Here are 102 of the best things to do in Arkansas.

Arkansas is not called the natural state for no reason. There is so much beauty in the state. From the oxbow lakes of the Delta region to the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas to the Buffalo National River.

But there are more things to do in Arkansas than experience the great outdoors. There are also world class museums, educational historic sites, amazing food at iconic restaurants, and wonderful people.

I hope you enjoy this fun list of our favorite things to do in Arkansas!

102 Things to do in Arkansas

1. Enjoy the natural beauty of some or all of the 52 gorgeous Arkansas state parks

2. Bathe in the thermal waters at Hot Springs National Park, one of the smallest and most unique of all the national parks in the US

3. Head underground at Blanchard Springs Caverns

4. Enjoy famous works of art (for free) at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in the charming town of Bentonville

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is one of the best things to do in ArkansasPin

5. See where Sam Walton of Walmart got his start at Walton’s 5&10 in Bentonville.

6. Dig for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro

7. Have the best steak in Arkansas At Taylor’s Steakhouse

Taylor's Steakhouse in Dumas Arkansas is unpretentious but may have the best steak in arkansas.Pin

8. Tap your foot to the pickin’ and fiddlin’ on the square in Mountain View, Arkansas, the Folk Music Capital of the World.

9. Kayak on the Arkansas River at Two Rivers Park in Little Rock

10. Hike to the spectacular Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park

Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park. A hike to Cedar Falls is one of the best things to do in Arkansas.Pin

11. Swim in Lake Ouachita, named one of the cleanest lakes in the US

12. Giggle at some of the funny town names in Arkansas, like Possum Grape and Toad Suck

13. Visit the William J Clinton Library and Museum in downtown Little Rock

A visit to the Clinton Library is one of the best things to do in ArkansasPin

14. Go inside a wild cave with a secret waterfall at Lost Valley

15. Drive the scenic and winding “pig trail” in the fall

16. Ride the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad

Arkansas Missouri Railroad one of the best things to do in ArkansasPin

17. Observe the elk in beautiful Boxley Valley

18. Climb Pinnacle Mountain at Pinnacle Mountain State Park

19. Float the Buffalo River, the first national river in the US.

20. Go to the top of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower for spectacular views

Hot Springs Mountain TowerPin

21. Shop for produce at Me and McGee Farmer’s Market

22. Spend the night at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, the most haunted hotel in the US

23. Try a delicious Delta tamale at Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales in Lake Village

Rhoda's Famous Hot TamalesPin

24. Attend The Bean Festival and Outhouse Races in Mountain View, Arkansas

25. Wade into a perfect Arkansas swimming hole

26. See one or more of the three famous glass chapels in Arkansas which were designed by or inspired by architect E. Fay Jones

Exterior of Anthony Chapel in Hot Springs at Garvan Gardens. One of the glass chapels in Arkansas designed by E. Fay JonesPin

27. Watch the sunrise from the mountain top at Mount Nebo State Park

28. Ring in spring with an order of strawberry shortcake at the Bulldog Restaurant in Bald Knob

29. Catch a rainbow trout on the White River at Gaston’s White River Resort

fishing on the white river is a great way to spend a summer day in arkansasPin

30. Watch the boats float (or sink) at the World Championship Cardboard Boat Races in Heber Springs

31. Enjoy the miniature Eiffel Tower in Paris, Arkansas

32. Experience the glory of tulip season at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas

tulips at Garvan Woodland Gardens one of the best things to do in ArkansasPin

33. Visit Quigley’s Castle, perhaps the most interesting dwelling in Arkansas

34. Sleep in a beautiful tree house cabin

35. Picnic at The Old Mill in North Little Rock

The Old Mill in North Little Rock ArkansasPin

36. Attend the Passion Play in Eureka Springs

37. Go back in time at the Historic Washington State Park

38. Dip a chip into the state’s most notorious appetizer which happens to be Cheese Dip

Lost Forty is one of the best breweries in Little RockPin

39. Eat at the Ozark Cafe in Jasper, one of the oldest restaurants in the state

40. Drink a bottle of refreshing, healthy, and delicious Mountain Valley Spring Water in Hot Springs

41. Soak in the thermal waters in an historic bath house in Hot Springs National Park

The Buckstaff bathhouse in Hot Springs National Park. Soaking in the thermal waters is one of the best things to do in ArkansasPin

42. Bite into a juicy and delicious Hope Watermelon

43. Visit War Eagle Mill and attend the huge War Eagle Craft Fair with more than 250 booths of all handcrafted products

44. Bet on the horses at Oaklawn Race Track

horse racing at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, ArkansasPin

