Cave Springs, Arkansas is one of the fastest-growing towns in Benton County — and, for many travelers, the very first Northwest Arkansas community they see after landing at the nearby XNA airport. The town takes its name from a spring-fed cave on its northern edge that pushes out roughly six million gallons of cold, clear water a day and shelters the largest known population of the threatened Ozark cavefish. Here’s your guide to visiting Cave Springs: what to see, a little history, and how to get there.
Once a quiet farm town, Cave Springs has grown from about 1,700 residents in 2010 to more than 5,000 today, spreading out along Highways 112 and 264 just minutes from Bentonville and Rogers. It still feels small and residential, but its namesake natural area makes it worth a stop.
Things to do in Cave Springs
Cave Springs Cave Natural Area
The town’s namesake and its main attraction is a 57-acre preserve protecting the cave, its spring, and Partners Lake. A trail of about 1.45 miles round trip loops the site — rated easy to moderate, open daily dawn to dusk, and free. It is not ADA accessible. The lower loop follows the shoreline of Partners Lake and passes the mouth of Cave Springs Cave; the upper loop makes a short but steep climb to the woodlands above the cave opening, with views back over the lake. The spring runs year-round at a constant 54°F.
Know before you go: the cave itself has been gated and closed to the public since the 1980s to protect the endangered Ozark cavefish and the gray bats that roost inside — you can see the cave opening and the spring, but you can’t go in. Wear sturdy shoes (expect roots and some mud near the water), keep pets leashed, and leave no trace; this is protected habitat for a species found almost nowhere else.
Getting to the trailhead: from the Highway 112/264 junction on the south side of town, head north about a quarter-mile to Midway Avenue, turn east, and continue another quarter-mile to the natural area’s northwest corner. Park along the roadside.
Lake Keith
Closer to the center of town, Lake Keith is a small recreational lake with an easy loop trail — an unfussy spot for a short walk or a bit of quiet water without leaving Cave Springs.
Golf and RV camping at The Creeks
On the edge of Cave Springs, The Creeks pairs an 18-hole golf course with an RV resort, making it a handy base if you’re touring Northwest Arkansas by RV and want to stay near the airport. Call ahead for tee times and site availability.
A quick history of Cave Springs
American settlers moved into the area after Arkansas became a state in 1836, building gristmills and a general store around the reliable water of the springs. The town is named for two caves and the water that flows from the northernmost of them. The Kansas City & Memphis Railroad reached Cave Springs in 1906, a post office and bank followed by 1908, and the town was formally incorporated on March 15, 1910. Its economy moved through apples in the early 1900s, then poultry and livestock. The 1911 Shores Warehouse still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The opening of Northwest Arkansas National Airport in 1998 and the region’s broader boom turned this old farm town into one of the area’s fastest-growing suburbs.
The Ozark cavefish: the town’s rarest resident
The threatened Ozark cavefish is a tiny fish — barely three inches long — that is eyeless and without pigment, appearing pinkish-white because its translucent skin reveals the blood and organs beneath. It survives only in permanently dark, cold underground streams that hold a steady 55–60°F, and Cave Springs Cave contains the largest known population anywhere. To protect it, along with the gray bats and rare plants such as Ozark trillium, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission purchased nearly 60 acres including the caves in 1985. That rare little fish is the reason the cave stays closed and the water stays clean — a small town quietly guarding a species found almost nowhere else on Earth.
Cave Springs Days and local events
Each September the town hosts Cave Springs Days, a community festival that draws several thousand people for food, music, and small-town fun. Dates shift year to year, so check the City of Cave Springs for the current schedule before you plan around it.
Where to eat, drink, and stay
Cave Springs is mostly residential, so dining and lodging in town are limited — but you’re only about 10–15 minutes from the restaurants, breweries, and hotels of Bentonville and Rogers, and roughly 5 minutes from the airport-area hotels. For where to eat and drink nearby, browse our sister sites NWA Food and NWA Brew, or dive into our full guides to Bentonville and Rogers.
Location & getting there
- Where: Northwest Benton County, along Highways 112 and 264.
- From the airport: about 5 minutes from Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA).
- Nearby cities: roughly 15 minutes to Bentonville and Rogers, about 20 to Springdale.
- Natural area trailhead: off Midway Avenue (directions above); open dawn to dusk, free.
Get directions to the Cave Springs Cave Natural Area »
Cave Springs FAQ
What is Cave Springs, Arkansas known for?
Cave Springs is known for its spring-fed cave, which holds the largest known population of the threatened Ozark cavefish, and for being one of the first towns visitors reach after landing at the nearby XNA airport. It’s also one of the fastest-growing communities in Benton County.
Can you go inside Cave Springs Cave?
No. The cave has been gated and closed to the public since the 1980s to protect the endangered Ozark cavefish and gray bats. However, the Cave Springs Cave Natural Area trail — open daily from dawn to dusk — takes you past the cave opening and along the shore of Partners Lake.
Is the Cave Springs Cave Natural Area trail free?
Yes. The trail is free and open daily from dawn to dusk. It runs about 1.45 miles round trip, is rated easy to moderate, and is not ADA accessible.
How far is Cave Springs from Bentonville and the airport?
Cave Springs is about 5 minutes from Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) and roughly 15 minutes from both Bentonville and Rogers.
Explore more of Northwest Arkansas
Cave Springs sits right in the middle of the region’s best-known destinations. Keep exploring with our guides to Bentonville, Rogers, and the Northwest Arkansas outdoors, or head back to the WeKnowNWA home page to browse every town.