Established in the Ozarks — Combs, Arkansas
Home Cookin' Worth the Drive
Tucked in the hills of Madison County, we serve up Southern comfort food, fresh-baked pizza, cold drinks, and a warm welcome. Bring the family, the kids, or the whole riding crew — UTV-friendly, RV-ready, and always neighborly.
See Our Menu 🍕 Pizza on Weekends 14-inch pies, house-made sauce. Call ahead and we'll have it ready. ›Our Story
Combs Cafe has been a gathering spot for neighbors, families, hunters, trail riders, and travelers passing through the beautiful Boston Mountains. We started simple — fresh coffee and a love for feeding folks right. Many of our specials come from recipes passed down through generations.
We're not fancy. We're home.
Photo by Cindy Longmate
Deep Roots
Long before the trails and the cafe, Combs was a boomtown in the Boston Mountains — a railroad hub, a logging powerhouse, a mining community, and a center of commerce for Madison County. These hills hold more history than most people know.
Combs Train Depot — Frisco Line, circa 1910
Photo courtesy of Mary Ellen Johnson · Encyclopedia of Arkansas
The St. Louis–San Francisco Railway (the "Frisco") ran through Combs as early as 1910, connecting the community to Fayetteville and St. Paul. In 1913, the Combs, Cass & Eastern Railroad began construction right here, heading south along Mill Creek into the Ozark National Forest to haul timber. It was the last railroad built in northwest Arkansas — and at nearly 1,900 feet elevation, it reached higher than any other line in the region. The line ran until 1937, when the Great Depression and the arrival of Highway 16 brought its era to a close.
Gold Mine at Combs, circa 1918–1919
Courtesy of Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Yes — there was a gold mine at Combs, and the original shaft is on our property. Around 1918 to 1919, mining operations brought another wave of activity to the community, adding to the already-bustling railroad economy. The Boston Mountains of Madison County have long held secrets in their hills, and for a brief time, gold was among them.
Logging Railroad Yard — Boston Mountains, early 1900s
Combs sat at the heart of one of the great logging booms in the Ozarks. The rich hardwood forests of Madison and Franklin counties — white oak, hickory, and more — drew sawmill operators and timber companies in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Combs, Cass & Eastern Railroad was built in 1913 specifically to haul logs out of the mountains, with trestles spanning gulches 125 feet deep. By the end of World War I, most of the prime timber was gone, and the forests that remain today are the second-growth descendants of those ancient stands.
We fry in 100% beef tallow — never seed oils
Spots available right here in Combs
Ride in from the trails — park out front
Kids welcome — bring the whole bunch for a hot meal
Trails & Adventure
Combs sits right at the gateway to some of Arkansas's finest outdoor country — deep in the Ozark National Forest and just south of the upper White River. Whether you're riding or hiking, fuel up with us before heading back out into the hills.
One of Arkansas's premier off-road destinations — right in our backyard. About 42 miles of designated trail in three interconnecting loops through the Ozark National Forest: steep climbs, loose rock, creek crossings and waterfalls. The 27-mile Blue Loop is the bucket-list ride; the shorter Warmup Loop is a good shakedown if you're getting your bearings. Difficulty runs moderate to very difficult.
Trailhead is 4.7 miles south on Forest Service Road 1007. Open year round, self-pay kiosk at the staging area. Call the Boston Mountain Ranger District at (479) 667-2191 for current trail conditions.
Right Down the Road ATVs · UTVs · Dirt BikesLace up and head into the forest. The 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail threads the ridgelines and hollows around us, and a string of waterfalls and bluff overlooks sit just off Highway 16 — short downhill walks to big payoffs. Spring wildflowers and fall color make it worth the boots.
Trailheads scattered along Hwy 16 and the forest roads east and west of Combs. Free.
Hiking All Skill Levels
Pull up to the cafe — we've got a spot for you. Whether you're on a UTV or a motorcycle, load up on biscuits and gravy before your next run. We keep extra napkins on hand for muddy hands and good stories.
🅿️ Truck & Trailer Parking Available — $10/day
Non-Ethanol Fuel Available
Pure fuel on-site — better for your small engines, UTVs, motorcycles, and boats. No corn, no compromise.
The Forest Service map for the whole system. We keep one on the wall too.
Map courtesy of the USDA Forest Service · Boston Mountain Ranger District
Stay a Spell
Traveling through the Ozarks? Don't rush on. Park it here, rest up, and wake up to fresh coffee and a hot plate. You found the right stop.
Call ahead to reserve your spot — we fill up on weekends!
Our Community
We're proud to be neighbors with some of the best people and businesses in the Ozarks. Whether you're riding, wrenching, or exploring — these are the folks we trust.
Your go-to SxS, ATV & dirt bike repair shop right here in Combs — just 1 mile north of us. Jeff brings decades of racing and dealership experience to every machine he touches. All brands serviced.
Right next door to us! UTV rentals, guided tours, cabins, and RV sites with direct ride-in/ride-out access to the Mill Creek OHV trails. The only permitted & insured UTV guide service in the Boston Mountains.
A campground two miles east of Combs in Brashears. Cabins, glamping sites and full-service RV hookups.
800 acres along the Mulberry River down toward Cass — RV and primitive camping, cabins, and trails and play areas for ATVs, UTVs, 4x4s and bikes, with passes available. Canoe, kayak and tube rentals on the river, a general store, a riverfront restaurant, and a 2,500-foot grass airstrip.
400 acres on the Pig Trail at Ozark — lodge rooms, rustic cabins, an RV park and tent camping, with UTV and ATV trails, hiking and mountain biking on the property. Also a longtime music and event venue, with a big hall and an amphitheater.
Riding hard since 1968! One of Arkansas's longest-running dual sport clubs, with their campground right down the road from us just south of Combs off Hwy 16. Home to the beloved "Rally at the Rock" events.
Amie & Richard are an Arkansas Ozarks couple exploring the trails on their UTVs and sharing every adventure online. They ride the same roads we call home — follow along and see what the Boston Mountains are all about.
A country store, four miles east of Combs in St. Paul. Rodney and Melissa provide groceries, general merchandise, gas, and a cafe, along with a warm welcome.
Elkins-based BBQ & catering with a food truck and a line of award-winning, made-in-Arkansas dry rubs and seasonings. From competition pits to your table — try the Cracked Orange Pepper on just about everything. Find their rubs at area Harps stores too.
Find Us
Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Stop in or give us a holler.
(479) 677-2783
Located at 10342 AR-16 in Combs, Madison County. From Fayetteville, head east on AR-16. From Huntsville, head south on AR-23 to Brashears and continue west on AR-16 into Combs. Can't miss us!
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