Whether it’s an actual Main Street or one of the town’s major thoroughfares, Arkansas has a lot of charming downtown areas. Many of these locations have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and have undergone a number of improvements over the past few years. New stores, boutiques and restaurants are on the horizon for a lot of these wonderful business districts and main streets across the Natural State. These towns are a great example of what Arkansas has to offer when it comes to quaint and unique main streets and downtown areas (Note: I’m focusing on up and coming downtown districts here; yes, Little Rock and Hot Springs and Eureka Springs are all awesome – so are these places).
- Rector
Google Photos/Cynthia Corkran Rector’s Main Street and downtown area, much like many Main Streets around Arkansas, are involved in a great process of revitalization. Cute shops are now springing up in the area. You’ll have a great time browsing through these historic buildings and admiring some of the new merchandise in these locations.
- Clarksville
Google Maps There’s always something going on with Clarksville’s Main Street. The town has to keep up and ahead of what’s going on in Russellville. Check out the new businesses and weekly activitites going on in Clarksville’s downtown district when you want to get back to true Arkansas small town charm.
- Wynne
Google Maps Hooray for Wynne and its awesome downtown area! If you take a trip down Falls Boulevard you can see that the main drag of Wynne is a thriving one when it comes to small town Arkansas. No one can say that these small Arkansas towns have nothing to do. All one has to do is just find the downtown area, and you’ve found where it’s all at.
- Warren
Google Photos Warren, Arkansas has a Main Street that’s still very endearing despite not being the size of some of the larger towns in the Natural State. It’s okay, too–Warren’s pretty happy with its small town status as long as its downtown area is worth a visit. The town’s Main Street makes a good trip when you’re looking for an old location with fun new shops!
- Dewitt
Google Maps Another Arkansas Main Street in the process of being revitalized, Dewitt’s downtown and Main Street area has a presence that will renew itself with the opening of boutiques–and there’s plenty of space for more new restaurants as well.
- Malvern
Google Maps We’re rooting for downtown Malvern! The area’s Main Street is worth some love. Thankfully there are good citizens in the area who are seeing that the area’s downtown district thrives with a variety of shopping options.
- Pine Bluff
Wikipedia Don’t count Pine Bluff out just yet! The downtown area needs some of the Natural State’s love and attention. There’s more to PB than the Pines Mall. There’s still a lot of charm in downtown Pine Bluff and there are efforts underway by locals to revitalize the scene. Pine Bluff’s Main Street is worth the time.
- Forrest City
Google Maps Northeast Arkansas towns have been experiencing a revitalization in recent years when it comes to their main areas of business. The downtown you saw in Forrest City is the same as it’s ever been, but don’t be surprised to see a few new shops popping up along Broadway the next time you’re in the area.
- Monticello
Facebook/City of Monticello Arkansas Monticello’s Downtown Square is so unique. Whether it’s the quaint old town shops or the new locales that you’ll find in the area, there’s always something interesting worth seeing. The public tree exhibit in the northwest cornter of the square has a story behind it that will fascinate you.
- Pocahontas
Wikipedia Pocohontas has quietly been making its downtown area a place worth visiting for numerous years now. If you’d like to take an out of-towner someplace around the Natural State and show them a good example of what a small town downtown looks like, Pocohontas is a great choice for display.
- Heber Springs
Facebook/Heber Springs Chamber of Commerce The natural part of Heber Springs isn’t the only part that’s worth a visit. Lakes and woods are always lovely. However, downtown Heber Springs is another locale that’s experiencing a turnaround and a nice face life thanks to the efforts of those who specialize in making Arkansas Main Streets worth a visit.
- Hardy
Google Maps All right, Hardy, you’re beautiful and you’ve been heard. We can’t leave you off this list, can we? Thanks for Clash of the Ozarks, also!
- Arkadelphia
Google Maps Main Street in Arkadelphia is in the process of a revitalization thanks to strong work done by Main Street Arkansas. The organization continues to assist towns around Arkansas and give a boost to their downtown districts.
- Fort Smith
Facebook/Experience Fort Smith Garrison Avenue in Fort Smith is one of the best spots in Arkansas where you can get the feel of old town ambiance mixed with modern style. Whether you’re looking for the perfect boutique or the perfect lunch stop, you’ll find it on Fort Smith’s main drag.
- Fayetteville
Facebook/Dickson Street Merchants The “main drag” of Fayetteville, Dickson Street, is full of fun sports bars, restaurants and cool shops that attract Arkansans whenever they’re not at a Razorback game. If there’s a party in downtown Fayetteville, you’ll be sure it’s going on somewhere on Dickson Street.
- El Dorado
Facebook/Main Street El Dorado You know, El Dorado almost got left off this list because I’d been choosing towns that have up and coming downtown areas. El Dorado’s historic downtown area has been established for ages and is still absolutely worth a visit - I’d say even more so than touristy towns in Arkansas.
