We recently took a road trip through the Arkansas River Valley to see three Arkansas state parks in one day.
Between the two of us, we’ve visited almost all of the Arkansas state parks over the years and these are some of our favorites.
It was a classic Somewhere In Arkansas day with winding roads, big overlooks, old-fashioned restaurants, and that feeling you get when you realize you don’t have to leave your home state to see something spectacular.
You really can visit three of the best state parks in Arkansas in one day. No, you won’t be able to do all the hikes or activities, but you will get to see highlights from some of the most iconic parks in the state.
Who is Somewhere in Arkansas? We are Emily and Karen, a daughter and mother duo from Little Rock who travel all around the Natural State to discover the best Arkansas has to offer and bring that to you. You can also find us sharing our state here on Instagram and here on Facebook!
Three Arkansas State Parks in One Day:
There are three mountaintop state parks in the Arkansas River Valley: Petit Jean Mountain State Park, Mount Nebo State Park, and Mount Magazine State Park.
Unsurprisingly, this area is often called the Tri-Peaks Region.
These mountains are fascinating, flat-topped erosional remnants, or mesas, with steep sides that rise sharply from the valley floor below. You don’t fully appreciate how dramatic they are until you’re driving toward them.
You can learn more about the unique geography and geology of Arkansas in this post!
We began our trip at home in Little Rock and pointed the car toward the first stop on our three-park route: Petit Jean Mountain. It’s located just over an hour from the capital city, making it an easy first stop.
Petit Jean Mountain State Park
Almost any Arkansan will tell you that Petit Jean Mountain is one of the best state parks in the state. It really does have it all: great hiking, rich history, wide-open views, waterfalls, camping, fishing, and more.
In fact, we have a list of our 10 favorite State Parks in Arkansas and Petit Jean is at the top!
Did you know it was the first state park in Arkansas? Not only that but you can see the grave of its namesake. You might want to read about the legend of Petit Jean, a tragic love story.
We always like to grab a coffee at the Petit Jean Coffeehouse and Mercantile on our way up the mountain. It’s a fun little place to visit before heading into the park.
Once inside, stop at the new Visitor Center to grab a map or take a quick restroom break. Then drive over to Mather Lodge.
Mather Lodge is a gorgeous CCC-built stone and wood structure. There’s a gift shop inside, and, of course, you will definitely want to walk to the back of the lodge for those sweeping views of Cedar Creek Canyon.
If you’re ready for breakfast or an early lunch, the restaurant inside the lodge has huge windows overlooking the canyon. It’s a great place to sit and take it all in.
Over the years we’ve hiked most of the trails in these three parks, and in our opinion, if you are only going to do one hike on this “three Arkansas state parks in one day” road trip, the trail to Cedar Falls is the one.
Check to see if the water is flowing well, and if it is, head down the trail located just behind the lodge. (It is important to know that many of the waterfalls in Arkansas, including this one, are wet weather falls.)
Now, I’ll warn you… it’s downhill most of the way before it levels out. You know what that means! It is steeply uphill on your way back. But when the water is flowing, this iconic Arkansas waterfall is absolutely worth it.
If you are a fan of waterfalls here are a few easy Arkansas waterfall hikes to try.
If you’re a history buff, especially prehistoric history, you might also want to visit Rock House Cave. The trail is short and leads to a massive bluff shelter with prehistoric rock art inside. It’s a fascinating stop and doesn’t take much time.
There are several other fantastic hikes on the mountain, such as the Seven Hollows Trail, but you probably won’t have time for all of them on this particular trip.
And just like that, it’s time to head toward Mount Nebo.
Mount Nebo State Park
It’s about a 45-minute drive from Petit Jean Mountain State Park to Mount Nebo State Park. We like to take the back way along Highways 154 and 155, it feels more scenic and less rushed.
The road to Mount Nebo takes you through the town of Dardanelle, located on the Arkansas River.
There isn’t a restaurant on top of Mount Nebo, so if you haven’t eaten yet, this is a good time to stop for food.
In Dardanelle, you might try Sam’s Southern Eatery. Or head into nearby Russellville for one of the state’s most famous burgers at Feltner’s Whatta-Burger.
Note: During this part of the road trip, you’ll be very close to Lake Dardanelle State Park. In other words, you could probably do four Arkansas state parks in one day. We didn’t include it this time… but it’s definitely tempting.
Now let’s talk about that drive up the mountain.
The road leading to Mount Nebo State Park is easily the most dramatic of the trip. It’s narrow, with very tight turns and switchbacks and sudden sweeping views of the valley below.
If you’re not the one driving, this is the time to look out the window. If you ARE the one driving…keep your eyes on the road. I actually enjoy driving this road, but it might not be a favorite of nervous drivers.
At the top of the mountain you will find a visitor center with a gift shop, maps, and restrooms. The Rim Trail begins just behind the center.
The Rim Trail is a favorite. It loops around the entire top of the mountain, and in our opinion, it’s the second-best hike on this road trip after Cedar Falls.
It’s a three-mile moderate loop that gives you big payoff views without committing to an all-day trek.
If hiking isn’t on your agenda, you’ll be glad to know you can drive to two of the most iconic viewpoints in the state: Sunrise Point and Sunset Point. On a clear day, you can see for miles across the Arkansas River Valley.
One of my favorite memories of visiting Mount Nebo was watching a hang-glider soaring around in the sky from Sunset Point!
