Springdale, Arkansas
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Access: Interstate 49, U.S. Highway 62, U.S. Highway 71; Northwest Arkansas National Airport
Major Meeting: Spaces Northwest Arkansas Convention Center
Hotel Rooms: 1,328
Off-Site Venues: The Apollo on Emma, Springdale Civic Center, Rodeo of the Ozarks Community Building, A&M Railroad, The Jones Center
Contact Info: Springdale Chamber of Commerce
479-872-2222
explorespringdale.com
Abundant natural beauty, plentiful opportunities for outdoor recreation, exceptional affordability and an attractive economic environment have helped the Northwest Arkansas region become one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas. In the heart of it all is Springdale, a relaxed city of around 90,000 nestled on the Ozark Mountains’ Springfield Plateau that’s located just 30 minutes from both the Missouri and Oklahoma borders.
Visitors will find a thriving arts scene, a growing local food culture and access to hundreds of miles of trails for hiking and cycling. Blending small-town charm with big-city opportunity, Springdale is an ideal destination for business, meetings and four-season fun.
The heavily forested land was home to the Osage and Cherokee peoples before white settlers arrived in the 1830s. Originally named Shiloh, the town of Springdale was incorporated in 1878 and became a hub for transportation and agriculture. Today, it’s the home of Tyson Foods, one of the nation’s largest meat producers, and it has been proclaimed by the state as the “Poultry Capital of the World.” That industry has attracted workers from around the globe, and Springdale now boasts a vibrant population that includes one of the largest Marshallese communities in the United States.
“We have a lot to offer,” said Jared Sullivan, director of communications and marketing for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. “Springdale has a vibrant, walkable downtown containing many small to midsize venues that are perfect fits for meetings. We have great excursions and activities, and our scenery — especially when the leaves are changing — is just gorgeous. And I’d really like to highlight our affordability: the state of Arkansas is affordable, Northwest Arkansas is affordable and Springdale is the most affordable city in Northwest Arkansas. So, Springdale gives you a central location and the lowest rates for your group.”
Sullivan is also excited about plans for downtown’s new Sundry Hotel. The boutique property is part ofHilton’s Tapestry Collection and set to open in 2027 with five stories and 124 guestrooms. It will also feature a modern Italian restaurant with wood-fired pizza and fresh handmade pasta; 2,250 square feet of flexible meeting space, including board and breakout rooms; high-speed Wi-Fi; A/V capabilities; and in-house catering.
Destination Highlights
Northwest Arkansas is rapidly becoming a cycling mecca, and cyclists, skaters, walkers, families and wheelchair users will enjoy exploring the 40-mile Razorback Greenway. One of the most innovative trail systems in America, the paved network connects the communities of Fayetteville, Johnson, Springdale, Lowell, Rogers, Bentonville and Bella Vista, allowing visitors to enjoy entertainment, shopping, historic sites, lakes, art projects and cultural experiences along the way.
Major Meeting Spaces
The Holiday Inn and Northwest Arkansas Convention Center is the city’s largest, with 61,000 square feet of flexible function space. Suitable for meetings of 10 to large-scale conferences for 3,000 attendees, the property offers a dedicated event staff, creative catering options and on-site AV. The recently renovated Arkansas Ballroom has a combined size of 10,952 square feet, seats up to 1,800 people and can be divided into seven separate meeting rooms. The 35,000-square-foot convention center has four separate halls and is ideal for various functions such as trade shows, large dinners, dances and receptions.
Distinctive Venues
Sassafras Springs Vineyard and Winery’s 60-acre estate has a variety of venues guaranteed to make events memorable. The European-inspired Chapel Ruins are perfect for picturesque dinners, and the former tables can accommodate up to 400 guests inside at tables, up to 500 additional guests theater-style, or 300 guests at tables on the deck and veranda, which overlook the vineyards. Downtown, the ornate Apollo on Emma, a beautifully renovated 1940s theater, has a ballroom with capacity for 495 and other areas perfect for smaller groups.
After the Meeting
Art lovers will want to make the 20-mile trip to Bentonville to visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. Located on more than 100 pristine Ozark acres, the museum features trails, stunning architecture and art ranging from Rockwell to Warhol. Springdale’s calendar provides year-round events, including the Rodeo of the Ozarks, which is ranked as one of the best in the country. Ride the rails during a three-hour trip through the scenic mountains of Northwest Arkansas on the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad, or catch a game at Arvest Ballpark, where the Arkansas Naturals, a Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, play.
