The Secret Season: shhhh..
Ask almost anyone when to visit Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and they’ll tell you spring or fall.
But regulars know something they don’t.
There’s another season tucked quietly between the busy days of summer and the arrival of autumn colors. It’s the Secret Season—a few magical weeks when the days are still long, the evenings begin to cool, and one of America’s favorite mountain towns becomes just a little easier to enjoy.
Parking spaces are easier to find. Sidewalks slow down. Conversations last a little longer. Even some of the restaurants that normally have guests lining up outside suddenly become places where you can simply walk in and enjoy dinner.
That means more time making memories—and less time waiting for them.
Here are Secret Season Travel Tips:
Things to Do in Eureka Springs
Play Something New
One of downtown’s newest attractions is Explore OnPar Entertainment
Whether you’re escaping the afternoon heat, perfecting your golf swing, challenging friends on world-class sports simulators, or simply looking for a fun indoor activity between shopping and sightseeing, OnPar is quickly becoming one of the newest things to do in Eureka Springs.
It’s the perfect reminder that even after multiple visits, there’s always something new to discover.
Explore OnPar Entertainment
Savor the Table, Not the Wait
One of the best-kept secrets of the season isn’t found on a map—it’s at the dinner table.
Late summer means many of Eureka Springs’ favorite restaurants become a little easier to enjoy.
During the Secret Season, even beloved favorites like Ermilio’s Italian Home Cooking, famous for its first-come, first-served dining, and Local Flavor Café, known for its creative Ozark-inspired cuisine, often have much shorter waits than during the height of summer.
Instead of standing in line, you’ll spend more time lingering over dessert, sharing another bottle of wine, and enjoying the conversations that somehow always seem to last longer on vacation.
Visit Ermilio’s Italian Home Cooking
Day Trip: Discover Buffalo National River Country
One of the greatest advantages of staying in Eureka Springs is that you’re just over an hour from one of America’s most spectacular national treasures.
The Buffalo National River offers some of the most scenic driving in the Ozarks. Follow winding roads through towering limestone bluffs, historic homesteads, waterfalls, and crystal-clear streams while exploring one of America’s first National Rivers.
Late summer is the perfect time to slow down and simply enjoy the scenery. Stop at overlooks, hike one of the many short trails, visit the historic communities along the river, or enjoy a picnic surrounded by some of Arkansas’ most breathtaking landscapes.
As evening approaches, make your way into beautiful Boxley Valley, where elk frequently emerge from the surrounding hillsides to graze in open meadows. Watching these magnificent animals beneath a golden Ozark sunset is one of those unforgettable experiences that perfectly captures the beauty of the Ozarks.
Return to Eureka Springs in time for dinner, live music in Basin Spring Park, or a relaxing evening at your hotel.
Plan Your Buffalo National River Adventure
Where to Stay in Eureka Springs
The Secret Season also happens to be one of the best values of the year.
At the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, weekday guests can (stay two nights and enjoy a third night for just $18.86 on select dates). That extra day means another morning beside the mountaintop pool, another afternoon at the award-winning New Moon Spa, another stroll through the historic gardens, or one more unforgettable ghost tour at America’s Most Haunted Hotel.
Book the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa
In the heart of downtown, the historic 1905 Basin Park Hotel offers the perfect blend of energy and renewal. Guests looking to slow down can reserve a room in the hotel’s Spa Collection, where wellness becomes part of every stay. With convenient access to Spa1905, daily wellness programming, spa treatments, mineral soaks, and the relaxing spa deck featuring a hot tub and fire pit, it’s easy to recharge before stepping back into the vibrant streets of historic downtown. Live music, exceptional dining, unique shopping, and the Social District are all just outside your door, while a quieter, more restorative retreat awaits when you return. Weekday Rates are online now at 40% OFF
Discover the Basin Park Hotel Spa Collection
For families and outdoor enthusiasts, Loblolly Pines Adventure Camp offers a completely different pace. Its brand-new swim spa provides the perfect place to cool off after hiking Lake Leatherwood, exploring downtown, or simply spending the afternoon beneath towering pines. End the day around the campfire under a canopy of stars where summer memories seem to happen naturally. Rates as Low as $99
Explore Loblolly Pines Adventure Camp
Secret Season Savings
The Secret Season isn’t just quieter—it’s one of the best values of the year.
- Weekday hotel specials often start around $99 per night.
- Stay two nights and enjoy a third night for just $18.86 at the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa.
- Shorter waits at favorite restaurants like Ermilio’s and Local Flavor Café.
- Easier parking and a more relaxed pace throughout historic downtown.
- Discover new attractions like OnPar Entertainment without the crowds.
- Comfortable evenings perfect for outdoor dining, concerts, and strolling Spring Street.
- One of the year’s best times to explore Buffalo National River and watch elk gather in Boxley Valley.
It’s the perfect opportunity to experience more while spending less.
Plan Your Secret Season Getaway
Whether you’re searching for the perfect romantic getaway, a family vacation in Arkansas, or simply a chance to experience the Ozarks at a slower pace, there’s never been a better time to visit.
Explore where to stay, discover new attractions, enjoy unforgettable dining, and experience why the Secret Season is one of Eureka Springs’ best-kept secrets.
Come discover the Secret Season.
Stay a little longer.
Spend a little less.
Make memories that last long after summer ends.
Secret Season Savings
- Weekday hotel specials often start around $99.
- Stay 2 nights, get the 3rd for $18.86 at the Crescent Hotel.
- Shorter restaurant waits.
- Easier downtown parking.
- New attractions without the crowds.
- Comfortable evenings for concerts and dining.
- Excellent time for Buffalo River sightseeing and Boxley Valley elk viewing.
View more on the Summer Travel Series
-
Summer Series: August brings 34 Years of Fun
- Summer on Spring Street – The Piedmont
- Eye to Eye With a Big Cat —Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and Safari Lodge
- All the Magic of Summer Camp: Summer Travel Series: Loblolly Pines Adventure Camp
- Downtown Beats & Basin Park Nights: Summer Series: Downtown at The Basin