Summer is especially nice up here. It’s often a few degrees cooler on the mountain, and there’s almost always a breeze.
Next, we continue west toward the tallest point in Arkansas…Mount Magazine.
Mount Magazine State Park
It’s about an hour’s drive from Mount Nebo State Park to Mount Magazine State Park.
If you want the most scenic route, leave Mount Nebo and take Arkansas 27 to Arkansas 10, then head toward the town of Havana where you’ll pick up Arkansas 309.
AR 309 is also known as the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway, and it is a beautiful drive. The road winds you up the mountain, past panoramic overlooks, all the way to the state park.
At 2,753 feet above sea level, Mount Magazine is the highest mountain in Arkansas.
While you’re there, you might want to take the 1.5-mile round-trip Signal Hill hike to the highest point in the state.
You might be slightly disappointed to learn there isn’t really a sweeping view at the summit itself, but the trail is well groomed, there are lovely native plants along the way, and once you arrive you’ll find a 400-square-foot stone map of Arkansas marking the high point.
It’s still worth doing, if for no other reason than to say you stood at the top of Arkansas.
Mount Magazine has a beautiful visitor center that’s definitely worth a stop, but the highlight here is the lodge.
The lodge feels expansive and welcoming. There’s a glorious fireplace for cooler weather and huge windows overlooking what may be the prettiest view in the state.
If you’re ready for dinner or even just coffee and dessert, the on-site restaurant (Skycrest) offers incredible views while you eat.
But the very best part? Walking out onto the massive flagstone patio behind the lodge. This is our favorite panoramic view in Arkansas. Sit in one of the rocking chairs, gaze out over the valley, and watch the birds swoop on the thermals at eye level.
It’s the perfect ending to this three-mountain day.
When you leave Mount Magazine, I highly suggest driving back down via the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway toward the lovely town of Paris.
Be sure to explore the charming town square, browse the local shops, and take a photo with the “famous” Eiffel Tower. (Yes, Arkansas has one too.)
If you’d rather linger, Paris has several locally owned restaurants that make a wonderful final dinner stop before heading home.
Mount Magazine is also the easiest of the three parks if you decide you don’t want the day to end. With lodge rooms and cabins — some with fireplaces and hot tubs — it’s perfectly set up for an overnight stay.
Can I reverse the Order of the Three Arkansas State Parks in One Day Road Trip?
Absolutely, you can reverse the order of this road trip.
If you’re starting from the west, begin in the town of Paris and drive up Mount Magazine via the Scenic Byway. From there, work your way east to Mount Nebo and finish at Petit Jean.
The beauty of this route is that it works in either direction.
When Is the Best Time to Go?
Honestly? We have visited these state parks in every season and we can say that there’s no bad time to visit, just different experiences.
- Spring – Best for waterfalls and fresh green hillsides.
- Summer – Cooler temperatures on the mountains and long daylight hours.
- Fall – Incredible foliage across the valleys.
- Winter – Leaf-off views that let you see even farther than usual. A bonus to a winter drive would be fewer crowds and cozy fireplaces in the lodges.
Each season changes the personality of these mountains just enough to make it feel new.
Here is some more information about the weather in Arkansas and the best times to visit.
Places to Stay if you Decide you Want to Linger
We have actually stayed overnight at all three of the state parks mentioned in this road trip! All three have cabins and camping and two of them offer lodges.
Here are some more of the state parks in Arkansas with lodges!
NOTE: At Mount Nebo you are not allowed to bring a camping rig larger than 24 feet due to the steep, 18% grade ascent and 11 tight switchbacks that you will encounter on the drive up the mountain.
Take a look at where you can stay in these three state parks.
- Petit Jean has the historic Mather Lodge with small, hotel-style rooms. There are also nice cabins. Many of the cabins are old CCC built stone and wood and have glorious views. There are even yurts available for rent at Petit Jean!
- Mount Nebo does not have a lodge, but it does have cabins. Some of these are modern, but in my opinion, the best ones are the old CCC built stone and wood cabins. They have been updated with modern amenities and many have stone patios that overlook the valley below.
- Best of all are the options at Mount Magazine. The modern lodge rooms have private balconies overlooking the valley. There are also cabins of all sizes with nice kitchens, hot tubs with views and wood burning fireplaces.
In addition to the lodging inside the state park we have a list of many other places to stay on Petit Jean Mountain that are very near the park.
Places to eat along the way
Two of the three state parks in this road trip have restaurants.
Petit Jean has the Mather Lodge Restaurant, and Mount Magazine is home to the Skycrest Restaurant.
There are also several good restaurants in the small towns along the way. Here are a few of our favorites. Remember to check the opening days and hours before you visit!
- Petit Jean Coffeehouse and Mercantile (on the mountain before the park)
- Morrilton Drive-In: Morrilton, Arkansas
- Sam’s Southern Eatery, Dardanelle
- Feltner’s Whattaburger, Russellville
- CJ’s Butcher Boy Burgers, Russellville (one of the best burgers and fries in the state!)
- Old South Restaurant, Russellville
- Ridgewood Bros BBQ, Russellville
- Bistro at Prestonrose, Paris
We hope that you enjoy the experience of visiting three Arkansas State Parks in one day!
This road trip will take you across three mountains in the Arkansas River Valley. It will lead you through verdant forests, winding roads, and some of the most stunning overlooks in the state.
It is proof that for Arkansans we don’t always have to travel far to feel like we’ve been somewhere special.
Sometimes it’s right there – just up the mountain!
