Van Buren is a historic river city in western Arkansas, situated along the Arkansas River near the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Its location has long connected the community with river travel, railroads, and routes through the Arkansas River Valley. Downtown Van Buren is particularly distinctive, with six blocks of restored buildings forming the Main Street National Historic District. Victorian-era storefronts now house shops, galleries, restaurants, and other local businesses. The city also serves as a gateway to nearby mountain landscapes, making its historic center a useful starting point for exploring the surrounding region.

Van Buren's history reflects the importance of transportation in the development of western Arkansas. The community grew as a river port and later became an important railroad center, with the arrival of rail service strengthening its role as a commercial town. The Drennen-Scott Historic Site preserves one of the city's early residences and offers insight into life in the region. The Old Frisco Depot, now home to the visitor center, represents Van Buren's railroad heritage. The King Opera House on Main Street remains another important landmark, continuing a long tradition of theatrical and community performances.

The Main Street Historic District is the city's principal attraction, with preserved commercial buildings, public spaces, and the restored King Opera House creating a walkable historic center. The free Historic Main Street Trolley provides narrated tours of downtown and stops near several landmarks. The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad also operates excursion trains from the Old Frisco Depot, traveling through the wooded valleys and rugged scenery of the Boston Mountains. Nearby Lee Creek and the Arkansas River provide opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, and wildlife viewing, while Devil's Den State Park and Lake Fort Smith State Park offer additional access to the Ozark landscape.

Van Buren's food scene centers on Southern comfort food, barbecue, burgers, Mexican dishes, and other casual fare served by locally owned restaurants around the historic district and surrounding neighborhoods. Community events bring food vendors, crafts, and local products into the downtown area, while nearby farms contribute to the agricultural character of the Arkansas River Valley. A distinctive feature of Van Buren is the way its railroad heritage remains part of everyday tourism: visitors can begin at the historic depot, explore Main Street by trolley, and take an excursion train directly into the Boston Mountains. This combination gives the city a strong connection to both transportation history and the Ozarks.