Hot Springs National Park · Mitch Smith · Public domain (US federal government)

Road Trip Guide:
Arkansas

Explore Arkansas

According to the Arkansas Geological Survey, Arkansas is the only place where the general public can find, and keep, a diamond. The search field at Crater of Diamonds State Park, on State Highway 301 in Pike County, covers 37 acres.

Around 11 breweries sit near the stops we cover in Arkansas. 5 of them are brewpubs with a kitchen, which off the motorway is often the useful part. The kitchen figure is a floor: the source lists some full restaurants as production sites.

Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)

Around 4 public campgrounds sit near the stops we cover in Arkansas. All of them take reservations. Public campgrounds run by federal agencies. State-park and private campgrounds are not included.

Outdoors

Public land, water and snow — the places that are the reason for the drive.

National parks and federal sites in Arkansas

9 National Park Service sites in Arkansas, including 1 designated National Park. We have written guides to only a few of these — the rest are here so you can see what is in the state.

*Check before you go. Entrance fees, seasonal road closures, timed-entry reservations and whether a site suits your family are set by each park and change through the year. Follow the link and check with the park itself.

Park register from the National Park Service (public domain)

State parks in Arkansas

43 state parks we know of in Arkansas. We have not visited these and have no guide to them — this is a list of what exists, so you can look one up.

See all 43

Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources
Arkansas Post
Bull Shoals-White River State Park
Cane Creek State Park
Conway Cemetery State Park
Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area
Crater of Diamonds State Park
Crowley's Ridge State Park
Daisy State Park
Davidsonville Historic State Park
DeGray Lake Resort State Park
Delta Heritage Trail State Park
Devil's Den State Park
Hampson Archeological Museum State Park
Herman Davis State Park
Historic Washington State Park
Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area
Jacksonport State Park
Jenkins' Ferry Battleground State Park
Lake Catherine State Park
Lake Charles State Park
Lake Chicot State Park
Lake Dardanelle State Park
Lake Fort Smith State Park
Lake Frierson State Park
Lake Poinsett State Park
Logoly State Park
Louisiana Purchase State Park
Mammoth Spring State Park
Marks’ Mills Battleground State Park
Millwood State Park
Moro Bay State Park
Mount Magazine State Park
Parkin Archeological State Park
Petit Jean State Park
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Poison Springs Battleground State Park
Powhatan Historic State Park
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
Queen Wilhelmina State Park
Village Creek State Park
White Oak Lake State Park
Woolly Hollow State Park

*Check before you go. Opening hours, entry fees, campsite availability and whether a park suits your family are not in this data and change with the season. Several of these are day-use only. Please confirm with the park before setting out.

State park locations from Wikidata (CC0)

Lakes in Arkansas

8 lakes in Arkansas that we have checked. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is. We have not been to these; this is what the official pages say, so you can look one up.

