August Rolls out with Fun
Summer travel continues into August and ends strong. For 34 years this small mountain town has been filling up with vintage Volkswagens at the end of summer. The low, unmistakable hum of air-cooled engines rolling down Main Street. Strangers leaning over open hoods, swapping stories about restorations that took a decade. That’s the scene every summer when Eureka Springs hosts its Annual VW Weekend, and there’s no better home base for it than the Inn of the Ozarks.
This is where classic car culture meets small-town charm, and it might be the perfect way to close out summer in the Ozarks.
Sitting just off historic downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the Inn of the Ozarks has long been a gathering point for the town’s biggest events — and the VW Weekend is no exception. With its sprawling grounds, on-site convention space, and a pool the kids will beg to stay in past bedtime, it’s built for exactly this kind of family weekend: half car show, half classic summer getaway.
The rooms are comfortable and unfussy, the on-site dining room is a local favorite (portions are generous, and the salad bar has its own following), and the property is pet friendly, so the whole crew — four-legged members included — can make the trip.
A Weekend Built Around the Bugs
Annual VW Weekend transforms Eureka Springs into a rolling museum of Beetles, Buses, Karmann Ghias, and everything in between. Owners and enthusiasts come from across the region to show off decades of restoration work, and the show grounds buzz with the kind of easy camaraderie that only a shared obsession can create. For the full lineup, dates, and show details, check the event page before you plan your trip.
More Than a Home Base
Whether you’re there for the cars or just along for the ride, the Inn of the Ozarks gives the whole family plenty of reasons to linger between show visits.
The pool is the heart of the property in summer — a classic, laid-back spot to cool off after a morning spent walking the show grounds, with plenty of loungers for the adults who’d rather watch than swim. Add in the on-site dining room, game room, and sprawling grounds, and it’s easy to fill a slow afternoon without ever leaving the property.
For anyone looking to get outside, the location is hard to beat. Black Bass Lake sits just a few minutes from the Inn — a quiet, easy hike loops the water past an old stone dam and small waterfall, and it’s a favorite for fishing and simply cooling your feet in the shallows.
Serious trail time isn’t far either. Lake Leatherwood and the Lake Leatherwood Bike Park offer over 25 miles of hand-built singletrack, with shuttle service available for the downhill runs — everything from easy green trails to technical black diamonds. Passion Play Mountain Biking Trails, closer to town, add another well-loved network with options for beginners and experienced riders alike. Hikers have the same lake trails to work with, plus quieter options around Black Bass Lake for a shorter outing.
Family Fun That Has Nothing to Do With Horsepower
Not everyone in the family is there for the cars, and Eureka Springs has plenty to fill the gaps.
Just a few minutes from the Inn, Turtle Back Ridge Family Fun Park is the town’s go-to for classic family fun — mini golf, go-karts, and an arcade that keeps kids entertained for hours. It’s a little quirky and well-loved, exactly the kind of unpretentious fun that fits a laid-back weekend.
Downtown Eureka Springs is also worth a slow wander. The whole district is a National Historic Landmark, packed with locally owned shops built into the hillsides — no chains, no strip malls, just character. A few favorites:
- Packrat’s Paradise — family-owned since 1979 and stuffed floor to ceiling with quirky finds and gifts.
- The Ladybug Emporium — gifts, novelties, and a fun stop for kids and adults alike.
- Bigfoot Gift Shop — leaning into the Ozarks’ favorite legend, with plenty of family-friendly merch.
- Razorback Gift Shops — a longtime downtown staple with something for every member of the family.
If your crew is up for a puzzle instead of a purchase, Escape Room 13 is the ultimate family challenge and Bigfoot Escape Rooms tucks a family-sized challenge right into the middle of downtown — good for an hour of teamwork before dinner.
Why Not Add a Day? The Buffalo National River & Beyond
Eureka Springs sits at the center of some of the best scenery in the South, so if you can swing an extra day, it’s worth it. Float the Buffalo National River — America’s first national river and one of the last undammed rivers in the lower 48 — with trips ranging from easy family paddles to full-day adventures. Or head an hour north to Silver Dollar City in Branson for a classic Ozarks theme park day, then come back to the quiet of Eureka Springs each night.
Book Your Weekend
The Annual VW Weekend draws a crowd, and rooms at the Inn of the Ozarks fill up fast for it. If you’re planning to catch the show and make the most of the pool, the lake, and the trails, book early.
Explore the Inn of the Ozarks → Plan your Eureka Springs weekend →
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