Things to Do in Mena, Arkansas.

Arkansas is full of wonderful small towns and Mena is one of them. This charming town is in the western part of the state, right within the Ouachita Mountain Range. It’s the start of the Talimena Scenic Highway, home to a legendary off road and ATV area, and has plenty of hiking trails and more outdoor adventure. My family and I have taken day trips and overnight trips up to Mena as often as we can, since we moved here. It’s a great place to get away from it all, while still having access to a cute downtown and wonderful places to eat. This post shares all of the fun things to do in Mena, Arkansas. I hope it helps you plan your next vacation! This post contains affiliate links.

If you’re looking for the best hikes in the area, check out my Ultimate ArkLaTex Hiking Guide.

Outdoors and nature.

One of my favorite things about Mena, Arkansas is it’s proximity to mountain adventures, remote hikes, beautiful vistas, and just so much nature. The city is right within the Ouachita Mountain range and it’s a short drive in any direction to be in those mountains, chasing adventures. There are outdoor adventures of all types, for every explorer.

Scenic drives and mountain views.

Mena is home to one of the most beautiful (and sought after) scenic drives in Arkansas. The Talimena Scenic drive begins in Mena and winds for 54 miles until it reaches Talihina, Oklahoma. There is a well known motorcycle rally each Memorial Day weekend (starting from Texarkana), and it’s a hot spot year round for motorcyclists, road bicyclists, and anyone who enjoys a scenic drive. Some things to check out along the way:

• There are 20 scenic pull outs throughout the drive which offer great views of the surrounding mountains.
• Queen Wilhelmina State Park sits on top of a mountain and the scenic drive goes right through. There is a lodge with a restaurant, campground, and a few hiking trails.
• The Pioneer Cemetery is just past the state park. It’s a Civil War era cemetery that is also a historic site.
• The fall colors tend to peak in mid October, but that can change depending on the year and how much rainfall occurred. Plan ahead because cabins, campsites, and lodging will fill up quickly during the prime fall colors.

Parks and natural areas.

One of the things I love most about Mena are all of the outdoorsy things to do. It is situated right in the Ouachita Mountain range, near the Ouachita National Forest, and has close proximity to several parks, natural areas, and outdoor places to explore. Here are a few of my favorite outdoor places near Mena:

• Queen Wilhelmina State Park – Beautiful park that is accessible. There is a lodge with a restaurant, surrounded by mountain top views. During summertime, they have a cute mini train and you can tour the “wonder house.” It can get very windy and cold in the winter. My favorite hike here is the Lover’s Leap trail to the overlook.
• Cossatot River State Park – Probably our most favorite place to play, all year long. The visitor center has an excellent learning center. There are two campgrounds, our favorite is the Sand Bar campground. These areas are down forest roads, however, 4 wheel drive is not required. Download your map before you lose service. My favorite hike here is the River Corridor Trail.
• Albert Pike Recreation Area – A beautiful day use area on the Little Missouri River. Nearby, the Winding Staircase trail and Little Missouri Falls are on forest roads. The Eagle Rock loop is in this area, a 28 mile (challenging) backpacking trail. Two of my favorite hikes here are: Window Rock and Winding Staircase.

Favorite hikes near Mena.

Mena is located within the Ouachita Mountain Range and there are tons of great hiking opportunities very close by. From state parks, to wilderness areas, there’s something for everyone. Don’t forget your ten essentials for hiking in the ArkLaTex. A few of my favorite hikes are:

• Lover’s Leap Trail – Queen Wilhelmina State Park – easy hike, great for kids and families, plus has a nice overlook.
• Winding Staircase Trail – Albert Pike Recreation Area – a moderately challenging hike, 4 miles out and back on the Eagle Rock Loop, does have several water crossings.
• Harris Creek Trail – Cossatot River State Park – moderately challenging, has a great overlook of the river halfway through.
• Buckeye Mountain and Caney Creek Trail – strenuous, ten mile loop, with amazing views and a waterfall half way through.

To get my full hiking guide of the ArkLaTex, which includes full trail descriptions and tips for the trails around Mena, get my Ultimate Hiking Guide to the ArkLaTex. Or, check out the best hiking trails near Texarkana.

Lakes and water adventures.

The great thing about Arkansas is that you’re never too far from water. Mena has access to some lakes and some beautiful rivers nearby.