Beaver Lake
near Rogers / Eureka Springs · 31,700 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes; fishing tournaments need a USACE permit
- Boatingyes
- Rentals & marinayes - marinas incl. Horseshoe Bend, Lost Bridge, Prairie Creek (rentals at some)
- Swimmingyes - designated swim beaches; no lifeguards
- Camping11 USACE parks with 677 campsites
- Entry$5 day-use per carload; $40 annual pass; campers exempt from day fee
No lifeguards at designated swim beaches
Run by USACE Little Rock District
Bull Shoals Lake
45,150 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - bass, walleye, crappie, catfish, trout
- Boatingyes - 48,195 surface acres; many free public launch ramps
- Rentals & marinayes - concession marinas rent boats and motors, sell fuel
- Swimmingyes - 6 designated swim areas with day-use fees
- Campingyes - 9 Corps campgrounds, 300+ sites
- EntrySwim areas $1 per person up to $4 per car; $30 annual pass
- SeasonMost parks open April through October; dates vary by park
Run by US Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District
DeGray Lake
near Arkadelphia · 13,800 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - hybrid stripers, crappie, catfish
- Boatingyes; 11 boat ramps; $5 launch fee
- Rentals & marinayes - marina and rental boats at DeGray Lake Resort State Park
- Swimmingyes - 5 designated beaches; $5 per vehicle
- CampingUSACE campgrounds (724 campsites listed); DeGray Lake Resort State Park
- Entry$5 boat launch; $5 per vehicle swim beach; Class A camping $10-20 a night
- SeasonArlie Moore is the only Corps campground open Dec 1 to Feb 28
No lifeguards at swim beaches; swimming banned on the Lower Lake
Run by USACE Vicksburg District
Greers Ferry Lake
near Heber Springs · 40,500 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - bass, bream, crappie, hybrid striped bass; trout in Little Red River below the dam
- Boatingyes - 22 launch ramps; some ramps charge $5 a day
- Rentals & marinayes - 9 private marinas with fuel, supplies and boat rentals
- Swimmingyes - 9 designated swimming areas
- Camping13 USACE campground parks; all sites reservation only
- Entry$5 per vehicle day use; $40 annual pass
- SeasonMost parks open May 15 - Sept 15; four parks open year round
Water released from the dam is cold
Run by USACE Little Rock District
Lake Dardanelle
near Russellville / Dardanelle · 40,000 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - bass, catfish, white bass, bream, crappie
- BoatingBoat launching ramps at Corps parks
- SwimmingDesignated beaches with life jacket loans
- CampingCamping areas at Corps parks
- SeasonFishing open year-round; no closed season
Life jacket loaner stations at the lake
Run by USACE Little Rock District
Lake Ouachita
near Hot Springs / Mountain Pine · 40,000 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes: largemouth, smallmouth & spotted bass, bream, crappie, catfish, walleye, striped bass
- Boatingyes, motorized
- Rentals & marinayes (state park marina rents barges, flat boats, canoes; closed Nov-Feb)
- Swimmingyes: free swim beach at state park
- CampingLake Ouachita State Park: 93 sites + cabins; book at reserve.arkansasstateparks.com
- SeasonPark marina closed Nov-Feb
Lake is surrounded by Ouachita National Forest.
Run by USACE; Arkansas State Parks (Lake Ouachita SP)
Norfork Lake
near Mountain Home · 22,000 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - bass, crappie, bream, walleye, catfish
- BoatingSailing, skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing on main channel
- Rentals & marinaConcession marinas rent boats and motors at several parks
- SwimmingDesignated swim beaches at several parks; no lifeguards
- Camping19 Corps parks with campgrounds
- SeasonMost parks open April/May to October; varies by park
Run by USACE Little Rock District
Table Rock Lake
near Branson; Shell Knob; Cape Fair; Hollister · 43,100 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish
- Boatingyes - 24 public boat ramps
- Rentals & marinayes - 14 marinas
- Swimmingyes - 16 designated swim areas; Moonshine Beach is the only sandy beach
- Campingyes - 16 public campgrounds run by several agencies
- EntryCorps day-use fees may apply; annual passes sold
- SeasonOff-season: swim areas unmanaged; Moonshine Beach reopens mid-May
No lifeguards on duty at Table Rock Lake
Run by US Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District; Table Rock State Park (MO DNR)

*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. 5 of these state a price we read off that page on the date we checked. Fees, seasons, water levels, algal advisories and ramp closures change without notice and belong to the agency that runs the water. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something the lake lacks. Never assume a lifeguard. Whether a beach is staffed turns on the season, the day, and which agency runs that particular beach — two beaches on one lake can differ. If that matters to your family, confirm it with the agency before you set out.

Lift-Served Bike Parks

1 in this state.

OZ Trails Bike ParkBike rentalsLift-servedBella Vista
Arkansas's first chairlift bike park; opened June 2026

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Long Bike Trails

1 in this state.

Razorback Regional Greenway
Length
40 miles
Surface
Paved
End to end
Bella Vista AR – Fayetteville AR
Links Bentonville MTB trails and Crystal Bridges museum

Days out with the family

Gated attractions with a front door, a ticket and a car park.

