Field trips are a great way to reboot a bad homeschooling week, get out of the house when everyone has cabin fever, and learn about your local area. Before heading out, check out Jeanne's tips for improving homeschool field trips.
Our listing of Arkansas field trips for homeschoolers is ordered alphabetically by city. If you would like to submit a Arkansas field trip destination, you may do so using the red button above.
Millwood State ParkAshdown
This 29,260-acre lake abounds in largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie. Birding is also popular at this Audubon-designated Important Bird Area with sightings of over 300 of the state’s 400 species on record. The park features 45 campsites (27 Class AAA, 2 Class A, 13 Class B, and three primitive tent sites). The camping is relaxed and quiet. Nearby are picnic sites plus a self-guided walking trail and a bicycle trail. A marina offers gift items, groceries, bait, gas for sale, and rental fishing boats, canoes, kayaks, and more.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American ArtBentonville
A series of pavilions nestled around two spring-fed ponds house galleries, meeting and classroom spaces, and a large, glass-enclosed gathering hall. Guest amenities include a restaurant (Eleven) and Coffee Bar on a glass-enclosed bridge overlooking the ponds, a Museum Store designed by architect Marlon Blackwell, and a library featuring more than 50,000 volumes of art reference material. Five miles of sculpture and walking trails link the museum’s 120-acre park to downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. Crystal Bridges provides year-round programming for all ages, including lectures, performances, and classes.
Scott Family AmazeumBentonville
The Scott Family Amazeum is excited to offer a different take on the traditional school visit - the Unfield Trip. The Unfield Trip is an opportunity to provide a powerful, hands-on experience for students and teachers that is driven by a strong learning agenda. The Unfield trip uses the museum as a curricular platform connecting back to the classroom. To make an Unfield Trip reservation call 479-268-4542, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. Or email our Reservation Specialist.
DeGray Lake Resort State ParkBismarck
Near Hot Springs and Little Rock, Arkansas’s resort state park is located on the shores of DeGray Lake. Here, you’ll find first-class lodging and amenities along with outdoor fun and adventure year-round. DeGray Lake Resort offers a 90-room lodge; 113 campsites ranging from walk-in tent sites to Class AAA sites with full hookups, and three Rent-A-Yurts; two swim beaches; basketball and tennis courts; five hiking trails; a water trail for paddlecraft; and guided horseback riding with world-class mountain biking trails nearby. The full-service marina has bait and tackle, fuel, and boat rentals including party barges, kayaks, and pedal boats.
White Oak Lake State ParkBluff City
White Oak Lake is a popular fishing lake, and watchable wildlife and birding opportunities also abound here. Park facilities include 45 campsites (four Class A, 37 Class B, and four tent sites), a newly renovated private bathhouse, visitor center with exhibits, store with fishing supplies, marina with boat rentals, launch ramp, pavilion, picnic sites, and playground. Hiking trails and a mountain bike trail lead through marshlands and up to tree-lined ridges. Bicycles can be rented at the visitor center. In the summer, enjoy interpretive programs. Poison Spring Battleground State Park is just 8 miles away. Its interpretive display is located in the White Oak visitor center.
Louisiana Purchase State ParkBrinkley
This National Historic Landmark preserves the initial point from which all surveys of property acquired through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 originated. An elevated boardwalk above the surrounding headwater swamp leads to the granite monument marking the survey’s starting point. Wayside exhibits tell the story of the Louisiana Purchase, which opened up the American West. Other panels interpret the lowlands and its native flora and fauna. Restroom facilities are located at the trailhead of this day-use park.
Bull Shoals-White River State ParkBull Shoals
Famous for its world-class trout fishing, Bull Shoals–White River State Park lies along the shores of both Bull Shoals Lake and the White River. The scope of the park can first be experienced from the 15,744-square-foot visitor center set high above the Bull Shoals Dam. Its state-of-the-art visitor exhibit hall and theater share the history of the area and tell the fishing stories from these waters. Venturing down into the park along the White River, visitors are greeted with 113 campsites plus three Rent-An-RV sites. The riverside marina and store offer boat rentals, bait, tackle, and supplies. Besides being the state’s premier park for trout fishing, the park also offers great hiking and mountain biking. Interpretive programs include campfire-cooking demonstrations, trout fishing workshops, and nature walks.
