singletrack to evening vendor expos on the Bentonville Square, with professional racers, weekend warriors, and families all sharing the same dirt and gravel routes that have made this corner of Arkansas a mountain biking destination. Expect thousands of attendees, bike brands showcasing new models, and a schedule packed enough that most visitors choose one or two signature events rather than attempting the full week. Bentonville’s transformation from a quiet county seat into a cultural hub began in earnest when Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in 2011, and the city has since added more than 40 miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails that wind through Coler Mountain Bike Preserve and connect to regional networks stretching into Missouri. The trails range from flow-heavy beginner loops to technical rock gardens, all built on land that slopes toward Beaver Lake’s northern arms about 15 miles to the west. Walmart’s headquarters anchors the city center, and the resulting influx of international visitors has shaped a dining scene that punches well above its population of roughly 55,000. Race categories during Bike Fest cover cross-country, enduro, and gravel distances, with start times staggered throughout the week to avoid trail congestion. Clinics often feature professional riders offering tips on cornering technique and line choice, and demo areas let you test bikes from a dozen manufacturers on real trail sections before committing to a purchase. Kids’ events and beginner rides keep the atmosphere inclusive, though serious racers will find competition steep enough to warrant early registration. Spectators can catch race finishes on the Square, then explore the 21c Museum Hotel or walk the Razorback Greenway, an urban trail that links Bentonville to Fayetteville 30 miles south. Lodging around Bike Fest books months ahead, so search Lake.com for properties near Beaver Lake to pair cycling with paddling, fishing, or just evenings on a dock watching the sun drop behind limestone bluffs. For meals, Tusk & Trotter has served elevated comfort food since opening in 2011, with craft cocktails and locally sourced ingredients, or try Fred’s Hickory Inn, a log cabin steakhouse established in 1970 that remains a Bentonville institution. Find your Bike Fest basecamp near the water on Lake.com.