Zoos and Aquariums

4 across Arkansas, by town.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge — some details below are unconfirmedEureka Springs
Big cat refuge open to ticketed visitors
* We could not confirm: hours/prices on separate page. Check their site before you go.
Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting ZooHot Springs
Hours
Winter hours: Thu-Mon 10-4:30; closed Tue-Wed. Warm-season hours not posted when checked
Admission
Adult $14 · Child $10
Little Rock Zoo — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedLittle Rock
Hours
9am-4pm; last admission 3:30pm
Admission
Adult $12.95
1 Zoo Drive
* We could not confirm: prices on separate page. Check their site before you go.
Blue Zoo Aquarium (Rogers) — some details below are unconfirmedRogers
Interactive aquarium in a shopping center
* We could not confirm: site blocked fetch. Check their site before you go.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. 1 of these carries an accreditation we confirmed against the accrediting body’s own register. Where there is no badge we did not confirm one — that is not a judgement on the place, and a good many municipal, state and university sites belong to no register we check. 3 entries are marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.

Water Parks and Amusement Parks

3 across Arkansas, by town.

Arkadelphia Aquatic ParkSeasonalwater parkArkadelphia
City-run; city announced May 23 opening for 2026 season.
Parrot Island WaterparkSeasonalwater parkFort Smith
City/county-owned water park; site updated for 2026.
Magic Springs and Crystal FallsSeasonalamusement park and water parkHot Springs
Seasonal; site says 2026 season opened May 2 and Halloween event runs through Oct 31.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Every one of these runs a season rather than opening year round. Opening and closing dates move every year and we hold none of them, so check the park’s own calendar before you build a day around it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.

Wineries and Distilleries in Arkansas

2 producers in Arkansas that we have checked. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is. We have not been to these; this is what their own sites say, so you can look one up.

Rock Town Distillery
distillery · Little Rock, AR
Little Rock distillery with a bar serving flights, cocktails and snacks.
- HoursTue-Thu 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-12am; Sun 11am-10pm; closed Mon
- Toursyes; tours and cocktail classes listed
- Foodyes
- Phone(501) 907-5244
1201 Main Street, Little Rock, AR 72202
Wiederkehr Wine Cellars
winery · Wiederkehr Village, AR · Altus / Arkansas Wine Country
Swiss-heritage winery whose Weinkeller restaurant is in an original hand-dug cellar on the National Register.
- HoursTasting & gift shop Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11am-5pm
- Foodyes
- Phone(479) 468-9463
3324 Swiss Family Dr, Wiederkehr Village, AR 72821

*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. None of these say anything about children, so do not plan around it without asking them.

Venues and Annual Events

17 across Arkansas, by town.

Where to see something

Johnny Cash Boyhood Home — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumDyess
Hours
Mon-Sat 9am-3pm; house tours on the hour
Tours
guided house tours
Restored New Deal colony farmhouse where Cash grew up.
* We could not confirm: opened year from reference; address not found. Check their site before you go.
George's Majestic LoungeclubFayetteville
Hours
Event days only
Address
519 W Dickson St, Fayetteville, AR
Bar since 1927; regular live shows since the early 1970s.
Walton Arts Center — some details below are unconfirmedtheaterFayetteville
Hours
Box office lobby Mon-Fri 10am-2pm; phone Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; plus 60 min before shows
Address
495 W Dickson St, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone
479-443-5600
Performing arts center on Dickson Street.
* We could not confirm: opened year from reference. Check their site before you go.
Delta Cultural Centerstudio-museumHelena-West Helena
Hours
Tue-Sat 9am-5pm; free
Tours
visitors can watch the live King Biscuit Time broadcast
Address
141 Cherry St, Helena, AR 72342
Phone
870-338-4350
Houses King Biscuit Time, which it describes as the longest-running blues radio broadcast.
White Water Tavern — some details below are unconfirmedclubLittle Rock
Hours
Event days only
Address
2500 W 7th St, Little Rock, AR 72205
Small roots-music bar; site says live music 'since 1976'.
* We could not confirm: address from reference, not checked on official site this session. Check their site before you go.
Ozark Folk Center State Park — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumMountain View
Hours
Season mid-April to mid-November; Craft Village Tue-Sat 10am-5pm; live music on Blacksmith Stage Tue-Sat
Address
1032 Park Ave, Mountain View, AR 72560
Phone
870-269-3851
Capacity
1,000 (Ozark Highlands Music Theater)
State park preserving Ozark music and crafts.
* We could not confirm: opened year from reference. Check their site before you go.

