If you want to travel to a destination off of the beaten path that immerses you in nature and allows you to step away from the bustle of everyday life, Mount Nebo state park and the surrounding areas of the Ozarks in Northwest Arkansas is the perfect place to do just that.
Travel, but make it Sustainable
I know that driving a car that operates on fossil fuels for several hours across highways isn’t considered sustainable. However, to play our part in making sustainable choices we packed our own food instead of eating out a lot during this trip. We chose to stay in airbnbs where we could cook and use reusable dishes. Instead of buying a case of bottled water, we purchased a few gallons of water and refilled our water bottles or used regular washable cups. We want to avoid eco-guilt, while also striving to make better choices each time. Every sustainable action matters, so let’s keep it up and get better each time we are able to do so!
Where to Stay
When booking places to stay near Mount Nebo State Park in Arkansas, I took full advantage of Airbnb. Use my Airbnb referral code to save up to $55 on your home and experience bookings! People have homes of different sizes with so many different amenities via Airbnb worldwide. If you didn’t expect a small area in Arkansas to have the same, you are mistaken. We stayed in two different homes, and I just really loved another that would have been perfect for a large number of people. When visiting Mount Nebo, you should definitely book these accommodations.
Razorback Ridge (Airbnb)
Razorback Ridge is like a tiny home, and it is filled from corner to corner with Razorback paraphernalia. It is a cute and quaint little space, and perfect for you if you plan to spend most of your time outdoors. Since the space is so small, it isn’t meant for more than 2 people, really. Greyson is still tiny, so it worked well for the 3 of us. We had intentions of camping outside, but between falling asleep inside while watching a movie, a little bit of cold weather, and a few ants on the tent after we set it out, we slept inside just fine for two nights. The tiny house has running water and a washer and dryer, but all other amenities are in the main house on the property.
The main house is where you can access the bathroom, kitchen, camping necessities, and barbecue utensils. If you are looking for a larger space to stay for a few nights, there is a room available in the main home, as well. “Mountain Retreat” has 3 beds and can sleep up to 4 people, looks right out onto Sunrise Point, and walks out onto a wrap-around porch that you can sleep on during the warmer months.
Deborah, our host, comes from a long line of family members that has lived on Mount Nebo. Y’all know one of my first loves is historic preservation, and the main house is still in tact from when her grandparents lived there. It is so beautiful to me!
WanderLost (Airbnb)
WanderLost is waaaay off in the middle of nowhere lol, but that isn’t a bad thing. The days that we stayed at the WanderLost location were leading up to attending a wedding of one of my college friends. We’d gone hiking and were worn out from exploring Arkansas while staying at Razorback Ridge, and we just wanted to relax! WanderLost was a nice place to retreat to and relax. It has 3 bedrooms, a lot of entertainment in the living room, a full kitchen, a fenced in yard that is huge, and a nice, big, relaxing tub in the master bathroom. It is still close enough to visit Mt. Nebo during the day, as well as some other natural trails and sights in the area.
The Old Turner Home (Airbnb)
While we didn’t get to stay at The Old Turner Home, I wanted to share them because it would have been the perfect accommodation if we were in a large group. The home is gorgeous, again – historic preservation! It was built in 1923. It is spacious and sleeps 7 people, so if you’re searching for something bigger than the tiny Razorback Ridge, this is a great option!
Where to Eat
As I said in the sustainability note, we took a lot of food with us and used the barbecue grills and kitchens that were available at our Airbnb homes to cook it. I stocked up on seasoned chicken and beef from out local carnicería, as well as fresh produce from Aldi. The one time we ate out was at Stoby’s.
Stoby’s
Mount Nebo is close to the town of Russelville, Arkansas, which is the where the Stoby’s we visited was located. Part of this cute restaurant is on an old train that has been converted into a dining space! It was only right that we dine on the train instead of inside the main building. The food we ordered was just ok. However, the cheese dips helped me settle the age old debate of whether Texas or Arkansas has the best queso. ARKANSAS WINS! The white and yellow queso had their own distinct tastes, but both were so amazingly delicious. One had a peppery kick, and the other was so smooth. I recommend that you go just for Stoby’s queso/cheese dip. Josh also wants to try Stoby’s PB&J hamburger the next time we visit.
What to Do
Being surrounded by nature and enjoying the outdoors was our only objective on this trip. Our Airbnb accommodations played a big part in helping us to do just that.
Sunrise Point
Razorback Ridge was located right at the heart of the best sights on top of Mount Nebo. We woke up and were able to watch the sun come up at the Sunrise Point. Razorback Ridge is the closest house to the right of the sunrise point! It was breathtaking between watching the sun rise, and then watching the fog clear up to reveal the natural formations and trees all around below us.
Sunset Lookout
Sunset Lookout was about a 10 minute drive from Razorback Ridge. It has hiking trails that lead up to, so you could either walk on the streets from your accommodations, hike a trail there, or just drive there. Make sure you account for the time each of these will take so that you don’t miss the sunset. Deborah, the owner of the Razorback Ridge property, told us that seeing the stars from Sunset Point after the sun goes down is just as, if not more, magical than watching the sunset there.
Hiking Trails
There are several hiking trails that cover the top of Mount Nebo. Our favorite the Rim Trail – it was one that led to a cute little bridge. We stopped at the bridge and let Greyson explore. He counted and observed some snails, gave the ants some of his peanut butter crackers, and picked up leaves. The trails are very well connected, so you could walk from your cabin to a trail, and then to an outlook point if you wish.
We don’t live to far from there and I had no idea all that neat stuff was there! I’ll look into that for our next family vacation. By the way, your baby is SO cute!
Oh that’s so exciting, I hope you get to visit soon!! Thank you so much!