College Visit Guides

Fly-in guide · 1 day, 1 campus

University of Arkansas in 1 Day: A Fly-In Visit to Fayetteville

A parent-first plan for flying in to see the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville: the U of A's official visit registration, where visitors park, three hotels from budget to upscale, drive times from Northwest Arkansas National and Tulsa airports, Crystal Bridges and the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks for siblings and Ozark weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 29, 2026.

Old Main, a red-brick Victorian building with two mansard-roofed towers at the University of Arkansas, seen down a paved walk between green lawns and tall shade trees under an overcast sky
Old Main at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (May 2017). Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

School
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (Fayetteville, AR)
Days
1 on campus, plus travel. Arrive the day before a morning visit.
Fly into
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), about 35 minutes from Inn at Carnall Hall by car with no traffic. Tulsa (TUL) is about 2 hr 15 min away.
Best base
Inn at Carnall Hall, on the edge of campus and about a 12-minute walk to Silas Hunt Hall, where visits check in.
Car or no car
A rental car is the simplest way in from either airport; visitors park in the Garland Avenue Parking Garage.
Registration
Through the U of A's official visit registration, at least three business days ahead. Walk-ins aren't accepted.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents flying in with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, with time left for Crystal Bridges or the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.

Visits check in at the first-floor lobby of Silas Hunt Hall, home of the Office of Admissions, and visitors park in the Garland Avenue Parking Garage a short walk away.

Why this order

  • Arrive the day before and stay on or near campus, so visit morning is a short walk or drive.
  • Visit day: a 30-minute information session with an admissions counselor, then a campus tour of about an hour. You can also ask for a recreation-facilities tour or a meeting with an academic department.
  • Afterward, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville is about 36 minutes away by car, and general admission is free every day.
Pick the right visit
  • Campus visits run Monday through Friday and on select Saturdays. Register on the U of A's visit registration page at least three business days ahead; everyone in your group who is a student must register, and there's no waitlist.
  • Visit dates are added 8 to 10 weeks ahead, so check back if your dates aren't open yet. You'll get a personalized itinerary when you arrive.
  • Can't make it in person? The U of A offers a virtual tour and virtual visits.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Residence hall tours aren't offered during campus visits; the Housing website has virtual views of the halls instead.
  • Groups of up to 75 students, 8th grade and up, can schedule visits Tuesday through Thursday, except in March. Contact 479-575-6240 or visit@uark.edu.
  • Need ADA accommodations for anyone in your party? Let the Campus Visits office know as soon as possible.

2. The suggested 1-day plan

  • Drive times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, and walking times use OpenStreetMap foot routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Walking times to campus are to Silas Hunt Hall, and drive times are to the Garland Avenue Parking Garage.

Arrival day: fly in and check in near campus

  1. Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) → Inn at Carnall Hall

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~35 min, 24.5 mi
    Driving and walking
    Rental car or rideshare

  2. Tulsa International Airport (TUL) → Inn at Carnall Hall (alternate airport)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~2 hr 15 min, 112.3 mi
    Driving and walking
    Rental car
  • XNA is about 37 minutes from Graduate Fayetteville and about 34 minutes from Candlewood Suites with no traffic.

Visit day: info session and campus tour, then Crystal Bridges

  1. Inn at Carnall Hall → Silas Hunt Hall

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~3 min, 0.6 mi (to the Garland Avenue garage)
    Driving and walking
    ~12 min walk, 0.6 mi

  2. Graduate Fayetteville → Garland Avenue Parking Garage

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~6 min, 1.5 mi
    Driving and walking
    ~30 min walk, 1.4 mi

  3. Candlewood Suites → Garland Avenue Parking Garage

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~6 min, 2.1 mi
    Driving and walking
    Drive

  4. Garland Avenue Parking Garage → Silas Hunt Hall

    Driving (no traffic)
    Walk
    Driving and walking
    ~7 min walk, 0.3 mi

  5. Campus → Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (600 Museum Way, Bentonville)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~36 min, 25.5 mi
    Driving and walking
    Drive
  • From the garage, follow the sidewalk to Silas Hunt Hall and check in at the first-floor lobby.
  • Heading home: campus is about 34 minutes from XNA and about 2 hr 15 min from Tulsa with no traffic.

3. Campus by campus

Old Main, a red-brick Victorian building with two mansard-roofed towers at the University of Arkansas, seen down a paved walk between green lawns and tall shade trees under an overcast sky
Old Main at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (May 2017). Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (Fayetteville, AR)