See the other 1

Walmart AMP — some details below are unconfirmedamphitheaterRogers
Hours
Event days only
Address
5079 W Northgate Rd, Rogers, AR 72758
Capacity
About 11,000
Northwest Arkansas amphitheater; began in Fayetteville before moving to Rogers.
* We could not confirm: address from reference, not checked on official site this session; history/capacity from reference, not re-checked this session. Check their site before you go.

What is on, and when

Bentonville Film Festival — some details below are unconfirmedBentonville
Usually
June, over several days
Held at
Downtown Bentonville
Since
first held 2015
* We could not confirm: not re-checked this session; film festival; confirm current status. Check their site before you go.
Bikes, Blues & BBQ — some details below are unconfirmedFayetteville
Usually
September, over several days
Held at
Dickson St. area and other sites
Since
first held 2000
* We could not confirm: not re-checked this session; motorcycle rally. Check their site before you go.
Washington County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairFayetteville
Usually
August
Held at
Washington County Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: anything beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairFort Smith
Usually
Late September–early October, over several days
Held at
Kay Rodgers Park
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Northwest Arkansas District Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHarrison
Usually
Late August–September
Held at
NW Arkansas District Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: anything beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
King Biscuit Blues Festivalmusic festivalHelena-West Helena
Usually
October (weekend before Columbus Day), over several days
Held at
Downtown riverfront (Cherry St.)
Since
first held 1986

See the other 4

Garland County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHot Springs
Usually
September, over several days
Held at
Garland County Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Northeast Arkansas District Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairJonesboro
Usually
Late September–early October, over several days
Held at
NEA Exposition & Conference Center
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Arkansas State Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairLittle Rock
Usually
October, over several days
Held at
Arkansas State Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: not re-checked this session. Check their site before you go.
Four States Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairTexarkana
Usually
September
Held at
Four States Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: anything beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Events are listed by the month they usually fall in, because that is what we hold — we do not publish dates, and a month is not a promise. Check the organiser before you plan around one. 14 entries are marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.

On the road

Before you set off.

Scenic roads through Arkansas

Federally designated scenic byways and All-American Roads, with the places we publish along each one in the order you meet them.

Great River Road10 states · 57 places we publish

What to wear in Arkansas

Illustrated outfit board for Arkansas: four seasonal panels of clothing with average temperatures.

Spring 72°/50°F (22°/10°C)

Spring has warming days and frequent wet-weather possibilities.

Wear: Pair a breathable tee or relaxed shirt with lightweight chinos, joggers, or an easy midi skirt. Add an open overshirt for cool stops.
Shoes: Broken-in walking sneakers; water-resistant shoes when rain is forecast.
Pack: light cardigan or overshirt
packable rain jacket
sun hat
spare socks

Summer 90°/68°F (32°/20°C)

Summer is hot and humid, including in many lake and river destinations.

Wear: Choose a loose, breathable tee or shirt with quick-drying shorts, lightweight pants, or an airy dress. Carry a thin layer for chilly indoor stops.
Shoes: Breathable walking sneakers; secure sandals for casual paved stops.
Pack: sun hat
sunglasses
light indoor layer
light rain shell
spare tee

Fall 73°/50°F (23°/10°C)

Fall shifts from warm afternoons to chilly mornings and evenings.

