Winter might be one of the most underrated seasons to explore Arkansas.
The cooler months are a wonderful time to hike to overlooks that are hidden by leaves during the summer, look for wintering wildlife, soak in the thermal waters in Hot Springs, cozy up in a cabin, or spend a weekend at one of the state’s beautiful lodges.
There are also a few things that are especially interesting in Arkansas during the winter months, including trumpeter swans, a fun January music festival, and frozen waterfalls.
Yes, the weather can be unpredictable. One day might be cold and gray and the next could bring blue skies and temperatures warm enough that you won’t even need a sweater.
But that is also part of winter in Arkansas. Oh, and yes, we do occasionally get snow in Arkansas so you will want to check the forecast!
Here are some fun winter activities in Arkansas
Stay in a Cabin with a Hot Tub
There is something particularly wonderful about a cabin getaway in the winter, especially when there is a hot tub waiting outside.
You will find cabins with hot tubs all over Arkansas, but some of my favorite locations for a winter getaway are located in the Arkansas mountains. And for those of you naysayers who think Arkansas doesn’t have mountains, you are…well…wrong. Learn all about our mountains here!
Bundle up for a hike during the day and come back to a warm cabin and a soak under the stars.
Here is our list of the best cabins with hot tubs in the state!
Take a Winter Hike, Maybe Even to a Frozen Waterfall
Winter is one of my favorite times to hike in Arkansas.
There is no summer heat, the bugs aren’t bugging you and once the leaves fall you can see bluffs, rock formations, valleys, and distant mountain views that are partially hidden during other seasons.
Arkansas has some of the most beautiful rock formations in the world in my opinion.
Arkansas waterfalls can also be beautiful in winter. After a stretch of freezing temperatures, you might even get lucky enough to see one surrounded by giant icicles or partially frozen.
Glory Hole Falls is especially spectacular after a hard freeze, but be careful. Trails, roads, and rocks around waterfalls can become extremely slick in icy weather.
You can also look for First Day Hikes offered at Arkansas State Parks on January 1.
Soak in the Thermal Waters in Hot Springs
Cold weather makes those famous thermal waters at Hot Springs National Park feel even better.
There are two bathhouses on historic Bathhouse Row where you can actually soak in the thermal spring water: Buckstaff Bathhouse and Quapaw Baths & Spa. Buckstaff offers a more traditional bathing experience, while Quapaw has thermal pools along with private baths.
Add in lunch at one of the great Hot Springs Restaurants, a stroll along Bathhouse Row, or a spa treatment and you have a pretty perfect winter day in Hot Springs.
We also have an entire guide to help you plan a trip to Hot Springs. I think winter is a great time to see the city.
Enjoy Christmas in Arkansas
If your winter trip falls in December then you will discover that Arkansas goes all out for Christmas.
You can see huge light displays, visit small towns decorated for the holidays, shop Christmas markets, ride holiday trains, cut your own Christmas tree, and find all kinds of special seasonal events around the state.
Batesville, Searcy, Bentonville, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Blytheville and several other Arkansas towns are especially fun during the holiday season.
Rather than trying to squeeze all of Arkansas Christmas into this list, we have an entire guide devoted to this wonderful season.
Watch Bald Eagles and Other Winter Birds
There are always bald eagles in Arkansas but even more come along in the winter as the birds migrate south in search of open water and food.
Lakes, rivers, and wildlife refuges can all be good places to look for them. We often fish on the White River and almost always see eagles in that area.
Some Arkansas State Parks even offer special eagle-watching programs during the winter.
DeGray Lake Resort State Park has traditionally offered guided eagle-watch cruises that search not only for bald eagles but also for other winter birds on the lake. You can usually find eagle watching programs at Lake Dardanelle State Park and Lake Ouachita State Park.
Bring binoculars, dress warmly, and keep an eye on state park calendars for winter programs.
Plan a Winter Lodge Getaway at an Arkansas State Park
Some of our state parks have beautiful lodges that are particularly appealing in the colder months.
Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park is one of my favorites. The historic lodge sits on the mountain overlooking Cedar Creek Canyon and has a huge stone fireplace that practically begs you to sit down and stay awhile. The restaurant has huge windows with beautiful views.
Queen Wilhelmina State Park sits high on Rich Mountain along the Talimena Scenic Drive. Large windows in the lodge look out across the surrounding mountains, making it an especially pretty place to stay when winter weather rolls through. Be sure and take the short hike to Lover’s Leap for incredible winter vistas.
DeGray Lake Resort State Park is another good winter choice, particularly if you want to combine your lodge stay with eagle watching or other winter birding.
Mount Magazine State Park: This park has a nice modern lodge and sits at the highest point in the state. The views from the rooms and the huge back patio are unmatched in the state.
