Fall in Arkansas is pretty special. In fact, it may be the most beautiful time of year in the state. The weather begins to cool, the leaves start to change, football season gets underway and festivals fill the calendar.
Whether you want to take a scenic drive, hike beneath the changing leaves, search for the perfect pumpkin or spend a cozy weekend at a state park, there are plenty of memorable things to do in Arkansas in the fall.
Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy the season.
See the Fall Foliage in Arkansas
Autumn color comes relatively late to Arkansas.
The leaves typically begin changing in northern Arkansas around mid-October, with peak color often occurring from late October through early November. Southern Arkansas may not reach its peak until mid-November.
The color change progresses from north to south and the timing can vary year to year depending on the weather. Always check to see when the peak is estimated to occur if you are planning a trip specifically for the foliage.
Take a Scenic Drive
One of the best ways to enjoy fall in Arkansas is to take a scenic drive through the mountains. Winding highways, overlooks, small towns and brilliant fall color make even the journey part of the experience.
Some of our favorite fall drives include Scenic 7 through the Ozarks, the Pig Trail, the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway and the Talimena Scenic Drive. The best route will depend on when and where the leaves are changing.
Check out our guide to the most beautiful scenic byways in Arkansas to find the perfect fall drive.
Take a Train Ride Through the Mountains
Another fun way to see the fall color is from the window of a train. The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad offers scenic passenger excursions through the Ozark Mountains, including a route from Springdale to Winslow that crosses high trestles and passes through the Winslow tunnel.
The fall rides are especially popular, so check the current schedule and reserve your tickets early.
Hike Beneath the Changing Leaves
Most Arkansans hike much less during the heat of the summer and look forward to getting back on the trails in the fall when the weather begins to cool and there aren’t as many bugs.
Nothing is better than hiking under a canopy of red, orange, and yellow leaves and seeing the colorful mountains in the distance from the edge of a beautiful bluff. I even love hiking after leaf-off because of the wide open views.
Do be aware that the beautiful carpet of leaves can obscure rocks and roots and make the trails a little slippery so be sure to wear shoes with good traction. I like to carry a hiking pole especially in the fall.
We have a list of some of our favorite hikes in the state that you might enjoy. The waterfalls aren’t always running in the fall but if your area has had recent rain you can take a look at some of the waterfalls on our list of easy waterfall hikes.
Spend Time at an Arkansas State Park
We have some gorgeous state parks in Arkansas and fall is the perfect time of year for a day trip, an overnight stay, or even an entire weekend.
You can explore a trail, enjoy the view from a mountain overlook, go paddling or fishing, attend a park program or simply relax and enjoy the cooler weather. Most of the state parks have camping facilities, some also have cabins, while a few of our state parks even have full-service lodges.
This is a popular season at the parks, particularly when the leaves are near their peak, so make your lodging reservations well in advance.
We have a list of what we consider the 10 best state parks in Arkansas. For fall, I would especially suggest Petit Jean State Park, Mount Magazine State Park, Mount Nebo State Park, Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Queen Wilhelmina State Park and Crowley’s Ridge State Park. However, there are many more great ones!
Go Camping in the Cooler Weather
Fall is one of the best times of year to go camping in Arkansas. The days are usually pleasant, the nights are cool enough for sleeping and the heat and bugs of summer begin to disappear.
There is nothing better than spending the day hiking, paddling or fishing and then returning to your campsite to sit around a campfire beneath the stars. If you time your trip well, you might even be surrounded by beautiful fall color.
Arkansas has campgrounds in state parks, national forests and along many of our lakes and rivers. Whether you prefer tent camping or bringing an RV, you will find plenty of beautiful places to spend a fall weekend outdoors.
Fall is a popular camping season in Arkansas, especially during peak foliage, so reserve your campsite early when reservations are available.
Watch the Elk in Boxley Valley
I’m always surprised at how many people don’t know that there are elk in Arkansas. Y’all, not only are there elk in Arkansas but fall is the best time to see them!
The most reliable viewing area is generally along Highway 43 which winds through beautiful Boxley Valley. but we once saw a herd in the Steel Creek Campground.
Look for the elk in the fields of Boxley Valley where the treeline begins at the edge of the mountains. The elk are most active at dawn and dusk.
The reason fall is such a good time to see these animals is that fall is the rut or mating season. The bulls will have their large antlers and you may hear them bugling. We have even seen them fighting as the bulls can become very aggressive with one another during this season.
Be sure to pull fully off the road to watch the elk and always keep your distance.
You can get more information about the elk and ask about recent sightings at the Ponca Nature Center.
Search for the Perfect Pumpkin at an Arkansas Pumpkin Patch
A visit to an Arkansas pumpkin patch is a family-friendly activity and one of the best things to do in Arkansas in the fall.
We have a list of the best pumpkin patches in Arkansas.
Many of the pumpkin patches also have hayrides, corn mazes, games, play areas, food, and more to enjoy while you are there.
Attend a Razorback Football Game
As a lifelong Razorback fan I would say that there is nothing better than calling the hogs while they play any sport. But, there’s something special about football in the fall.