Poison Springs Battleground State ParkCamden
Three Civil War battles took place in south central Arkansas in the spring of 1864 as part of the Union Army’s Red River Campaign. The sites of these skirmishes – Poison Springs, Marks’ Mills, and Jenkins Ferry – and the 1836 Courthouse at Historic Washington State Park, which served as Arkansas’s Confederate capital, comprise the Red River Campaign National Historic Landmark. Poison Springs Battleground State Park features outdoor interpretive exhibits and picnic sites.
Baum GalleryConway
An educational art museum for UCA students, faculty and staff, and the central Arkansas community. The Director and Faculty Exhibitions Committee select national and international touring exhibitions, sponsor juried student shows, and cooperate across disciplines to curate original exhibits distinctly suited to an academic environment. The gallery develops exhibitions and events that invite interaction and encourage dialogue about visual art: the creators, studio process, history, criticism, curation, and cultural contexts.
Mount Nebo State ParkDardanelle
Situated in the Arkansas River Valley, this state park sits atop the 1,350-foot Mount Nebo. Park features include rustic-style cabins, and 32.6 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Twelve of the park’s 15 cabins are located along the bluff and have views of the river valley below. Most of the campsites do as well. There are 34 campsites. Other facilities include a swimming pool (fee required), tennis courts, picnic areas, pavilions, and a visitor center with a gift shop. Mount Nebo State Park is a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Site. Mount Nebo, overlooking the Arkansas River from the south, witnessed the removal of all five of the tribes that were removed along the water route of the Trail of Tears. Mount Nebo offers panoramic views of the Arkansas River from the Rim Trail.
Lower White River Museum State ParkDes Arc
Discover the role of Arkansas’s White River, with emphasis on the Lower White, as a vital transportation route for early settlers on the Arkansas frontier. Museum exhibits interpret the river’s influence on settlements during the steamboat era and the expansion of commerce from its roots in hunting and fishing into shelling, timber, agriculture, pearling, and button making. Life-sized figures of a steamboat captain, slave, schoolteacher, and land surveyor greet visitors. Admission to the museum is free.
Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood HomeDyess
Student and group tours are $5 per person. This includes a guided tour through our Visitor Center, Administration Building (Johnny Cash displays) and Johnny Cash's boyhood home. We also provide educational activities and lessons tailored to meet the needs of any age or related to any subject area. Rooms with tables are available for these activities so social distancing can be maintained. Contact Penny to plan and schedule your trip.
South Arkansas ArboretumEl Dorado
Located adjacent to the El Dorado High School, this 13-acre site exhibits plants indigenous to Arkansas's West Gulf Coastal Plain region and exotic species including flowering azaleas and camellias. Operated by the South Arkansas Community College, the arboretum offers walking trails, a pavilion, restrooms, and parking. It is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. except for designated holidays.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife RefugeEureka Springs
Situated atop the Ozark Mountains on 459 acres, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) is one of the largest Big Cat sanctuaries of its kind in the nation. A nonprofit rescue organization for victims of the exotic animal trade, TCWR is located 7 miles south of Eureka Springs, Arkansas on Highway 23 and is home to a variety of exotic and native animals including lions, ligers, tigers, servals, cougars, bears, and many other species. This family-friendly destination offers daily tours, lodging accommodations and group discounts, and is a fun AND educational destination for all animal lovers!
The Great Passion PlayEureka Springs
A spectacular experience brought to you by a cast of hundreds. You'll be inspired as the story of the Man who changed the world forever unfolds before your eyes. Our popular family vacation and group destination is located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains just outside Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Art VenturesFayetteville
Art Ventures is a non profit art gallery housed in a large historic home. We welcome children of all ages. We have a tree house in the backyard and tours are self guided unless otherwise requested.
Arkansas Air MuseumFayetteville
Follow the colorful history of aviation in Arkansas through numerous displays of original artifacts and aviation memorabilia! From world-famous racing planes of the 1920s and 1930s to an early airliner, the historic aircraft in the Arkansas Air Museum are unusual among museum exhibits, because many of them still fly. Static displays at the museum range from the golden age of aviation to the jet age, including Vietnam-era Army helicopers and a Navy carrier fighter. The vast, all-wood white hangar, which houses it all is a part of American history, being former headquarters for one of the United States' many aviator training posts during World War II. It is one of the few remaining 1940s-era aircraft hangars.
Marks' Mills State ParkFordyce
Three Civil War battles took place in south central Arkansas in the spring of 1864 as part of the Union Army’s Red River Campaign. The sites of these skirmishes – Poison Springs, Marks’ Mills, and Jenkins Ferry – and the 1836 Courthouse at Historic Washington State Park, which served as Arkansas’s Confederate capital, comprise the Red River Campaign National Historic Landmark. Marks' Mills Battleground State Park features interpretive exhibits and picnic sites.
