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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Bentonville
Bentonville, Virginia
Skip Bentonville as a destination; use it as a 2-hour stop for river access on a Shenandoah Valley drive, or sleep in Front Royal.
Bentonville is a tiny Shenandoah Valley hamlet with one state park and a canoe outfitter. Most travellers pass through on the way to Shenandoah National Park or George Washington National Forest. Half a day covers the river; overnight stays are better in Front Royal.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Bentonville, Virginia
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, some river outfitters close)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $30–60 (river trip + picnic) · Mid $60–120 (river trip + lunch out) · High $120+ (guided trip + dinner) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Canoe rental (half-day, weekday) | $45–60 |
| Tube rental (weekday) | $14–25 |
| State park entry (per vehicle) | $10 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 |
| Lunch sandwich at a deli in Front Royal | $8–12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- IAD · Washington Dulles International
- About 1.5 h drive via I-66 and US-340
- CHO · Charlottesville–Albemarle
- About 1.5 h drive via US-29 and I-64
Typical fares
- Washington Dulles → Bentonville (car)
- about 1.5 h via I-66 and US-340
- Front Royal → Bentonville (car)
- 10 min via US-340
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is essential. Route 340 runs through town; parking at the state park and Downriver Canoe Company.
See and do
Known for
- Raymond R Guest Jr River State Park
- South Fork Shenandoah River canoeing and tubing
- Stonewall Jackson Highway (Route 340)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Front Royal | US-340 north, about 10 min | 10 min |
| Shenandoah National Park (Skyline Drive) | US-340 north to Front Royal entrance, about 15 min | 20 min |
| Winchester | US-340 north then I-81, about 30 min | 35 min |
| Luray Caverns | US-340 south, about 40 min | 45 min |
Sleep
- Front Royal
- 10 min north; most motels and B&Bs for the area.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Helloheh-LOH |
| Thank you | Thank youTHANK yoo |
| How much does it cost? | How much does it cost?how MUCH duhz it KAWST |
| Where is the river access? | Where is the river access?wair iz thuh RIV-er AK-ses |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- River levels rise after heavy rain; check conditions before tubing or canoeing.
- No fuel or groceries in Bentonville itself — fill up in Front Royal.
- State park entry fee: check Virginia State Parks website for current rates.
Very low crime. River safety is the main concern: wear a life jacket, avoid high water, and check weather forecasts.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bentonville yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Raymond R Guest Jr River State Park
- South Fork Shenandoah River canoeing and tubing
- Stonewall Jackson Highway (Route 340)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Virginia State Parks — Raymond R Guest Jr River State Park: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/raymond-r-guest-jr-river
- Wikivoyage: Bentonville (Virginia), revision 3499283 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3499283
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
BentonvilleBentonville, Virginia
Take me to this address, please
Take me to this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Nearest consulates in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/bentonville-virginia). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.