• Shady Lake – A 25 acre lake with a campground. It closes seasonally. Take a look at the dam and spillway for a pretty view!
• Irons Fork Reservoir
• Lake Wilhelmina
• Cossatot River – We love this river. It’s great for fishing almost all year round. During high water, the falls area turns into class IV rapids, but it’s also fun to explore when the levels are lower. The Falls (Sheep’s Den) and the Sand Bar area are two of our favorite spots.
• Ouachita River
• Little Missouri River – a beautiful river with fishing and hiking at various spots around it. Little Missouri Falls is a highlight.

Here is a look at some of the best rivers and lakes around Texarkana.

Big adventure.

Big news for mountain biking enthusiasts: Mena is scheduled to have one of the first bike lifts in North America! It’s coming to Queen Wilhelmina State Park and will operate like a ski lift, except for mountain bikers. It’s going to be a pretty big deal and bring much more bike tourism to the area. You can read more about the project on this website. Some of the other was to chase big adventure in Mena are:

• Wolf Pen Gap – A designated off road trail for vehicles and ATV’s. There are bathrooms available, however potable water is no. Horses are not allowed. Here is a YouTube video that offers a pretty good overview of the trail.
• Blue Zip Line and Farm – A fun zip line course near Mena. Our family thoroughly enjoyed this adventure. The long zip line was our favorite! It’s closed in the winter, so be sure to check their Facebook page for updates.
• Ouachita National Recreation Trail – This 192 mile trail spans the width of the Ouachita Mountains across central Arkansas. A section of the trail runs parallel with the Talimena Scenic Drive, and even goes through Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Friends of the Ouachita is an volunteer organization that provides information about the trail, updates, maintenance, and more. You can hike it in sections and some of the most challenging sections are very close to Mena.

Big (maybe strange) adventure.

• Board Camp Crystal Mine and UnXplained tours – I put this in the “big adventure” category because it can be a very big, and unique, adventure. This crystal mine offers surface collection only. For cryptid enthusiasts, or anyone who is interested in paranormal happenings, they have had lots of supposed sightings at this mine. They offer tours and have an entire presentation and museum dedicated to their findings. It’s open February through October.

Things to do in downtown Mena.

Downtown Mena is absolutely charming. It’s a cute town with a main street USA vibe. There are great little shops, restaurants, and more to explore. For being a small town, the food scene is excellent and there’s something for everyone. It’s a delightful place to come relax after spending the day chasing adventure, or a great way to spend a slower day while you explore around town.

Two places you must be sure and stop by:

• Books and More – A used book store that also has puzzles, games, gifts, and more.
• Mena Art Gallery – A collective of artists from across Southwest Arkansas. The gallery is a non-profit.

Family friendly things to do.

Mena is a great place for families, especially if you enjoy the outdoors. There are nearby hikes for all different levels, mountain biking trails, water adventures, two state parks, and it’s right within the national forest. Mena is on the cusp of becoming another mountain biking destination and the city will continue to grow and develop, which means even more family fun!

Easy activities for kids.

There are a few activities in Mena that are great for kids, easy to get to, and provide lots of fun.

• Level Up Family Fun Center – offers RC car racing, arcade games, ping pong, video games, and more. Check their Facebook page for hours and events.
• Janssen Park – A cute city park that has a playground and some history. There is a log cabin from 1851 that’s said to have been a hideout for Jesse James. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can also enjoy the two spring fed ponds (no swimming).
• Aubrey Tapley Park – The sports complex park that also has a hiking and biking trail.
• McMillan Park – has a playground, skate park, and swimming pool that’s open seasonally.

Educational experiences.

When our family travels, we always look for educational experiences to mix into our itinerary. Learning while traveling is a great way to make education come alive and the lessons tend to stick. Mena, Arkansas has a few places to learn history, culture, plus some unique learning opportunities.

• The visitor center at Cossatot River State Park. There are several wonderful, hands on learning displays and educational materials, plus some animals and an interpretive learning trail. They also have a playground.
• For the curious (and adventurous) an UnXplained tour at Board Camp crystal mine.
• Mena/KCS Historic Depot and Train Museum in downtown Mena. A small museum dedicated to the history of Mena and the KCS railroad. There is a fun photo op out front with a vintage police car.
• Ouachita Little Theater – A small community theatre in downtown Mena, in a historic building.
• Both Queen Wilhelmina State Park and Cossatot River State Park have various ranger led programs throughout the year, typically on weekends. Check the parks website calendar for details and the schedule.

