Road trip ready: Best stops for Bison fans en route to Pittsburg, Kansas

Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a little more than halfway from Searcy to Pittsburg and looks like a good choice to stop for gas and food. We’ve asked a few Fayetteville locals for recommendations.

Everett Kirkman (’22), says you can’t go wrong with Pizzeria Ruby. Pro tip: Get on the waitlist at pizzeriaruby.com when you’re about an hour away because this hidden gem isn’t so hidden anymore. Before you hit the road again, grab a coffee at Hail Fellow Well Met just next door. This restaurant has all the classic Onyx drinks plus some great seasonal specials. Both spaces are perfectly Instagrammable, according to Kirkman, so be sure to post your photos and let us know if you tried the breakfast sammy on fresh house sourdough.

If you get to Fayetteville in time for an early Saturday morning breakfast, you’ll probably catch Grant Schol (’15), and Kaleb Turner(’19) at Little Bread Company, just off the Fayetteville downtown square. Pull up a chair because Schol says the cinnamon roll is as big as your head. Everything is made right here. 

Turner recommends heading to the Fayetteville farmers market on the square for something local. Honest Dirt Farms is owned by Harding alumni Daniel and Chloe Evans. Look for Daniel and Chloe early Saturday morning on Instagram @honestdirt.marketgarden. 

Drop into Dickson Street Bookshop and do some quick holiday shopping. There’s something for everyone. If you have time for lunch, nearby Petra Café serves up a mean gyro plate and perfectly spiced Turkish coffee, if that’s your thing. 

If you only have time for a caffeine break, don’t sleep on Arsaga’s Church and Center for breakfast, lunch and midday toast downtown on the Square. Their menu makes us hungry for the pommes and porc or the marble pie with just a hint of fresh mint.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American art in Bentonville is always a great place to experience Alice Walton’s unrivaled collection of American art. The current exhibition is “Knowing the West: Visual Legacies of the American West.” Open for lunch or a mid-visit coffee break, onsite restaurant Eleven is known for its local and sustainable menu. With 5 miles of nature trails and 120 acres to explore, you’ll need to download a free trail map.

When you’re ready to jump back in the car, you’ll enjoy a scenic drive two hours north for the 1 p.m. kickoff in Pittsburg. If you’re traveling on Friday and looking for a place to sleep, you’ll find the usual assortment of chain hotels close to the stadium. We like the looks of the Hampton Inn, which is just a 10-minute drive from the stadium at Pittsburg State University. LaQuinta Inn and Suites is a short two-minute drive to the stadium. Check prices and policies on your favorite hotel booking website.

Chicken Mary’s has 236 glowing four-star reviews on Tripadvisor and wins our prize for Best Restaurant Name. Yes, Mary was a real person, and she and her husband, Joe, started cooking fried chicken in their home kitchen before moving to the Foxtown Mining Camp Pool Hall in 1945. Chicken Mary’s is only open for dinner, so if you’re in the mood for classic American fried chicken and sides, make sure you plan ahead. If you’re in a rush, the curbside special looks like a convenient and tasty choice to take back to your hotel. 

Modern pizza was invented in Naples, Italy, and you can find a great slice at Napoli’s on North Broadway in Pittsburg. The restaurant bills itself as budget friendly and looks like a great place to take the family or a large group. The baked ziti reminds us of lazy villa dinners at HUF, so forget about your low carb diet and take a deep dive in the menu. You won’t need a passport for this quick trip to the old country.

Wings! Pizza! Sushi! Chatters prides itself on serving a diverse menu. No kidding! We love the idea of bruschetta and pot stickers on the same table. The Viva Las Vegas roll and southern fried pickle chips look good, as well as the Irish nachos. Everything on the menu looks just right for a post-game victory party with your entire Bison road trip crew.

Remember the journey can be as exciting as the destination, so save some time to experience a late autumn road trip through the Ozarks on your trip to Pittsburg. Let us know @HardingUniversity what you’re seeing and eating along the way, and don’t forget to wear your black and gold to cheer on the Bisons to a first-round victory.