Go to the Races at Oaklawn
Live horse racing at Oaklawn is one of the classic winter experiences in Arkansas.
The historic Hot Springs racetrack has been welcoming racing fans since 1904, and racing season now begins around Thanksgiving and continues into spring.
Even if you aren’t an avid racing fan, spending an afternoon at Oaklawn can be a lot of fun. Pick a horse, grab something to eat, watch the crowd, and enjoy one of Hot Springs’ longtime traditions.
For the 2026–2027 season, live racing begins November 27.
Look for Elk in Boxley Valley
Fall gets most of the attention for Arkansas elk because that is when you can hear the bulls bugling during the rut, but the elk don’t disappear when fall ends.
You can still look for them during the winter in and around Boxley Valley near Ponca.
Early morning and late afternoon are typically the best times to look. Drive slowly through the valley and watch the fields along the Buffalo National River area.
Winter can be a beautiful time to make the drive, especially when the leaves are off the trees and the landscape is more open.
Attend the Ozark Mountain Music Festival
There aren’t as many festivals in Arkansas in the winter but there is always a party in Eureka Springs! This is a city that knows how to brighten up the middle of winter.
The Ozark Mountain Music Festival is held in January and brings several days of live music to downtown Eureka Springs.
Unlike a summer music festival, most of the action happens indoors, with musicians performing on intimate stages around the Basin Park Hotel and other downtown venues.
The 2027 Ozark Mountain Music Festival will be held January 14–17.
It’s a great excuse to spend a winter weekend in Eureka Springs. As if you needed one!
We also have an entire guide to help you plan your visit to Eureka Springs.
See the Trumpeter Swans at Magness Lake
One of Arkansas’s most unusual winter wildlife experiences happens near Heber Springs. Trumpeter Swans!
These swans come to the Magness Lake area in Heber Springs each winter. I think that these enormous white birds are incredible to see in person.
The swans in Heber Springs are said to winter farther south than any others in the US. Basically they got blown off course by a storm many years ago, decided they liked it here, and kept returning.
Late afternoon is generally the best time to go because the swans spend much of the day feeding on surrounding ponds and fields before returning toward evening.
Magness Lake is privately owned, but the owners have traditionally allowed the public to view the swans from a designated area so please be respectful of the private property surrounding the lake.
Go Winter Fishing
Don’t put away your fishing gear just because the weather turns cold.
Fishing continues year-round in Arkansas, and you might be surprised to learn that winter can be a good time to go fishing.
We personally love going to Gaston’s White River Resort in the winter for both a winter getaway and trout fishing on the White River. The Little Red River is another good winter option for trout, but bass, crappie, walleye, and striped bass can also be caught during the colder months on Arkansas lakes.
Winter fishing tends to be quieter too. You may find fewer boats on the water and a much different experience than during the busy summer season. You will need to bundle up though!
Check the latest Arkansas Game and Fish Commission fishing reports before you go because conditions and the best fishing locations can change throughout the season.
Take a Scenic Winter Drive
You don’t need fall foliage to enjoy Arkansas’s scenic roads.
Winter brings its own kind of beauty. Once the leaves are gone, mountain views open up and you can see farther into valleys, across ridgelines, and through the forests.
We have a whole list of the Scenic Byways in Arkansas as well as some other great Arkansas road trips that we have created.
The Talimena Scenic Drive near Mena is a beautiful choice and travels across Rich Mountain past Queen Wilhelmina State Park. But Scenic Highway 7 north from Russellville is probably the best winter road trip in the state.
You can also see three of the best state parks in Arkansas in one day! And all of these have glorious winter views.
Choose a clear day, watch the weather carefully, and avoid mountain roads if snow or ice is expected.
Go Winter Camping
If you have the right gear, winter can be a wonderful time to camp in Arkansas.
Campgrounds are quieter, bugs are minimal, campfires actually feel good, and you may have some of the prettiest spots almost to yourself.
Many Arkansas State Parks remain open throughout the year, although services and campground loops can vary by season.
Petit Jean, Mount Magazine, Lake Catherine, Lake Ouachita, and several other parks can make good winter camping destinations.
Just remember that Arkansas winter weather changes quickly. A mild sunny afternoon can turn into a very cold night, so check the forecast and come prepared.
Dig for Arkansas Quartz Crystals (and Diamonds)
Arkansas is famous for its quartz crystals, and I actually prefer crystal digging when the weather is cool.
The Mount Ida area is known as the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World and has several places where visitors can dig for their own crystals.
Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines near Mount Ida is open year-round, making quartz digging an easy addition to a winter trip through the Ouachita Mountains. Another popular option is Ron Coleman Mining near Jessieville.
You can also dig for diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park. Just be aware that you will be sluicing your dirt through water to spot the sparkle. So maybe you won’t want to pick a freezing cold day.
Whether you choose quartz or diamonds I suggest that you wear old clothes and shoes that can get muddy and bring gloves. Even on a sunny winter day, digging through dirt and rock is messy business.
Visit an Arkansas Museum
Some winter days simply call for staying indoors.
Fortunately, Arkansas has a surprisingly diverse collection of museums.
You can see world-class American art at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, explore Arkansas history in Little Rock, learn about the Ozarks in Northwest Arkansas, or discover smaller specialty museums scattered around the state.
There are museums devoted to everything from art and history to air rifles and Arkansas music.
A few of our favorites include the Arkansas Air and Military Museum in Fayetteville, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, and the Johnny Cash boyhood home in Dyess. But y’all there are so many more!
We have an entire list of the museums in Arkansas!
Explore a Charming Arkansas Downtown
Winter is also a good time for a leisurely afternoon exploring one of Arkansas’s downtown districts.
Bentonville probably has one of the best-known downtown districts in Arkansas. Its square has shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, and museums.
But don’t stop there.
Downtown El Dorado has a beautiful historic square and so does Searcy. Jonesboro has local shopping and restaurants downtown, and towns such as Magnolia and Paris also have traditional downtown districts worth exploring.
This is an especially good winter activity when you want to get out and do something but don’t necessarily want to spend the whole day outdoors.
Eat at One of Arkansas’s Famous Restaurants
Cold weather and good food are a pretty great combination.
Winter is a perfect time to plan a little Arkansas food road trip and finally visit one of those restaurants you’ve been hearing about for years. We have some great destination restaurants in this state!
Once we asked our Facebook followers to tell us which restaurants in the state were worth driving for and they answered! We put all their answers together in a post just for you.
Arkansas has old-school diners, barbecue joints, catfish restaurants, historic cafes, steakhouses, and longtime local favorites that people will happily drive across the state to eat.
Pick a restaurant you haven’t tried, make the drive, and turn lunch into the destination.
We have an entire list of famous restaurants in Arkansas if you need some inspiration.
Spend a Winter Weekend at a Luxury Arkansas Hotel
Sometimes the best winter getaway involves doing almost nothing.
Arkansas has some surprisingly luxurious places to stay in some surprising locations! You could book a room, make dinner reservations, order a drink, schedule a spa treatment, sleep late, and enjoy being somewhere different for a couple of days.
You could plan a sophisticated weekend in Bentonville, stay at a historic hotel in Hot Springs or Eureka Springs, be pampered in the small town of Wilson, or choose a fabulous mountain retreat.
Winter rates may also make some higher-end properties more affordable outside of holidays and special events.
Go Ice Skating at Lawrence Plaza
You might not immediately think of outdoor ice skating when you picture winter in Arkansas, but you can do exactly that in downtown Bentonville.
Lawrence Plaza operates as a splash pad during warmer weather and transforms into an outdoor ice rink for the winter season.
Bundle up, rent some skates, and then warm up afterward at one of the coffee shops or restaurants around downtown Bentonville. Check the current schedule before making a special trip because opening dates and hours vary.
There are also some skating options in other parts of the state during the Christmas season. In Jonesboro you will find the Wonderland Rink and some of the best Christmas towns in Arkansas even have synthetic ice rinks.
Catch a Razorback Basketball Game
Basketball might be my favorite season.
There is nothing quite like calling the Hogs with thousands of other Arkansas fans inside Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Razorback basketball season runs right through the heart of winter, making a game a fun addition to a Northwest Arkansas weekend.
Send a Valentine from Romance, Arkansas
We’ll end our Arkansas winter with Valentine’s Day.
The tiny community of Romance has one of the sweetest Arkansas traditions.
Each February, the Romance Post Office offers a special Valentine’s Day postmark, and people send cards from around Arkansas, and far beyond the state, to have them mailed with the Romance cancellation.
You can take your valentines to the post office yourself or watch for the annual instructions from the U.S. Postal Service for mailing them in.
It’s a wonderfully quirky Arkansas tradition and a perfect way to wrap up the winter season.
Winter in Arkansas
Winter in Arkansas might not mean months of deep snow or ski resorts, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing to do.
In fact, this can be one of the best seasons to explore the Natural State.
The trails are quieter, mountain views open up when the leaves fall, wildlife arrives for the winter, the hot springs feel especially wonderful, and there are plenty of cozy places to stay when the temperature drops.
Just keep an eye on the forecast. Arkansas winter weather has a mind of its own.
And if you are planning ahead for another season, take a look at our guides to the best things to do in Arkansas in all the other seasons.
- Things to do in Arkansas in the summer
- Things to do in Arkansas in the spring
- Things to do in Arkansas in the fall.
