El Dorado · $$$ — Top public
Road trips · Arkansas
Arkansas road trips & hidden gems.
Arkansas hides Ozark waterfalls, the spring-clear Buffalo National River, and a diamond field where you keep what you dig. Spring brings the falls to life; fall lights the hills. The Natural State earns the name.
Best time to visitSpring (waterfalls) & fall
Don’t missFloating the Buffalo National River
Gem Hunt nominees10 candidates
Hikes10 curated
Scenic drives2
Gem Hunt nominees
What locals say you shouldn’t miss.
Community-nominated candidates. Add yours and vote to help choose the first published finalists.
Thorncrown Chapel
A breathtaking glass-and-wood chapel hidden in the Ozark woods just west of Eureka Springs, free to visit, where 425 windows dissolve the walls into the surrounding forest.
Crater of Diamonds State ParkThe only public diamond mine in the world, near Murfreesboro, where you dig a plowed volcanic field and keep whatever gems you find — thousands are pulled out every year.
Blanchard Springs CavernsA still-living cave system in the Ozark National Forest near Mountain View, where water still drips and grows new formations on lantern-lit and standard guided tours.
Devil's Den State ParkA rugged CCC-built park in the Lee Creek valley near Fayetteville with sandstone crevices, small caves, and waterfalls after rain — classic, uncrowded Ozark hiking.
Mount Magazine State ParkArkansas's highest point near Paris, with cliffside lodge views over the Petit Jean River Valley and trails popular with hang gliders and rock climbers.
Pivot RockAn impossible-looking boulder in Eureka Springs that balances like an upside-down pyramid on a tiny base, set in a small private park with trails and a natural bridge in the Ozark hills.
The big ones
National parks in Arkansas.
The bucket-list landscapes — when to go and what not to miss.
Explore by interest
Everything else worth a stop in Arkansas.
Start with a few highlights, choose one interest, or explicitly open the full state guide.
Showing Hikes and Scenic routes highlights. Choose a category or Show all for the full state guide.
Scenic drives
Scenic routes through Arkansas.
Boots on
Best hikes in Arkansas.
From family-easy to bucket-list — trails worth the detour, great for the RV & camping crew.
Cedar Falls (Petit Jean)
a canyon walk to a 95-ft waterfall
Glory Hole Fallswater pours through a hole in the rock ceiling
Hawksbill Crag (Whitaker Point)the most-photographed spot in Arkansas
Hemmed-In Hollowthe tallest waterfall between the Rockies and Appalachians
Kings River Fallsa wide ledge fall and pool on a natural-area trail
Lost Valleycaves, bluffs, and a waterfall on the Buffalo
Beyond the parks
Wild lands in Arkansas.
National forests, wilderness, and monuments — the big scenic public land between the parks and the gems.
Bucket-list wonders
Scenic landmarks in Arkansas.
The iconic slot canyons, overlooks, and rock formations — and how you actually get to visit each one.
Where to eat
Road-trip dining in Arkansas.
Restaurants, diners, and food halls that fit the drive — curated by town, not scraped from a phone book.
Conifer
Seasonal upscale tasting-menu kitchen named a top new Southern restaurant, with an exceptional fully gluten-free program.
Crepes PauletteBeloved little creperie worth the trip for sweet, savory and combination crepes made to order in downtown Bentonville.
Pedaler's PubBicycle-themed downtown pub with jerseys on the walls serving wood-fired pizzas, salads and a deep beer and cocktail list.
The HiveChef Matthew McClure's James Beard-recognized High South dining room inside the 21c Museum Hotel, sourcing from local farms.
The Preacher's SonFrench Laundry-trained chef's refined tasting menus inside a restored 1898 church, the region's most distinctive fine-dining experience.
Wright's BarbecueCounter-service pit turning out tender brisket, pulled pork and ribs, widely rated among Northwest Arkansas's best smoke.
On two wheels (road)
Best cycling in Arkansas.
Scenic road rides, iconic climbs, and car-free rail-trails.
Knobby tires
Best mountain biking in Arkansas.
Trail systems, bike parks, and gravel routes.
Soak it in
Best hot springs in Arkansas.
Resorts, historic bathhouses, and wild primitive soaks.
Chasing water
Best waterfalls in Arkansas.
From roadside stops to bucket-list hikes — easy ones flagged for the RV & family crew.
Hemmed-in Hollow Falls
the tallest fall between the Rockies and Appalachians, in the Buffalo River wilderness.
Cedar Falls (Petit Jean)the signature fall of Petit Jean State Park.
Eden Fallsthe centerpiece of the Lost Valley trail in the Buffalo River country.
Glory Hole Fallswater pours through a hole in the rock ceiling in the Ozarks.
Falling Water Fallsa wide, swimmable fall right beside a forest road in the Ozarks.
Kings River Fallsa wide ledge fall and pool on a natural-area trail.
Tee it up
Public golf you can book in Arkansas.
Mountain Home · $$
Bismarck · $$
Glenwood · $$
Little Rock · $$
Heber Springs · $$
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