Fort Smith National Historic SiteFort Smith
At Fort Smith National Historic Site you can walk where soldiers drilled, pause along the Trail of Tears, and stand where justice was served. The park includes the remains of two frontier forts and the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas. Judge Isaac C. Parker, known as the "hanging judge," presided over the court for 21 years.
The United States Marshals Service MuseumFort Smith
The museum features artifacts and special exhibits from America's oldest federal law enforcement agency, serve as an educational center, and memorialize the Marshals Service's past, present, and future law enforcement roles
Pea Ridge National Military ParkGarfield
On March 7-8, 1862, over 23,000 soldiers fought here to decide the fate of Missouri which was a turning point of the war in the Trans-Mississippi. This 4,300-acre battlefield honors those who fought and died on these hallowed grounds. Pea Ridge was the most pivotal Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. The website offers historical information about the battle for those who cannot visit in person.
Arkansas Post National MemorialGillett
Established in 1686, as the first semi-permanent French settlement in the lower Mississippi River Valley. In 1783, the only Revolutionary War action in Arkansas occurred when Spanish and British soldiers clashed in a raid. The Arkansas Post became part of the United States following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. During the Civil War, Confederate troops build a massive earthen fortification known as Fort Hindman at the Post. It was destroyed by Union troops in January 1863. The website offers historical information about the post for those who cannot visit in person.
Arkansas Post MuseumGillett
Tour this complex of five exhibit buildings and explore life on Arkansas’ Grand Prairie and in the Arkansas Delta from 1877 to today. The Main House serves as the entrance to your experience. Two buildings on the grounds are original to the Grand Prairie: the 1877 Refeld-Hinman Loghouse, a dogtrot cabin furnished in the style of the 1800s, and the 1933 Carnes-Bonner Playhouse, a miniature built-to-scale version of the Carnes’ family home with children’s furnishings, accessories, and toys. Admission to the museum is free.
Woolly Hollow State ParkGreenbrier
This is a classic state park experience with fishing, boating, and swimming on 40-acre Lake Bennett in Greenbrier about 18 miles north of Conway. The lake offers a launch ramp with canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and fishing boats for rent at the park. Bring your own pole, bait, and tackle. A snack bar is open near the lifeguarded swimming beach in the summer. Park facilities also include 30 AAA campsites,10 tent sites, and a bathhouse for hot showers. History buffs will enjoy the Woolly Cabin, an original 1882 one-room family homestead. The 9.4-mile Enders Fault is a mountain biking destination. Hikers have four trails to choose from.
Lake Poinsett State ParkHarrisburg
This small, quiet park offers boat rentals and launch ramps on-site with a bait shop nearby. The day-use area includes several picnic tables for family lunches, a heated and cooled pavilion, a playground for the kids, and an open field for ball games. Year-round interpretive programs educate guests on wildlife and the history of the area with trail hikes and kayak tours available. The trails are easy to traverse for all ages. Facilities also include 29 campsites.
Civil War along the Buffalo RiverHarrison
The Civil War in this area pitted families and neighbors against one another. The most visible effect of the Civil War was the burning of numerous homesteads, striping the land, and the total disruption of family and community life. Bat Guano in caves was used to make gunpowder.
Buffalo National RiverHarrison and St. Joe
The Buffalo National River flows free over swift running rapids and quiet pools for its 135-mile length. One of the few remaining rivers in the lower 48 states without dams, the Buffalo cuts its way through massive limestone bluffs traveling eastward through the Arkansas Ozarks and into the White River. At the Buffalo, you can partake of many activities including floating the river, visiting historic homesteads and prehistoric sites, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. Many nearby attractions outside of the park are within short driving distances. Regularly scheduled ranger programs and activities are offered Memorial Day through Labor Day. These activities include hikes, float trips, junior ranger programs, music programs, and evening programs.
Delta Cultural CenterHelena
A museum dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and presenting the cultural heritage of the 27-county Arkansas Delta area. The museum interprets the history of the Delta through exhibits, educational programs, annual events, and guided tours.
Hot Springs National ParkHot Springs
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of years. Ancient thermal springs, mountain views, incredible geology, forested hikes, and abundant creeks – all in the middle of town – make Hot Springs National Park a unique and beautiful destination. Nestled in the heart of downtown Hot Springs, the National Park is surrounded by shops, diners, roads, and other attractions. There is a network of hiking trails and beautiful mountain overlooks for those looking to escape the feeling of city life that is also a part of the Park. There is no entrance fee to the park and there is free parking available in town.