Where visits start
  • Visits check in at the first-floor lobby of Silas Hunt Hall. The Campus Visits office is at 232 Silas Hunt Hall.
  • The information session lasts 30 minutes and the campus tour about an hour. You can add an appointment with an academic department or college on weekdays, or an Honors College presentation in Gearhart Hall that typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes.
  • Register at least three business days before you arrive; the U of A can't accept walk-ins.
Visitor parking
  • Park in the Garland Avenue Parking Garage, 1055 W. Cleveland St., next to the bookstore. Enter using the level 2 or level 3-red entrance ramps, and if those are full, go to level 6.
  • Park so your rear license plate is visible (no backing in), and pay with the ParkMobile app.
  • Staying longer? A visitor day permit lets you park in green, yellow or orange lots, and hourly parking is available in several areas. Parking questions: 479-575-7275 or parking@uark.edu.
Getting there
  • Silas Hunt Hall is about a 12-minute walk from Inn at Carnall Hall and about a 30-minute walk from Graduate Fayetteville; Candlewood Suites is about a 6-minute drive to the garage, with no traffic.
  • Transit questions: 479-575-7433. Transit and Parking is at 155 S. Razorback Rd.
What to know
  • The photo in this guide shows Old Main, the oldest building on campus. The U of A's Senior Walk begins on its steps, and its bells chime through the day and play the Alma Mater each evening.
  • The self-guided tour also passes the Arkansas Union, Mullins Library (the second largest library in Arkansas), the Chi Omega Greek Theatre, donated in 1930, and Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, which holds nearly 76,000 fans.
  • The Northwest Quad has suite-style residence halls and the Fulbright Dining Hall.
Contact
Campus Visits: 479-575-6240 or visit@uark.edu. Office of Admissions: 479-575-5346 or uofa@uark.edu (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. CT). 232 Silas Hunt Hall, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.

Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: U of A Admissions: Visit · U of A: Self-guided tour sheet (PDF) · U of A: Virtual tour · U of A Housing: Residence halls · U of A Transit and Parking: Visitors

4. Where to stay: on and near campus in Fayetteville

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

Inn at Carnall Hall

465 N. Arkansas Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701

Why here

  • On the edge of campus, about a 12-minute walk to Silas Hunt Hall and about 35 minutes by car from XNA.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free self-parking, a restaurant and bar, breakfast for a fee, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

Graduate by Hilton Fayetteville

70 N. East Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's near the Fayetteville Downtown Square, about a 6-minute drive to the Garland Avenue garage with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists 234 rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a 24-hour gym, a bar, bike rentals and valet parking for a fee. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Candlewood Suites Fayetteville – University of Arkansas

2270 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fayetteville, AR 72701

Why here

  • Expedia lists this extended-stay hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about a 6-minute drive to the Garland Avenue garage with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists 78 rooms with kitchens, free self-parking, a 24-hour gym and a laundry room. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Stay at Inn at Carnall Hall to walk to your visit, or downtown near the square if you'd rather have restaurants close by in the evening.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

On campus

The Arkansas Union houses restaurants, and the Northwest Quad has the Fulbright Dining Hall.

Near your hotel

Inn at Carnall Hall has an on-site restaurant and bar, and Graduate Fayetteville has a bar, per Expedia.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR

About 36 minutes by car from campus. General admission is free every day; the museum is closed Tuesdays, and its trails and grounds open from sunrise to sunset. Parking at the museum garage is free.

Official page →

With siblings

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks

Lake Fayetteville, Fayetteville, AR

About 17 minutes by car from campus, with 12 themed gardens including a Children's Garden, and free backpacks for young guests. Open Friday through Wednesday (closed Thursdays); children 3 and under are free. The butterfly house is closed for the 2026 season.

Official page →

With siblings

A Razorbacks game

Fayetteville, AR

Check the Razorbacks schedule for a home game on your dates.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Driving and parking

  • Download the ParkMobile app before you arrive; it's how you pay at the Garland Avenue garage.
  • No backing in: your rear license plate has to be visible.

Flying in and out

  • Northwest Arkansas National (XNA) is about 34 minutes from campus. Tulsa (TUL) is about 2 hr 15 min away with no traffic, so leave extra time.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Fayetteville Experiment Station)

  • Spring: April averages about 69°F highs and 47°F lows, with about 4.5 inches of rain.
  • Summer: July averages about 89°F/69°F, with about 3.6 inches of rain.
  • Fall: October averages about 71°F/48°F, with about 4.1 inches of rain.
  • Winter: January averages about 47°F/27°F, with about 2.6 inches of rain or snow.

Parent checklist

  • Register every student in your group on the U of A's official visit registration page, at least three business days ahead.
  • If your dates aren't open yet, check back: visits are added 8 to 10 weeks ahead.
  • Book flights into XNA or Tulsa and a rental car.
  • Book a hotel on or near campus.
  • Install the ParkMobile app for the Garland Avenue garage.
  • After the visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

1 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
  5. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Athletics (official site)
  6. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Athletics: Staff Directory
  7. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Athletics: schedule of events

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Sources

All checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. University of Arkansas Office of Admissions: Visit
  2. University of Arkansas Admissions: Campus visit registration (official sign-up)
  3. University of Arkansas Admissions: Self-guided tour sheet (PDF)
  4. University of Arkansas Transit and Parking: Visitors
  5. University of Arkansas: Virtual tour
  6. University of Arkansas Housing: Residence halls
  7. Expedia listing: Inn at Carnall Hall (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Fayetteville-Hotels-Inn-At-Carnall-Hall.h3939584.Hotel-Information)
  8. Expedia listing: Graduate by Hilton Fayetteville AR (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Fayetteville-Hotels-Graduate-By-Hilton-Fayetteville-AR.h25475.Hotel-Information)
  9. Expedia listing: Candlewood Suites Fayetteville – University of Arkansas by IHG (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Fayetteville-Hotels-Candlewood-Suites-Fayetteville-University-Of-Arkansas.h1880924.Hotel-Information)
  10. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art: Visit
  11. Botanical Garden of the Ozarks: Plan your visit
  12. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  13. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  14. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  15. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Fayetteville Experiment Station, AR (USC00032444)
  16. Arkansas Razorbacks: Schedule