Best places to eat in Mena, Arkansas.

There are lots of restaurants in Mena and they’re all fairly casual. A few of our family’s favorites are listed below. My go to is always and forever The Ouachitas, for coffee and for food. Keep reading for more fun spots plus coffee shops in Mena.

Local favorites and casual spots.

• Myer’s Cruizzers Drive In – A quirky and fun drive in fast food stop. Snap a photo with the hot dog statue while you’re there. They serve a large menu, including different types of hot dogs and ice cream too.
• Chopping Block Mena – A steakhouse with a large menu. They also have seafood and burgers.
• Sky Line Cafe – This cafe has been serving up delicious food in Mena for over 100 years! A great place for breakfast or lunch.
• American Artisans & Cafe – Combining art and a bistro style cafe, this is a great spot for lunch. They have gluten free options. Be sure to check out the displays for art from local artists and crafters.

Sweet treats and coffee shops.

• The Ouachitas – forever and always my number one coffee shop. They roast their own beans and it’s fantastic. It’s also a restaurant that serves fantastic food and has gluten free options. PS – get the skillet cookie (it’s not gluten free).
• Mena Coffee Company – a cute, drive through coffee shop serving up specialty drinks.
• Brew Stop Mena – a drive through spot serving coffee and energy teas.
• Honey and Pearls Boutique Coffee shop – serving coffee, tea, and energy drinks.

Where to stay in Mena.

One of the best things about Mena is that you’re so close to the mountains wherever you stay. There are a variety of short term rentals, cabins, glamping and camping, and some rv parks as well. Some of the best places to stay are listed in the sections below. You can also use the map below to navigate and find a place to stay. The map has some of the places listed in this post marked as well, so you can stay close to whatever type of adventure you’re looking for.

Cabins and unique stays.

If you spend a little time browsing the map above, you’ll see there are lots of cabins and unique places to stay in Mena, Arkansas. When I travel, I always love finding the local, hidden gem spots. Two of my favorites in Mena are:

• A Quiet Place Mountain Escape – This up and coming retreat has beautiful, spacious, A frame cabins that all have a tranquil nature theme. There are currently two to choose from. It’s a private, gated property. This spot is perfect for a relaxing getaway yet still just a short drive in to town.
• Ouachita Wilde Luxury Tents – This ultra luxurious glamping retreat has both domes and safari tents. There are (clean and nice) shared bathrooms. It’s very peaceful while still being close to town. Check out a video of our experience here.

Hotels and motels.

There are a few hotels in Mena but you won’t find any of the “big” hotel chains here. At least, not yet. Here are two to check out:

• Be-Bopper’s Inn – This is a small, renovated mid century motor inn type hotel. The rooms are booked individually on AirBnb. But, it’s adorable and so charming.
• Ozark Inn Mena – A quaint, basic motel that offers wifi and rooms with one king bed, or two queen beds.

Camping.

There are lots of camping options around Mena, from backcountry (dispersed) camping and backpacking, to campgrounds equipped for RVs. Here are a few of them:

• Mena Creekside RV Park – Located near Wolf Pen Gap ATV area.
• The falls campground at Cossatot River State Park – No hook ups, pit toilets, fire ring and tent pad, right next to the falls area on the river.
• The sand bar campground at Cossatot River State Park – No hook ups, pit toilets, fire ring and tent pad, right next to a great swimming area on the river.

Day trips from Mena.

While there’s plenty to do (or not do if you just want to relax) in Mena, there are also some fun things as a day trip from Mena. Here are a few things that might be worth the drive:

• Lake Ouachita (Arkansas) – 1.5 hours to the western edge of the lake. This MASSIVE lake is one of my most favorite places to explore. I often take my kids canoe camping and stand up paddleboard camping on this lake. It gets very busy on the weekends but its’ such a special place to us.
• Heavener (Oklahoma) – 1 hour. Check out the Heavener Runestone Park and see if you think the “viking” markers are real or not.
• Texarkana (USA, obviously) – 2 hours. Here’s the ultimate guide to Texarkana if you need some inspiration.
• Fort Smith (Arkansas) – 1 hour and 45 minutes. Discover Fort Smith has tons of information. The city has great coffee shops and restaurants, plus a National Historic Site and other museums.

How far is Mena, Arkansas?

It’s actually not too far from many places across Arkansas, or Texas, or Oklahoma. The drive to Mena takes you through charming small towns in Arkansas, around mountains, and to some very scenic views. Here are some distances and travel information to note.

