Where is Van Buren, Arkansas, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Van Buren Located? - Van Buren is a city located in the Crawford County of Arkansas, United States. Van Buren lies between 34.1064 Degrees North latitudes and 117.5931 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Van Buren, Arkansas

Where is Van Buren, Arkansas

Van Buren Map, Arkansas, USA

Where is Van Buren?: The Google Map showing the location of Van Buren in the U.S. state of Arkansas.

Where is Van Buren Located?

Van Buren is a city located in the Crawford County of Arkansas, United States. Van Buren lies between 34.1064 Degrees North latitudes and 117.5931 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Van Buren city is 23218 people and the city has a total area of 15.39 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Van Buren, Arkansas Quick Facts

AttributeDetails
CityVan Buren
CountyCrawford County
StateArkansas
State CapitalLittle Rock
US RegionSouthern United States
Latitude35.4368° N
Longitude94.3483° W
ElevationApproximately 404 ft (123 m)
Land Area15.9 sq mi
Water Area1.0 sq mi
Total Area16.9 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)23,218
Population DensityApproximately 1,460 per sq mi
ZIP Codes72956, 72957
Area Code479
Time Zone StandardCentral Standard Time (CST), UTC−6
Time Zone DaylightCentral Daylight Time (CDT), UTC−5
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code05-71240
Community TypeCity

Transportation and Connectivity in Van Buren, Arkansas

TransportationDetails
Airport NameFort Smith Regional Airport
IATA CodeFSM
Regional AirportNorthwest Arkansas National Airport
PortMcClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System
Major HighwaysInterstate 40, US Route 64, US Route 71, Arkansas Highway 59
Train/Amtrak ServicePassenger rail service available through nearby regional connections
Local Transit ServiceFort Smith Transit service connections
  • Interstate 40 — Major east-west interstate connecting Van Buren with Fort Smith, Little Rock, and Oklahoma.
  • US Route 64 — Historic highway connecting communities across western Arkansas.
  • US Route 71 — Regional north-south route connecting northwest Arkansas and nearby states.

Top Places to Visit in Van Buren, Arkansas

Landmark NameType
Historic Main Street Van BurenHistoric District
Drennen-Scott Historic SiteHistoric Landmark
King Opera HouseHistoric Theater
Van Buren River Valley MuseumHistory Museum
Lee Creek ParkRecreation Area
Freedom ParkCommunity Park
Lake Fort Smith State ParkState Park
Arkansas RiverNatural Landmark
Fort Smith National Historic SiteHistoric Site
Wild Wilderness Drive-Through SafariWildlife Attraction

Driving Distances from Van Buren, Arkansas to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
Fort SmithArkansas5 mi10 minutes
FayettevilleArkansas55 mi1 hour
Fort GibsonOklahoma60 mi1 hour 15 minutes
RussellvilleArkansas80 mi1 hour 20 minutes
Little RockArkansas160 mi2 hours 30 minutes
SpringfieldMissouri150 mi2 hours 30 minutes
TulsaOklahoma120 mi2 hours
Oklahoma CityOklahoma200 mi3 hours
MemphisTennessee220 mi3 hours 30 minutes
DallasTexas250 mi4 hours

Colleges and Universities Near Van Buren, Arkansas

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
University of Arkansas - Fort SmithPublicUniversityBusiness, health sciences, education, and applied technology programs
University of Arkansas - FayettevillePublicUniversityResearch, engineering, agriculture, business, and law
Arkansas Tech UniversityPublicUniversityEngineering, education, business, and sciences
NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeWorkforce training, technical programs, and transfer education
Van Buren School DistrictPublicK–12 DistrictLocal public education

Waterbodies Near Van Buren, Arkansas

Arkansas River, Lee Creek, Clear Creek, Wells Lake, Lake Fort Smith, and nearby Crawford County waterways

Golf Courses and Stadiums Near Van Buren

Golf Courses: Van Buren Municipal Golf Course, Eagle Crest Golf Course, and nearby Fort Smith-area golf facilities. Stadiums: Blakemore Field, University of Arkansas - Fort Smith athletic facilities, and local community sports fields.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Van Buren, Arkansas

Landmark NameType
Historic Main Street Van BurenHistoric District
Drennen-Scott Historic SiteHistoric Landmark
King Opera HouseHistoric Theater
Van Buren River Valley MuseumHistory Museum
Lake Fort Smith State ParkState Park
Lee Creek ParkRecreation Area
Fort Smith National Historic SiteHistoric Site
Fort Smith Museum of HistoryHistory Museum
Arkansas River TrailRecreation Trail
Wiederkehr VillageHistoric Community

Van Buren, Arkansas — Key Historical Facts

  • Van Buren was founded in 1831 along the Arkansas River and was named after Martin Van Buren, the eighth President of the United States.
  • The city developed as an important river port and transportation center in western Arkansas.
  • Van Buren became a major railroad community after the arrival of rail service in the late 19th century.
  • The historic downtown district preserves many buildings from the city's early commercial period.
  • The city's location near Fort Smith helped it grow as part of the Arkansas-Oklahoma border region's trade and transportation network.
  • Today, Van Buren is known for its historic downtown, Arkansas River location, outdoor recreation, and connection to the Fort Smith metropolitan area.

References

Arkansas Related Links

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