- Morrilton
Facebook/Main Street Morrilton Morrilton now has a downtown that’s gaining ground on nearby bustling Conway. Where the college town Conway has its own vibe, Morrilton has found its own stride with a separate, small and attractive Main Street.
So many other little towns around Arkansas have main streets and main thoroughfares that are so fun to visit. My grandparents were Lonoke folks, and it’s always a good time to go back through town and point out buildings that used to be video stores that are now consignment boutiques. The nostalgia is almost overwhelming. Tell what you like about the downtown areas and main streets in your Arkansas town in the comments.
Google Photos/Cynthia Corkran
Rector’s Main Street and downtown area, much like many Main Streets around Arkansas, are involved in a great process of revitalization. Cute shops are now springing up in the area. You’ll have a great time browsing through these historic buildings and admiring some of the new merchandise in these locations.
Google Maps
There’s always something going on with Clarksville’s Main Street. The town has to keep up and ahead of what’s going on in Russellville. Check out the new businesses and weekly activitites going on in Clarksville’s downtown district when you want to get back to true Arkansas small town charm.
Hooray for Wynne and its awesome downtown area! If you take a trip down Falls Boulevard you can see that the main drag of Wynne is a thriving one when it comes to small town Arkansas. No one can say that these small Arkansas towns have nothing to do. All one has to do is just find the downtown area, and you’ve found where it’s all at.
Google Photos
Warren, Arkansas has a Main Street that’s still very endearing despite not being the size of some of the larger towns in the Natural State. It’s okay, too–Warren’s pretty happy with its small town status as long as its downtown area is worth a visit. The town’s Main Street makes a good trip when you’re looking for an old location with fun new shops!
Another Arkansas Main Street in the process of being revitalized, Dewitt’s downtown and Main Street area has a presence that will renew itself with the opening of boutiques–and there’s plenty of space for more new restaurants as well.
We’re rooting for downtown Malvern! The area’s Main Street is worth some love. Thankfully there are good citizens in the area who are seeing that the area’s downtown district thrives with a variety of shopping options.
Wikipedia
Don’t count Pine Bluff out just yet! The downtown area needs some of the Natural State’s love and attention. There’s more to PB than the Pines Mall. There’s still a lot of charm in downtown Pine Bluff and there are efforts underway by locals to revitalize the scene. Pine Bluff’s Main Street is worth the time.
Northeast Arkansas towns have been experiencing a revitalization in recent years when it comes to their main areas of business. The downtown you saw in Forrest City is the same as it’s ever been, but don’t be surprised to see a few new shops popping up along Broadway the next time you’re in the area.
Facebook/City of Monticello Arkansas
Monticello’s Downtown Square is so unique. Whether it’s the quaint old town shops or the new locales that you’ll find in the area, there’s always something interesting worth seeing. The public tree exhibit in the northwest cornter of the square has a story behind it that will fascinate you.
Pocohontas has quietly been making its downtown area a place worth visiting for numerous years now. If you’d like to take an out of-towner someplace around the Natural State and show them a good example of what a small town downtown looks like, Pocohontas is a great choice for display.
Facebook/Heber Springs Chamber of Commerce
The natural part of Heber Springs isn’t the only part that’s worth a visit. Lakes and woods are always lovely. However, downtown Heber Springs is another locale that’s experiencing a turnaround and a nice face life thanks to the efforts of those who specialize in making Arkansas Main Streets worth a visit.
All right, Hardy, you’re beautiful and you’ve been heard. We can’t leave you off this list, can we? Thanks for Clash of the Ozarks, also!
Main Street in Arkadelphia is in the process of a revitalization thanks to strong work done by Main Street Arkansas. The organization continues to assist towns around Arkansas and give a boost to their downtown districts.
Facebook/Experience Fort Smith
Garrison Avenue in Fort Smith is one of the best spots in Arkansas where you can get the feel of old town ambiance mixed with modern style. Whether you’re looking for the perfect boutique or the perfect lunch stop, you’ll find it on Fort Smith’s main drag.
Facebook/Dickson Street Merchants
The “main drag” of Fayetteville, Dickson Street, is full of fun sports bars, restaurants and cool shops that attract Arkansans whenever they’re not at a Razorback game. If there’s a party in downtown Fayetteville, you’ll be sure it’s going on somewhere on Dickson Street.
Facebook/Main Street El Dorado
You know, El Dorado almost got left off this list because I’d been choosing towns that have up and coming downtown areas. El Dorado’s historic downtown area has been established for ages and is still absolutely worth a visit - I’d say even more so than touristy towns in Arkansas.
Facebook/Main Street Morrilton
Morrilton now has a downtown that’s gaining ground on nearby bustling Conway. Where the college town Conway has its own vibe, Morrilton has found its own stride with a separate, small and attractive Main Street.
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