Things to Do in Arkansas
Ten stops running from a mountain full of historic bathhouses to the only diamond mine in the country where you can keep whatever you dig up.
Arkansas tends to fly under the radar compared to its neighbours, which works out well for anyone who actually visits, thermal springs, real caverns, and a free art museum that punches well above what a town this size should reasonably have. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Hot Springs National Park
One of the smallest national parks in the country, built directly around a row of restored early 20th-century bathhouses that once drew visitors from across the country for the thermal waters. Buckstaff Bathhouse still operates using the original 1912 methods, a proper soak in naturally heated mineral water rather than a modern spa reinvention.
Beyond the bathhouse row, hiking trails climb into the surrounding mountains for sweeping views over the town, a good stretch-your-legs option before or after a soak.
Hours Bathhouse Row daily, roughly 9am-5pm
Address Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs, AR
Crater of Diamonds State Park
A 37-acre field, the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic crater, where visitors dig through the soil with simple tools and keep any diamonds they find, no permit or fee split required. Several properly significant diamonds have turned up here over the decades, including one found by a visitor just a day into their search.
Bring your own tools or rent basic ones on site, and expect dirt, this is proper hands-on digging rather than a polished tourist activity, which is exactly why kids tend to love it.
Hours Daily, roughly 8am-5pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 209 State Park Rd, Murfreesboro, AR
Buffalo National River
Designated in 1972 as the country's first National River, a free-flowing, undammed waterway running through the Ozarks with limestone bluffs rising directly from the water in places. Canoeing and kayaking both run well here, with several outfitters renting equipment and running shuttle services for a one-way float down a chosen stretch.
Elk were reintroduced to the area decades ago and now roam the Boxley Valley section in properly visible numbers, a slow drive through around dawn or dusk pays off if wildlife spotting interests you.
Best time Spring for higher water levels; autumn for foliage
Address Buffalo National River, AR
Eureka Springs
A small Ozark town built almost entirely on a steep hillside, Victorian-era buildings stacked at odd angles along winding streets that don't really follow a grid at all, the whole town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Crescent Hotel, a properly striking 1886 building overlooking the town, runs both regular tours and a reputation for being haunted, a decent stop regardless of your view on that particular claim.
Downtown stays entirely walkable, though the hills are steep enough that proper shoes matter, this isn't a town built with flat, easy strolling in mind.
Address Eureka Springs, AR
Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock
A presidential library covering Bill Clinton's two terms in real depth, a full-scale replica of the Oval Office as it looked during his presidency, alongside thousands of gifts received from foreign leaders throughout his time in office. The building itself, a striking modern structure extending out over the Arkansas River, earns a look even for visitors without much interest in the exhibits themselves.
The surrounding Clinton Presidential Park runs walking trails along the riverfront, a good, free add-on if you're spending a full afternoon in the area.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-5pm
Address 1200 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, AR
Blanchard Springs Caverns
A properly large cave system in the Ozark National Forest, three different tour routes ranging from an easy, paved walk to a more physical, several-hour route through undeveloped passages. The Dripstone Trail, the most accessible option, runs past formations still actively growing, a good choice if travelling with younger kids or anyone less keen on tight spaces.
The cave stays a steady temperature year-round, a light jacket helps even during an Arkansas summer above ground.
Hours Seasonal, check current tour schedule
Address Blanchard Springs Caverns, Fifty Six, AR
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
A properly significant art museum for a town this size, funded by Alice Walton and holding works spanning colonial portraiture through contemporary American art, all set within a striking building designed around a series of ponds and surrounding woodland trails. General admission runs free, an unusual thing for a museum holding pieces of this calibre.
The surrounding trails connect directly to downtown Bentonville, a good combination if you want a proper walk through the wider grounds while the weather cooperates.
Hours Wed-Mon, roughly 10am-5pm, closed Tuesdays
Address 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR
Petit Jean State Park
Arkansas's first state park, built around a flat-topped mountain with Cedar Falls, a 95-foot waterfall reachable via a moderate trail through a properly scenic canyon. Several lodges and cabins sit within the park itself, a good base if you're planning to stay overnight rather than just passing through.
The overlook at Cedar Falls offers one of the better payoff-to-effort ratios on this whole list, roughly two miles round trip for a properly dramatic waterfall view.
Best time Spring for the fullest waterfall flow
Address 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR
Arkansas's Fried Catfish Trail
Arkansas ranks among the top catfish-producing states in the country, and the fish shows up on menus statewide fried, cornmeal-crusted, and usually served alongside hush puppies and coleslaw. Family-run catfish houses run throughout the state, particularly concentrated around the eastern Delta region where much of the farming happens.
This is proper, unfussy Southern food, a family-run spot over a chain tends to make the difference noticeable if you want the dish at its best.
Address Delta region catfish houses, eastern Arkansas
War Eagle Mill
A historic water-powered gristmill still in active operation, flour and cornmeal ground on site using the original mechanism and sold directly from the attached store. The mill sits beside War Eagle River in a properly scenic spot, a good combination with a stop at the on-site restaurant for a proper Southern breakfast made with the mill's own flour.
The mill hosts a large arts and crafts fair each October, a good one to time a visit around if that lines up, though the mill itself runs as a solid stop regardless of season.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-5pm
Address 11045 War Eagle Rd, Rogers, AR
Best time to visit Arkansas
April through June and September through October cover the most comfortable weather for this list, mild enough for the outdoor stops without summer's serious heat and humidity.
Hot Springs and the caverns both work fine year-round given their indoor or thermally regulated nature, consider either if visiting outside the ideal months elsewhere.
Getting around Arkansas
A car is essential, the distances between Hot Springs, Little Rock, and the northern Ozarks run into several hours, this is a state best covered with your own transport.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Arkansas worth visiting?
- Yes, particularly for outdoor activities and the surprisingly strong art scene in Bentonville, a state that rewards visitors willing to look past its quieter reputation.
- How many days do you need in Arkansas?
- Five days gives a comfortable pace to cover Hot Springs, Little Rock, and either Eureka Springs or Bentonville.
- Is Arkansas expensive to visit?
- No, generally affordable, food and accommodation both run well below the national average across most of this list.
- What's the best Arkansas trip for kids?
- Crater of Diamonds State Park and Blanchard Springs Caverns both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a state that surprises most people who actually stop here.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
