Lowell, Arkansas sits right in the middle of the Northwest Arkansas metro, tucked between Rogers and Springdale along the I-49 corridor. It’s best known as the headquarters town of trucking giant J.B. Hunt, and it’s more of a comfortable bedroom-and-business community than a tourist stop — but the Razorback Regional Greenway runs right through it, and a standout city park gives visitors a reason to pause. Here’s your honest guide to Lowell: what’s here, a little history, and how to get there.
Lowell has grown quickly with the rest of the region, from about 7,300 residents in 2010 to nearly 9,900 at the 2020 census and higher since. Its central location means you’re never far from the bigger draws of Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, and Fayetteville — and the greenway makes it a natural stop if you’re cycling the length of the metro.
Things to do in Lowell
Ward Nail Park
Lowell’s flagship green space is Ward Nail Park on McClure Avenue, and it packs a lot into one spot: walking and biking trails, a stocked fishing pond, a playground, basketball courts, pavilions, and a small amphitheater. In the warm months the big draw is the splash pad — a fenced water-play area with a dumping bucket and slides that’s a hit with families. It’s free and a good place to stretch your legs off the greenway.
Razorback Regional Greenway
The Razorback Regional Greenway — the roughly 40-mile, mostly off-road trail that links Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville — runs straight through Lowell, making the town an easy waypoint on a long ride or walk. The Lowell stretch passes a mix of neighborhoods and open exurban countryside. It’s free and open year-round; bring water and check a trail map for the nearest access points.
Lowell Historical Museum
For a look at the town’s past, the Lowell Historical Museum is housed in the L. P. Davis House, an 1881 home dating to the town’s railroad-era beginnings. It’s a small, local museum with limited hours, so check ahead before making a special trip.
A quick history of Lowell
The community began in the 1840s as a settlement along the Old Wire Road — the route used by the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoaches — and was known for a time as Bloomington, picking up the nickname “Mudtown” after a stagecoach reportedly bogged down in the deep mud there. When the Frisco railroad laid its tracks about a mile to the west in 1881, the town relocated to the line and took the name Lowell. It was incorporated as a city in 1905, and canning factories anchored the local economy through the first half of the 20th century. The town’s modern chapter began in 1971, when J.B. Hunt Transport Services moved its headquarters here; the company that Johnnie Bryan and Johnelle Hunt built grew into one of the largest trucking firms in the country and remains headquartered in Lowell today.
Where to eat, drink, and stay
Lowell has everyday restaurants and a few hotels along the business highway, but there’s no distinct dining or entertainment district in town — and you’re only about 10 minutes from the far larger food and drink scenes of Rogers and Springdale. For where to eat and drink nearby, browse our sister sites NWA Food and NWA Brew, or dive into our full guides to Rogers and Springdale.
Location & getting there
- Where: Central Benton County, along I-49 and US-71 Business between Rogers and Springdale.
- County: Benton County, Arkansas.
- Nearby cities: about 10 minutes to both Rogers and Springdale, roughly 15 to Bentonville and Fayetteville.
- From the airport: about 20 minutes from Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA).
- On the trail: the Razorback Regional Greenway runs through town; Ward Nail Park is on McClure Avenue.
Lowell FAQ
What is Lowell, Arkansas known for?
Lowell is best known as the headquarters town of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, one of the largest trucking companies in the country. For visitors, its main draws are Ward Nail Park and its splash pad, the Razorback Regional Greenway that runs through town, and its central location in the Northwest Arkansas metro.
Does the Razorback Greenway go through Lowell?
Yes. The Razorback Regional Greenway, a roughly 40-mile mostly off-road trail linking Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville, runs directly through Lowell, making it a convenient waypoint for cyclists and walkers.
Is there much to do in Lowell for tourists?
Lowell is mostly a residential and business community, so it’s light on standalone attractions. The highlights are Ward Nail Park, the greenway, and the small Lowell Historical Museum — and its central spot puts you within about 10 to 15 minutes of Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, and Fayetteville.
How did Lowell get its start?
The community began in the 1840s along the Old Wire Road stagecoach route and was once called Bloomington, nicknamed Mudtown. It moved to the Frisco railroad line in 1881, took the name Lowell, and was incorporated as a city in 1905.
Explore more of Northwest Arkansas
Lowell sits in easy reach of the region’s biggest destinations. Keep exploring with our guides to Rogers, Springdale, and the Northwest Arkansas outdoors, or head back to the WeKnowNWA home page to browse every town.