Airports.

There aren’t any major airports in Mena, however there are a few options nearby if you’re looking to hop a flight into the area.

• Mena actually has a small airport (MEZ). It has a rather fascinating (and perhaps dark) history with a drug smuggler, then the CIA using it as a training base. It’s very tame these days.
• Fort Smith Airport (FSM) is about an hour and a half drive from Mena.
• Texarkana (TXK) is about a two hour drive from Mena.
• Northwest Arkansas Airport (XNA) is just under a three hour drive from Mena.

Driving to Mena.

As I said earlier, Mena is a very beautiful drive. However, don’t expect four lane highways. You will be driving mostly two lane highways and country highways to reach this charming town. Be mindful of the weather, heavy rain or fog will delay these drive times.

• From Texarkana (AR) – 2 hour drive
• From Little Rock – 2 hour and 30 minute drive
• From Bentonville (XNA) – 2 hour and 50 minute drive
• From Oklahoma City – 3 hour and 50 minute drive
• From Dallas Metroplex – 4 hour drive

Is Mena worth visiting?

I can say with 100% confidence: yes! Yes, Mena, Arkansas is worth visiting. It’s a great destination for spring or fall break, and can also be great in the summer with the right plans. It’s an up and coming mountain biking destination as well and I am excited to see how the city grows over the next few years.

If you only have time for three things to do in Mena, Arkansas, here’s what you should do:

1. Drive the Talimena Scenic Highway to Queen Wilhelmina State Park
2. Hike the Lover’s Leap Trail and snap a group photo at the overlook.
3. Enjoy coffee, beer, or food (or all three) at The Ouachitas in downtown Mena.

Planning your trip to Mena, Arkansas.

When you’re ready to plan your trip to Mena, I recommend starting with making reservations for where you will stay. Short term rentals and campsites tend to fill up quickly for the summer and fall. Some of the campsites close for the winter season, so please check websites for availability and open dates.

Generally, when I plan a trip I start with a general list of the things we want to do, then I book a place to stay that is fairly centrally located. I pick one main activity per day, that way we have a little extra wiggle room to explore. For Mena, you’ll want to plan to bring along some of your own food, just to have some snacks and back up meal options in case restaurants are closed or you don’t want to venture back in to town. For groceries, there is a Walmart in Mena.

Planning order.

• Make a list of things we want to do – each person in the family gets to pick one thing if they want.
• Make a Google map with the locations tagged.
• Choose a place to stay that is fairly centrally located to all of the activities.
• Make a loose itinerary with one activity and one restaurant per day.
• Keep a note in my phone with links to all of the places we want to visit, plus have offline versions of trail maps saved in AllTrails.
• That’s it! I like to keep things loosely planned so we have room to flex as the weather changes or we find other things we want to do.

Best time to visit.

While Mena is beautiful all year long, I think the fall is when it really shines. Autumn colors in the Ouachita are spectacular. The humidity dissipates and the temperatures are usually ideal in October and November. In the spring you can also enjoy seeing wildflowers bloom in the national forest. Summer is fun too, just remember it’s going to be very hot and humid!

My vote for you: if you can make it work, go in the fall.

What to pack and what to know before you go.

When you’re planning a trip to Mena, Arkansas, you won’t need to bring fancy clothes for fine dining or other things. It’s a small town that’s big on charm and outdoor adventure. You will want to pack outdoorsy shoes that are comfortable for walking, hiking, and exploring. It’s always a good idea to have layers, especially in the winter time. A rain coat can double as an excellent wind blocker too.

In the summer months, you’ll need to be prepared for high temperatures with high humidity, and lots of insects (and ticks!). Be sure to also bring plenty of water for whatever adventure you’re headed out on. This is my favorite tick repellent.

I also always recommend bringing a tripod and a spare battery pack, so you’ll always be ready to capture your whole crew in photos.

For more recommendations for specific gear and apparel, here are two posts that cover everything you’ll need to enjoy your adventures in Mena, Arkansas and across the ArkLaTex.

• The ten essentials you need for hiking in the ArkLaTex.
• Hiking and essentials and other favorite gear.

Happy adventuring! Let me know what you think of Mena. If there is anything I missed, just send me an email or message me on social media and I would be happy to add it to this post. Thanks for reading!

• Facebook
• TikTok
• Instagram