Welcome to Arkansas

Tucked between the rocky Midwest and the balmy Deep South, Arkansas offers visitors sweeping landscapes full of pristine rivers, incredible state parks and sleepy alpine towns. The entire state has a humble and laid-back vibe that makes it easy to fall head over heels for.

Little Rock and Hot Springs are where many visitors find themselves setting up camp first. Each spot is the perfect place to call home base before branching out.

Little Rock offers a mix of hip urban areas full of great restaurants and districts to shop to your heart’s delight. It’s also just a hop, skip and a jump away from lush parks and secluded woodland areas, making it quick and easy to escape from the city for a day of hiking or picnicking. Must-visit attractions include the Clinton Presidential Center, the River Market District and Little Rock Zoo.

The mountain town of Hot Springs, meanwhile, is itself a blissful escape from the doldrums of conventional city life. The town takes its name from the abundance of natural thermal springs bubbling up throughout the center of town.

Adventure

Arkansas isn’t called “The Natural State” for nothing. Outdoorsy types will be in their element here, where the Ozark and Ouachita mountains create rocky, forested, river-strewn landscapes fit for all types of adventure—be it hiking, climbing, biking, horseback riding or fishing.

There are 52 official state parks peppered throughout the state, so no matter where you’re staying, camping or visiting, you won’t be far from outdoor escape.

Chief among them is Hot Springs National Park, conveniently situated in the center (or just north of the center) of Hot Springs itself. Here, you can stroll the wooded grounds, visit historic bathhouses in the Bathhouse Row National Historic Landmark District and enjoy 26 miles of well-groomed hiking trails.

A short distance to the east sits another Arkansas gem: Lake Ouachita, which is tucked into Ouachita National Forest. At more than 40,000 acres in size, the lake is Arkansas’ largest.

Another popular spot is Crater of Diamonds State Park in the southwest corner of the state. This is the only diamond mine in the world that’s open to the public. Visitors are allowed to scour a 37-acre plowed surface for precious gems.