45. Call the Hogs at a Razorback game in Fayetteville, Arkansas

46. Try the James Beard Award winning Jones Bar-B-Q in Marianna, Arkansas

47. Learn about Civil Rights History by taking a ranger guided tour of Little Rock Central High School

Central High School is an important Civil Rights Site in ArkansasPin

48. Experience the beauty of the Arkansas Grand Canyon near Jasper, Arkansas

49. Learn about the history of aviation in Arkansas at the Arkansas Air and Military Museum in Fayetteville

50. Vote for your favorite cheese dip at the World Cheese Dip Competition in Little Rock

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51. Fish in Lake Chicot, the largest Oxbow lake in the United States

52. Have the best pie you’ve ever tasted at Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets in Keo, Arkansas

53. Stand at the highest point in the state on Mount Magazine in Mount Magazine State Park

View from the lodge at Mount Magazine State ParkPin

54. Visit the Daisy Airgun Museum in Roger’s Arkansas

55. See a waterfall spill through a hole in the rocks at the Glory Hole hike

56. Try the best smoked turkey salad sandwich ever at Burge’s

Burge's Restaurant in Little RockPin

57. Attend the World Championship Duck Gumbo cookoff in Stuttgart

58. See if you can spot the mysterious Gurdon Lights

59. Order a tamale spread at McClard’s in Hot Springs and try to eat the whole thing

McClard's Bar-B-Q is one of the best restaurants in Hot Springs, ArkansasPin

60. Visit Calico Rock, the only town in America that has a ghost town within the city limits

61. Walk across the mighty Mississippi River into Tennessee on the Big River Crossing

62. Step back in time at the ghost town of Rush, Arkansas

old houses in the ghost town of rush arkansasPin

63. Kayak among the lily pads that bloom in the spring at Cane Creek State Park

64. Marvel at the big cats who have been rescued from dangerous or abusive situations at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

65. Tour the boyhood home of Johnny Cash in Dyess, Arkansas

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66. Live life on the edge with a hike on the Goat Trail

67. Paddle at the Siloam Springs Kayak Park

68. Stroll or bike high above the Arkansas River on the Little Rock pedestrian bridges including The Big Dam Bridge

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69. Cool off on a hot summer day in the ice cold waters of the Spring River

70. Learn about the arts, crafts, and culture of the Ozark Mountains at the Ozark Folk Center State Park

71. Ride a trolley in downtown Little Rock

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72. Try a frozen mojito at Height’s Taco and Tamales

73. Salute the martial arts at the H.U. Lee International Gate & Garden

74. Hike to the stunning Whitaker Point aka Hawk’s Bill Crag

Whitaker Point also known as Hawk's Bill Crag is one of the most popular hikes in ArkansasPin

75. Bite into the best pizza in Arkansas at DeLucas Pizzeria in Hot Springs

76. Gasp as hang gliders soar into the sky from either Mount Nebo or Mount Magazine

77. Tour the state capitol in Little Rock

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78. Explore Creativity and Performance at the Murphy Arts District (MAD) in El Dorado

79. See one of the largest springs in the world at Mammoth Spring State Park

80. Eat or Drink at The Ohio Club, the oldest bar in Arkansas

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81. See the Popeye Statue in Alma, the Spinach Capital of the World

82. Search for the Boggy Creek Monster in Fouke, Arkansas

83. Enjoy the best hamburger in the state at The Root Cafe

sharing a burger at the root cafe in Little RockPin

84. Marvel at the murals in Fort Smith

85. Cheer for the home team at a minor league baseball game

86. Experience the glory of fall at the Maplewood Cemetery in Harrison, Arkansas

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87. Buy a bluebird of happiness at Terra Studios

88. See where Elvis lost his sideburns at the Chaffee Barbershop Museum in Fort Smith

89. Stop in to the only purse museum in the US, the Esse Purse Museum in the South Main area of Little Rock

Esse Purse Museum in SoMa Little RockPin

90. Visit the beautifully restored Frisco Depot, the oldest railroad station in Arkansas

91. View an important part of American history at the Louisiana Purchase State Park

92. Indulge in a cold beer or two on the Arkansas Brewery trail

Bear at Diamond Bear. one of the best breweries in Little RockPin

93. Buy some stone ground flour and take a photo at the picturesque War Eagle Mill

94. Bike in Bentonville, the Mountain Bike Capitol of the World

95. Meet the garden and cooking guru P. Allen Smith on a tour of Moss Mountain Farm

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96. Imagine life thousands of years ago at The Toltec Mounds Archeological Site

97. Experience a 200 foot waterfall at Hemmed in Hollow

98. Be charmed by the revitalized Tudor style town of Wilson, Arkansas

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99. See some Arkansas alligators at the Arkansas Post National Memorial

100. Drive across the Little Golden Gate Bridge in north Arkansas

101. Visit the USS Razorback, a submarine on the Arkansas River at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum

102. Ride on land and water by taking one of the National Park Duck Tours

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I hope that you have enjoyed learning about all these fun things to do in Arkansas! Let us know what we might have forgotten.

What are your favorite things to do in Arkansas?

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