Under An Hour From Little Rock Is Arkansas' City With Local Markets, Outdoor Adventure, And Family Fun

If you're looking for a city with easy access to the great outdoors, local fare at farmers' markets, and fun for the whole family, you may be considering a trip to the Mountain West region. However, before you start packing for a trip to Colorado or Montana, you may want to consider visiting Arkansas, or more specifically, Vilonia. Vilonia was founded in 1861 as a small farming community in central Arkansas, the "Natural State." In recent decades, it's bloomed into a fast-growing city of about 5,000 residents according to World Population Review — many of whom are younger families with children, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. This same community is helping Vilonia recover from two major tornadoes in 2011 and 2014.

Locals from all walks of life support Vilonia's farmers' market, where you can purchase locally made products including baked goods, spreads, handicrafts, and other household items. The market normally takes place on Tuesday and Saturday mornings at Vilonia United Methodist Church, and it's recommended to take cash and your own bags. If you're looking for fresh veggies or cookies to take on a picnic, Papaw's Market, north of downtown, specializes in locally grown vegetables and sweet treats. It's open daily.

Vilonia is less than an hour's drive away from many major tourist attractions, including some of Arkansas' best family-friendly hikes, bike rides, and fishing spots, as well as the spectacular waterfalls in Petit Jean State Park — Arkansas' first state park. Arkansas' riverside state capital, Little Rock, is also about 50 minutes' drive south and is home to the nearest airport. Clinton National Airport (LIT) has flights to major hubs across the U.S. For travelers going by car, Vilonia is about 20 to 25 minutes' drive from Interstates 57 and 40.

Whether your family prefers to have adventures on the water or on land, you'll find plenty of outdoor activities around Vilonia. Weaver Family Park, behind Vilonia's Museum of Veterans & Military History, hosts a stocked fish pond where young anglers can catch their first trout or catfish. 

Families looking for more water activities should head to Ohana Celebration Park, just 10 minutes' drive south of Vilonia. The park's 22-acre spring-fed lake is a popular family spot for catching catfish, bass, and crappie, though there's plenty more to do than wait for a bite. Visitors can swim in the lake; unwind on the beach; rent paddleboards, canoes, or boats; or take on the Big Kahuna, an on-the-water obstacle course. Families who prefer to throttle up together can enjoy about 10 miles of easygoing trails designed for motocross motorcycles or All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). Visitors will have to take their own bikes and riding gear, including helmets. Park admission for the day is $15 per vehicle, with access to the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trail costing an additional $10 per OHV and $5 per rider.

Vilonia is about 35 minutes' drive east from two other outdoor recreation areas. Families often visit Toad Suck Park to camp, picnic, or bike along the paved 70-mile Arkansas River Trail which runs between Little Rock and the bicycle-friendly city of Conway. Vilonia is also a gateway to the 6,700-acre Lake Conway, another popular fishing spot, although that is in the middle of a major renovation so it won't be recreation-ready for a few more years.

Families looking to experience the thrill of Mario Kart in real life will likely want to visit the Central Arkansas Karting Complex, a few miles east of downtown. Drivers can get behind the wheel for a 10-minute race around a three-quarter-mile track with over a dozen challenging turns. All drivers must be at least 8 years old and 52 inches tall. Families planning to race should check the weather, visit on a day when it is dry, and wear shoes or boots. In the event of rain, the business posts updates on its social media accounts. 

Adventurous families will find several accommodation options around Vilonia. Ohana Park offers five cabins in the woods, as well as a lakeside campground with plenty of space for RVs, and if you ask, a place to roast marshmallows. It also has several primitive tent sites for adventurous families looking for a rugged adventure. For a truly unique, indoor adventure, families can spend the night in a former nuclear missile complex at Titan Ranch, one of a few breathtaking underground hotels in the U.S. While sleeping in a bunker might sound uncomfortable, Titan Ranch has all of the comforts of home, including a kitchen, Wi-Fi, and coffee bar. If waking up to the sun is more your jam, Titan Ranch also boasts an RV park and campground. Families looking for a more traditional stay will find hotels and motels west and east of Vilonia, along both interstates. 

Once you've explored Vilonia, you're just a stone's throw away from other scenic heritage trails that crisscross the state. You could also swim, dive, or boat in Arkansas' largest lake, Lake Ouachita, which has over 200 islands.