We might not win a lot, they frustrate us, but hope springs eternal in the heart of any true Razorback fan.
I will say that win or lose participating in a tailgate party and attending a game at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on a cool crisp day is an experience not to be missed.
Attend a Fall Festival
Fall is festival season in Arkansas. You could go to a different festival every weekend from September through mid-November. These festivals celebrate all kinds of things such as apples, beans, music, crafts, and a few crazy local traditions – outhouse races, anyone?
We have a list of 10 of our favorite fall festivals in the state! Or you can take a look at our individual monthly lists of fall festivals.
Shop at a Fall Craft Fair
Craft fairs are a big part of fall in Arkansas, especially in Northwest Arkansas. For a few weekends each October, you can spend the day browsing booths filled with pottery, jewelry, woodwork, quilts, artwork and all kinds of handmade items.
The War Eagle Fair is probably the best-known craft fair in the state and in our opinion this one is a must. It is held in a beautiful setting along War Eagle Creek near War Eagle Mill and has been an Arkansas fall tradition since 1954.
Several other craft fairs are held throughout Northwest Arkansas around the same time, so it is easy to make an entire weekend of shopping, eating and exploring the area.
Dig for Diamonds or Quartz Crystals
Digging for Diamonds: Digging for diamonds is a quintessential Arkansas activity. In fact, Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only place in the US where you can dig for diamonds and keep what you find.
Fall is the perfect time for this activity as the digging site is a wide open field with very little shade. The cooler weather is a huge bonus!
Digging for Crystals: In addition to diamonds you can also dig for quartz crystals in the Ouachita Mountains, especially near the town of Mount Ida. This small town is located near Hot Springs and is often labeled “The Quartz Capital of the World.”
There are several quartz crystal mines in the area. They will allow you, for a fee, to dig through the piles left behind by their mining operations. Again, you get to keep whatever you find.
And unlike when digging for diamonds, you will almost always find crystals to take home.
Check out Ron Coleman Mining or the Wegner Crystal Mines for more information.
Do Something Spooky!
October is “spooky” season. There are some incredible ghost stories in Arkansas, but one of the creepiest is about the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs. The Crescent is often called one of the most haunted hotels in America, and it has a truly scary history.
You might want to check out our list of other haunted places in Arkansas as well.
If you love a good jump scare then you might want to think about visiting some of the creepiest haunted houses in the state!
Taste a Delicious Arkansas Apple
Did you know that around 1900, Northwest Arkansas produced more apples than any other region in the country?
The industry is much smaller today, but you can still find locally grown Arkansas apples at orchards and farm markets in the fall.
Apples grow best in the Ozark Mountains so this is where most of these orchards are located. We have a list of some of the best apple orchards in Arkansas that you might want to check out!
Visit an Arkansas Winery
Fall is a wonderful time to visit Arkansas wine country. The cooler weather makes it pleasant to wander around a vineyard or take a scenic drive through the Arkansas River Valley.
The small town of Altus is the heart of Arkansas wine country and is home to several historic wineries and tasting rooms. It is especially pretty in the fall when the surrounding hills begin to change color.
You can do a wine tasting at Wiederkehr Wine Cellars or have a meal at the iconic Weinkeller Restaurant.
Fish For Trout
Trout fishing in Arkansas is excellent year-round, but the cooler weather makes fall a particularly pleasant time to be on the water. The White River is probably the state’s best-known trout stream, but there is also excellent fishing on the Little Red, Norfork and Spring rivers.
Fall is a particularly good time for catching a brown trout, but it is spawning seasoning, so be sure to check current Arkansas Game and Fish Commission regulations.
We enjoy all of Arkansas’s trout rivers, but Gaston’s Resort on the White River is a long time favorite of ours!
Sleep in a Cozy Cabin or Treehouse Among the Fall Foliage
Fall is an amazing time to stay in a cozy Arkansas cabin or a treehouse! The weather is cool enough to enjoy a fire, the trees are changing color and even a quiet morning on the porch feels special.
Arkansas has some wonderful treehouses and cabins tucked into the woods, along rivers and near the mountains. Some are perfect for a romantic weekend, while others have plenty of room for the whole family.
Take a look at our favorite treehouse cabins in Arkansas, unique places to stay, and romantic getaways to find the perfect place for a cozy fall weekend.
Zipline Through the Colorful Trees
There are several places where you can zipline in Arkansas.
One of our favorites is the zipline tour offered by the Buffalo Outdoor Center. Ziplining through the fall foliage in the Ozark Mountains is an amazing experience.
What are Your Plans This Fall?
Fall is one of my favorite times to explore Arkansas. The cooler weather makes it easier to get outside, the mountains and forests are beautiful, and there always seems to be a festival, football game or other seasonal event happening somewhere in the state.
Whether you spend the day hiking, take a scenic drive, visit a pumpkin patch or settle into a cozy cabin for the weekend, I hope this list helps you make the most of fall in Arkansas.
For more seasonal activities: We have lists of magical things to do in winter, sensational things to do in the spring, and ways to beat the summer heat.
