Bentonville has long been known as one of America's premier biking destinations. Home to an extensive network of off-road trails, a thriving cycling culture, and a deep commitment to outdoor recreation, Bentonville — and the broader Northwest Arkansas region — are well established as a national hub for recreational riding.

Now, Bentonville is earning recognition for a different kind of investment in great biking.

In PeopleForBikes’ 2026 City Ratings, Bentonville earned a score of 50 — landing itself as the highest-scoring city in Arkansas and among the top 6% of medium-sized cities nationwide. More importantly, the score reflects a community where a growing number of residents can safely and easily reach everyday destinations using a connected, low-stress bike network.

For PeopleForBikes, a score of 50 represents an important milestone and tipping point. It signals that biking is becoming a practical transportation option for a meaningful share of residents — not just a recreational activity.

A Decade of Building Connections

Bentonville's success did not happen overnight.

The city's early investments in mountain biking and soft-surface trails helped create a strong biking culture and put Bentonville on the map as a recreational riding destination. But as the community grew, so did its ambitions.

The focus shifted from simply creating great places to ride to creating an environment that enables people to ride more often in their daily lives. City leaders, planners, advocates, and residents began building a network that safely connected neighborhoods to schools, businesses, parks, and other everyday destinations.

That long-term commitment is reflected in Bentonville's steady rise in City Ratings. In 2018, Bentonville earned a score of 27. Today's impressive score of 50 shows what can happen when a community rallies behind a plan and sticks with it.

From Destination to Transportation

One of the biggest drivers behind Bentonville's progress has been a commitment to connectivity. Great trails matter — but truly great biking communities are built when people can safely and comfortably ride beyond the trailhead.

Over the past several years, Bentonville has focused on closing critical gaps between neighborhoods, downtown, schools, parks, employment centers, and its renowned trail system. Those connections have transformed individual facilities into a citywide transportation network.

More residents can leave home and reach destinations by bike, whether they are commuting to work, meeting friends, running errands, or heading out for a ride. Equally as important for an outdoor tourism destination like Bentonville, visitors can leave the car keys behind and easily access everything the city has to offer on two wheels.

The result of this dedicated investment in connectivity is a community where biking increasingly serves both daily transportation needs alongside great recreational opportunities.

Building Community Through Biking

At PeopleForBikes, we know the value of a connected bike network extends far beyond getting people where they need to go.

When more people ride, more people spend time outdoors. More neighbors see one another on streets, trails, and shared spaces. Local businesses benefit from increased activity, and residents gain new opportunities to engage with their community.

Biking helps people experience their city at a human scale. It encourages chance encounters, stronger neighborhood connections, and a greater sense of belonging.

Looking Ahead

Bentonville’s City Ratings score of 50 is an important milestone — but the real achievement is what it represents: a more connected community.

As Bentonville continues to close gaps and expand its bike network, more residents will have opportunities to get outside, support local businesses, and connect with the people and places that make the city unique.

PeopleForBikes’ 2026 City Ratings evaluates 3,019 U.S. cities on how well their bike networks connect people to everyday destinations. Learn more and see how your city scores at cityratings.peopleforbikes.org.