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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
Thanks for stopping by!