Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Bentonville, AR
A museum of American art from colonial portraits to today, built over a spring-fed creek in a wooded ravine by Moshe Safdie. Entry to the permanent collection is free, and the grounds include a Frank Lloyd Wright house.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is an art museum in Bentonville in northwest Arkansas. It sits in a ravine in the Ozark foothills on grounds of about 120 acres (roughly 49 hectares) and spreads across several ponds fed by mountain streams. It was founded by Alice Walton, the Walmart heiress; architect Moshe Safdie designed the curving pavilions with copper roofs, linked by glass tunnels. The museum opened in 2011.
The collection presents American art in chronological order, including works by Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Eakins, Mary Cassatt and Thomas Cole, Norman Rockwell's Rosie the Riveter and modern artists such as Rothko and Warhol. Trails lead along the ponds on the grounds. The Bachman-Wilson House, a Usonian house by Frank Lloyd Wright from 1956, was moved here from New Jersey and stands on the site.
General admission is free; a grant from the Walmart Foundation secures this until 2028 at the earliest, according to Talk Business. Check special exhibitions and current rules in advance (as of October 2026).
- Nearest town
- Bentonville, AR
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 36.3822, -94.2027
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, September and November. Hot in July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Coler Grove Camper ParkingMotorhome stopover2 mi from Crystal Bridges Museum of American ArtMotorhomes
- Blue Springs RV ParkMotorhome stopover18 mi from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art · 63 pitchesMotorhomes
- Around the Bend Ozarks RV ParkMotorhome stopover18 mi from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art · 5 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Lake WedingtonMotorhome stopover22 mi from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art · 18 pitchesTentsMotorhomes
- Eureka Springs KOA JourneyMotorhome stopover23 mi from Crystal Bridges Museum of American ArtMotorhomes
- Southgate RV ParkMotorhome stopover24 mi from Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art · 50 pitchesMotorhomes
All campsites in Arkansas · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art?
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is in Bentonville, AR, at GPS 36.3822, -94.2027. It is about 6 mi from Rogers.
Can you camp near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Coler Grove Camper Parking, about 2 mi away; within 25 mi there are 16 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art?
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Ozark loop: Branson, Eureka Springs and Crystal Bridges.
What is there to see near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art?
Places worth a stop nearby: Pea Ridge National Military Park (11 mi), Thorncrown Chapel (23 mi), Roaring River State Park (25 mi) and Eureka Springs Historic District (26 mi).
When is the best time to visit Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, September and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)