Conway, AR Road Trips

The mascot of the high school football team is a 'Wampus Cat'. A statue exists at the football stadium. 1 Downtown Conway. Take a stroll through scenic Downtown Conway to view historic shops as well as new enterprises. In the winter, you won't be able to miss the largest (and most expensive) Christmas tree in the state of Arkansas. (updated May 2017)

Annual Events EcoFest. Is a small (2500+ person) festival focused on environmental awareness. It takes place in the fall, usually September. Toad Suck Daze. Is a large (100,000+ person?) festival. It takes place in the spring, usually May. The Faulkner County Fair takes place every fall, usually September. It takes place a little ways outside town at the Expo Center and Fairgrounds. It also includes a parade through downtown. Comic Conway. Is a local comic, anime, and gaming convention. It takes place in the late fall, usually November. Conway Composers' Concert is a free concert that takes place twice per year. ArtsFest is an annual festival. Seasonal Events There is a corn maze southwest of town on Lollie Rd where 89N turns north into Sand Gap Rd. The maze is open in the fall season and has various supporting activities such as fair-style food and a children's playground. The Pumpkin Patch is southwest of town on Lollie Rd where 89N turns north into Sand Gap Rd. It is open in the fall season with various children's rides and such - and of course pumpkin-picking. It's much more popular than you might expect: there were dozens of cars in the parking lot one October Saturday afternoon. During football season UCA has tailgating for several hours before each home game on Bruce Street. Other Events The UCA physics department has monthly showings in both their planetarium and observatory. Reynolds Performing Hall. Is a performing arts theatre with performances every couple weeks throughout the year. Science Night takes place one per month in downtown.

Mike's Place, 808 Front Street (Across from City Hall and Simon Park). noon-late. Steaks, seafood, and more with a hint of New Orleans. Medium Price. Jade China Restaurant, 559 Harkrider St, ☏ +1 501 329-5121. Stoby's Restaurant, 805 Donaghey Ave, ☏ +1 501 327-5447. A local tradition! Great sandwiches, lighter fare, pies and cakes to die for!

Virtually all of the hotels are near the two main interstate exits (125 and 127), probably around a dozen or so total. Best Western Conway, I-40 & 64 E, ☏ +1 501 329-9855, fax: +1 501 327-6110. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 2370 Sanders St, ☏ +1 501 450-9112. Motel 6, 810 Museum Rd, ☏ +1 501-329-8999.

Interstate 40 travels around the eastern and northern portions of Conway, with four exits allowing access to city itself. Exit 129 empties onto the southern divided highway, Dave Ward Drive, which is the fastest way to get to the University of Central Arkansas campus. Exit 127 and Exit 125 both provide relatively easy access to Hendrix College and Central Baptist College, as well as the historic downtown area. Though Exit 124 is labelled as an exit for Wooster, it can be a convenient way to bypass the occasional downtown traffic to reach destinations in West Conway. On Dave Ward Drive, please take care to follow the posted speed limit, especially when empty roads may tempt you to continue at interstate speeds, as this is a favorite spot for Conway PD to catch unsuspecting motorists. One Greyhound Bus each morning can take you from North Little Rock to Conway, and another one can take you back to the capital in the evening. The Greyhound station in North Little Rock is located near Riverfront Park, while the stop in Conway can be found in front of the Flash Market, a difficult and somewhat treacherous walk away from most points of interest. If you are a student at one of the universities, be on the lookout for carpooling options or shuttle buses, especially around school breaks. It is possible to take an Uber to or from Little Rock for around $30, and a taxi would be more expensive. If you have connections in the area and time to plan ahead, it is usually best to pay a friend or acquaintance to take you to or from Little Rock.

By far the best way to get around town is via car or bicycle. Conway has its fair share of cyclists (Conway Advocates for Bicycling), and the city has made great efforts to become more bike friendly. Bicyclists may be pleased with the availability of bike lanes and planned bike routes.