Wear: Build around a long-sleeve tee, comfortable pants, and a sweater or fleece. Add a wind-resistant jacket for breezy overlooks.
Shoes: Walking shoes with grip; water-resistant boots for wet or muddy routes.
Pack: sweater or fleece
wind and rain shell
beanie
light gloves
spare socks

Winter 52°/32°F (11°/0°C)

Winter is cool to cold, with freezing weather and occasional snow or ice.

Wear: Layer a moisture-wicking long-sleeve top under a sweater or fleece and an insulated coat. Wear long pants; add thermal bottoms when the forecast calls for them.
Shoes: Waterproof insulated boots for snowy stops, with warm wool or synthetic socks.
Pack: thermal base layers
insulated coat
beanie
gloves or mittens
warm spare socks

Adjust for your route. The Ozarks and Boston Mountains are cooler than lower areas. Use a lighter jacket on mild winter days and warmer layers for mountain stops.

Climate background: NOAA State Climate Summary

See what to wear in every state →

Keep exploring

See It in the Book

Explore Arkansas

Locations in Arkansas

Hot Springs

Little Rock

National parks and federal sites in Arkansas

State parks in Arkansas

Lakes in Arkansas

Lift-Served Bike Parks

OZ Trails Bike ParkBike rentalsLift-servedBella Vista

Long Bike Trails

Zoos and Aquariums

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge* — some details below are unconfirmedEureka Springs

Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting ZooHot Springs

Little Rock Zoo* — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedLittle Rock

Blue Zoo Aquarium (Rogers)* — some details below are unconfirmedRogers

Water Parks and Amusement Parks

Arkadelphia Aquatic ParkSeasonalwater parkArkadelphia

Parrot Island WaterparkSeasonalwater parkFort Smith

Magic Springs and Crystal FallsSeasonalamusement park and water parkHot Springs

Wineries and Distilleries in Arkansas

Venues and Annual Events

Where to see something

Johnny Cash Boyhood Home* — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumDyess

George's Majestic LoungeclubFayetteville

Walton Arts Center* — some details below are unconfirmedtheaterFayetteville

Delta Cultural Centerstudio-museumHelena-West Helena

White Water Tavern* — some details below are unconfirmedclubLittle Rock

Ozark Folk Center State Park* — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumMountain View

Walmart AMP* — some details below are unconfirmedamphitheaterRogers

What is on, and when

Bentonville Film Festival* — some details below are unconfirmedBentonville

Bikes, Blues & BBQ* — some details below are unconfirmedFayetteville

Washington County Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairFayetteville

Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairFort Smith

Northwest Arkansas District Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairHarrison

King Biscuit Blues Festivalmusic festivalHelena-West Helena

Garland County Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairHot Springs

Northeast Arkansas District Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairJonesboro

Arkansas State Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairLittle Rock

Four States Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairTexarkana

Scenic roads through Arkansas

What to wear in Arkansas

Spring 72°/50°F (22°/10°C)

Summer 90°/68°F (32°/20°C)

Fall 73°/50°F (23°/10°C)

Winter 52°/32°F (11°/0°C)

Keep exploring

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge — some details below are unconfirmedEureka Springs

Little Rock Zoo — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedLittle Rock

Blue Zoo Aquarium (Rogers) — some details below are unconfirmedRogers

Johnny Cash Boyhood Home — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumDyess

Walton Arts Center — some details below are unconfirmedtheaterFayetteville

White Water Tavern — some details below are unconfirmedclubLittle Rock

Ozark Folk Center State Park — some details below are unconfirmedstudio-museumMountain View

Walmart AMP — some details below are unconfirmedamphitheaterRogers

Bentonville Film Festival — some details below are unconfirmedBentonville

Bikes, Blues & BBQ — some details below are unconfirmedFayetteville

Washington County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairFayetteville

Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairFort Smith

Northwest Arkansas District Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHarrison

Garland County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairHot Springs

Northeast Arkansas District Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairJonesboro

Arkansas State Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairLittle Rock

Four States Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairTexarkana