Top Things to do in Arkansas
Top Hotels in Arkansas
- 1. Best Western Winners Circle
- 2. Best Western Inn Of The Ozarks
- 3. Graduate Fayetteville
- 4. Capital Hotel
- 5. 1905 Basin Park Hotel
- 6. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Little Rock - Bryant
- 7. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hot Springs
- 8. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Bentonville South - Rogers, AR
- 9. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham West Memphis
- 10. The Waters Hot Springs, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
10 State Parks in Arkansas That You Shouldn't Miss
Living up to its billing as “The Natural State”, the state is a nature wonderland with three national forests, nearly 9,000 miles of pristine streams and rivers, awe-inspiring settings in the Ozark and Quachita mountains and sparkling lakes.
The menu of vacation experiences is an exciting one. For great golf, spas, horse racing and the Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs is the place to go. Outdoor enthusiasts love the Ozark Mountains where activities like canoeing, rafting, kayaking, fishing, hiking and rock climbing are popular. The mountain village of Eureka Springs, with its streets lined with Victorian homes, is brimming with boutiques, antique shops and art galleries. Wine enthusiasts love the Arkansas Wine Country, encompassing the towns of Paris, Ozark and Altus, where German style wines are produced. From its ancient mountains to the Delta flatlands leveled by the Mississippi River, the state has a diverse topography with numerous scenic drives. Try the Pig Trail, Ozark Highlands and Sylamore scenic byways in the Ozark National Forest designated by the U.S. Forest Service. Golfers love the state because greens fees are extremely affordable for great courses. A few excellent public access courses are Sage Meadows in Jonesboro, Stonebridge Meadows in Fayetteville and the Mountain Ranch Course in Fairfield Bay.
Restaurants in Arkansas
1. Petit Jean State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 703 reviews
The beauty of Petit Jean Mountain and the surrounding area led to the formation of a state park system in Arkansas in 1923.
Reviewed By laurief244 - Hamburg, United States
We spent the weekend at Petit Jean State Park and will definitely return! We stayed in a duplex cabin with a full kitchen and fireplace. Wish we’d brought more firewood, however you could purchase a small bundle for $5. Cabin 12 A is located at the back of the property and overlooks a beautiful waterfall. It also has a screened porch, swing and a deck with a grill. We hiked to Cedar Creek falls and got some gorgeous photos. Remember to take water with you. The Mather Lodge restaurant serves good food with friendly service. You can also call ahead to pick up your food. This was a great last minute trip with very friendly service.
2. Moro Bay State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 157 reviews
Reviewed By pamela387
This was an amazing cabin. It was immaculately clean, looked brand new, extremely high quality construction. Whoever designed and built this should be proud. We were here when it was extremely cold and snowed. Even with the elevated cabin, the floors were so well insulated our feet were warm. The beds were comfortable, the showers/tubs were great, and the kitchen amazing. It has a basic set of cookware in good condition. The park is small, but we were here when there were two other families and so we never had to share space with anyone. The ranger, Paul, was very accommodating. Even though the park closed for the weather, he called to check on us and offered to come open the park store if we needed anything. Overall, amazing getaway. Would recommend it to anyone.
3. Bull Shoals-White River State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By Kelly_Sexton_Alfaro - Potosi, United States
We went here to get a different view of the dam and an up close view of the White River. You can walk right down to the water. Watch out for the concrete sidewalk, it can be slippery.
4. Lake Catherine State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 459 reviews
Offers good hikes, but it can be humid.
Reviewed By Kates9999
There aren't enough good words in my vocabulary to describe what an amazing adventure we had at this state park! We hiked the entire Falls Trail loop, then went back after a rainfall to see a bit more falls action. We walked the ADA-compliant Slunger Creek Nature Trail, & watched the sunrise over the lake from our waterfront campsite. While the site was nowhere near level, & the water access was on the "wrong" side of the camper, the site location was absolutely amazing & worth any inconvenience in getting set up. We chose site 31 in Area B, & had a swimming pier over the water right at our site. The bath house was close to our site, & the facility itself was great. The Visitor Center (& camp store) is open, with a maximum of 3 people inside at a time, but the Nature Center is closed. We also went horseback riding with the separate business on premises. FABULOUS! This park was exactly what we needed to get our nature fix, relax, & re-set.
5. Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 477 reviews
Opened in 1977, the Pinnacle Mountain State Park serves as a center for education, recreation and preservation.
Reviewed By 782rickw - Little Rock, United States
Pinnacle Mountain State Park is a delightful natural oasis 30 mins from Little Rock. The main part of the park has a large flat area where people congregate for all kinds of activities from Frisbee to volleyball to soccer. There is a playground for the wee-ones and restrooms for all. At the same area there is access to the Little Maumelle river for canoes/kayaks. One of the main draws to the whole park is hiking Pinnacle Mountain. One access is from this main parking lot. There is another area to access the hiking trail on the other side the mountain. The east side is the harder side. Both are well marked until the near top. Then you get into large rocks and boulders with the east side being steeper. There is also a trail around the entire called the Base Trail. You can hike up one side, down the other and around the base for about a 3 mile hike. I would rate the trails up the mountain moderate to hard. I see families with small children especially on the west trail but I would not recommend that. The views from the top are stupendous. There is much more in this wonderful park! a Fishing lake which is stocked, mountain bike trails, a visitor center and a delightful short hike that is disabled access to an overlook of the Arkansas River. There is an abundance of huge cypress trees with their "elbows" along the river. Yes, Arkansas is hot and we have lots of bugs, snakes, etc so go in the fall, winter, or spring. Get off your couch, put on some bug spray and enjoy this Natural State Wonder!
6. Mount Nebo State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 220 reviews
This park on Mount Nebo is well equipped for camping.
Reviewed By heidilore1976 - Prattsville, United States
Very beautiful location. I highly recommend going over to sunrise point, it's lovely! We had a great time.
7. Queen Wilhelmina State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 255 reviews
Come experience a spectacular mountaintop setting with breathtaking panoramic scenery atop 2,681-foot Rich Mountain, Arkansas's second highest peak. Queen Wilhelmina State Park is one of the 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Queen Wilhelmina is one of the state park system's eight mountain state parks. Queen Wilhelmina State Park's Lodge is one of the four hotel-like lodges in the Arkansas state park system. The others are historic Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton, DeGray Lake Resort State Park Lodge near Arkadelphia, and The Lodge at Mount Magazine in Mount Magazine State Park near Paris. In addition to the lodge, the 460-acre park includes a campground with 41 campsites and a bathhouse; picnic areas; trails; and a seasonal miniature train and mini-golf course. Park interpretive programs highlight Rich Mountain’s fauna and unique flora. The park is on Ark. 88 (Talimena National Scenic Byway) 13 miles west of Mena. [For an alternate route from Mena or during inclement weather, go six miles north on U.S. 71, then travel nine miles west on U.S. 270, then go two miles south up Ark. 272.]
Reviewed By lizh857 - Austin, United States
We just spent 3 nights at Queen Wilhelmina State Park, part of our Arkansas Spring Break Trip from Austin, Texas. Disappointingly we only caught sight once of the amazing vistas from the State Park as we were constantly enveloped in the thickest fog I've ever seen (and I'm British). You could hardly see from one camp site to the next. The camping area itself was quite unusual. We were in site #27 and this was a reasonably good site. It was at least fairly parallel with our neighbors but some of the other sites almost overlap. Our fire pit was less than 3 feet away from the fire pit of site #28 (luckily these were our friends). Every site was pretty quirky. Google maps is great for really getting an idea of each site. The Lodge was nice but not as impressive as Mount Magazine Lodge which was grander. We did the Spring Trail and the Lovers Leap Loop Trail in the park and both were more interesting than you would think for short walks. We also did 2 hikes outside the park. The first day we hiked the Earthquake Ridge Trail. We did the 2.7 mile Northern Loop and then the Southern Loop, crossing the 88 and then back to the visitor center, about a 4 mile hike. This was a really nice hike in the woods with flowers and small waterfalls and ups and downs but nothing difficult. The second day we hiked the Black Fork Mountain trail, a more remote and adventurous trail. The first spur is on the Ouachita National Trail, you cross a bridge and the railroad and then you take the Black Fork Mountain trail, following the white paint markings. It was an interesting walk though rock boulder gardens and pretty forests with small waterfalls. We didn't make it to any particular milestone but we enjoyed the hike and saw some nice vistas and hiked just over 5 miles in total. The path did become sketchier and more overgrown the further we hiked. We'd like to come back, but perhaps not in the fog in March!
8. Tyler Bend Recreation Area
9. DeGray Lake Resort State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 219 reviews
Arkansas's resort park lies on the north shore of DeGray Lake, a 13,800-acre fishing and water sport paradise in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Here resort amenities combine with plenty of outdoor fun and adventure. DeGray Lake Resort offers a 94-room lodge with conference center, 113 campsites (Class B) and three Rent-A-Yurt, championship golf, swimming, tennis, trails, bicycling, baseball, disc golf and guided horseback trail rides. The full-service marina offers tackle, dock space, fuel, and a variety of boat rentals including party barges, kayaks, and pedal boats.
Reviewed By Traveler_at_Heart_09 - Louisiana, United States
We purchased an RV this year and Degray was our 3rd time out in our camper. We had a lovely site right on the water. We had a very large area with a fire pit and a picnic table. Our toddler enjoyed exploring the site and I loved soaking in the view with coffee. The park roads are great for biking. We love Degray and it made a lovely stop for a few days.
10. Lake Fort Smith State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 113 reviews
Located in the Boston Mountains, the park offers great fall hiking.
Reviewed By CarolAnnePosey
Before we first visited Lake Fort Smith State Park in 2013--I was a skeptic, having suffered through woeful accomodations at state parks elsewhere. But this isn't your grandad's state park! Cabins have private single and double bedrooms, fresh linens, spotless bathrooms. Since 2013, our only complaint is WORD HAS GOTTEN OUT. Now EVERYONE knows how great this place is. You have to book AT LEAST a year in advance to get the date you want if you want a lodge (23-32 capacity) . Cabins (limit 10 ) might not require 1 year in advance. Each cabin and lodge (VERY reasonably priced)has 2 full bedrooms and 2 baths, completely outfitted kitchen (dshes, glasses, utensils, dishwaher [bring your own paper towels and dish soap], outdoor grill, and spacious deck overlooking the forest. Guests have free access to the huge pool with separate (1) kiddie pool (2) wading pool, boat docks, marina, party barges for rent EXTREMELY reasonably, hiking trails, kayak rental, and fireflies that dot the evening sky as you settle in for S'mores. They've literally thought of everything here. Your family is going to LOVE either a cabin, or for larger groups, Wild Turkey Lodge or Kingfisher Lodge. KINGFISHER has private sngl and dbl bdrms. Two of the bedrooms have kingsize beds and an ensuite private bath ideal for ppl w/ special needs or fams.w/ with infants who need a slightly larger room with bathtub for bathing younger children. Just don't scoop up our next date before we lock in our reservation :-) .