Lake Catherine State ParkHot Springs
This peaceful park is located on Lake Catherine, one of five lakes in the beautiful Ouachita Mountain region. The only full-service marina on the lake is here at the park and open in the summertime for bait, snacks/drinks, and fuel. The park also includes a launch ramp, pavilion, picnic sites, playgrounds, and a well-marked trail that leads to a waterfall. The park has 20 fully equipped cabins, including one two-bedroom cabin with a patio overlooking the water and private access to the lake from its own fishing pier. There are also many native stone and wood buildings on-site. The park offers 70 campsites, six primitive tent sites, and one Rent-A-Yurt. Many of these sites are on the lakeshore. Park interpreters offer hikes, lake tours, and programs year-round. Guided horseback rides are offered seasonally, and reservations for the rides are recommended.
Withrow Springs State ParkHuntsville
The park serves as a put-in point on this north-flowing Class I stream, typically floatable from March to mid-June depending on rainfall, and is an outfitter and shuttle service for War Eagle Creek. A day of floating or fishing on these gentle waters is relaxation at its best. The park features 29 Class AAA and 10 walk-in campsites, plus three hiking trails. A unique flower, the rare Ozark trillium, grows here. Outdoor fun also includes tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, picnic areas, a pavilion, and gift shop.
Jefferson County Historical MuseumJefferson County
Take a glimpse into the past of Pine Bluff and surrounding Jefferson County. Within this fascinating museum, discover displays and collections of relics, and cotton farming implements. See displays of Civil War and World War II artifacts, Victorian furniture, clothing, quilts and antique dolls, plus tools, relics and cotton farming implements. They also host a variety of museum programs, including themed all-ages activity days and artist-led talks and panel discussions focused on current exhibitions.
Moro Bay State ParkJersey
A great getaway, this park offers lots of privacy and some of the best cabins in the state. Fishing is popular year-round where Moro Bay and Raymond Lake join the Ouachita River. Park facilities include 23 Class AAA campsites, trails, picnic sites, pavilion, playground, and the Moro Bay Ferry exhibit. A marina with boat and slip rentals, gas and a store make it a good spot for boaters, but even in peak season, it never feels crowded. Each of the park’s five, fully equipped cabins features two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, and screened deck and outdoor living area overlooking Moro Bay. Interpretive programs are offered seasonally.
Ron Coleman MiningJessieville
Ron Coleman Mining has a private quartz crystal digging area. Fee for groups of 10 paying adults or more is $10 per person (flat fee for digging only). For individuals and families - public quartz crystal mining fee is $20 for persons 7 to 54 or 54 and up for $15 per person. Children 6 and under are free with a paying adult. Group reservations are available online or you may call 501-984-5396. We host many school groups each week
Arkansas State University MuseumJonesboro
A-State Museum offers exhibits connected to State-mandated curriculum, hands-on gallery activities that bolster STEM-learning, tours, and suitcase exhibits that can be checked out—all for free! The Museum’s Tinkering Studio (Saturday 10:00–5:00) inspires creativity and inventiveness. They also offer birthday parties.
Lake Frierson State ParkJonesboro
The park campground offers seven campsites. Nearby are picnic sites, a pavilion, playground, hiking trails, a launch ramp, and fishing pier. The visitor center includes nature exhibits and a bait shop. Fishing boats and kayaks are available for rent.
Daisy State ParkKirby
Situated on Lake Greeson, Daisy State Park is a popular place for fishing and kayaking with rentals available. Lake tours offer views of magnificent rock formations that you may not otherwise see. The Little Missouri River also offers impressive fishing for trout and excellent floating in the spring. Other activities include ATV riding on the Bear Cycle Trail. Daisy is near Crater of Diamonds State Park which makes a great day trip from your campsite. There are three YURTs, 100 campsites, picnic areas, a pavilion, launch ramps, and a playground.
Lakeport PlantationLake Village
The Lakeport Plantation, an Arkansas State University Heritage Site, was constructed just before the Civil War. Restored between 2003 and 2008, recently installed exhibits maintain the historic integrity of the house. Guided tours weave together the stories of planters, enslaved laborers, sharecroppers, farm laborers, craftsmen, and preservationists. For groups of 10 or more, please call to make reservations 870.265.6031 or email roloughlin@astate.edu.
Lake Chicot State ParkLake Village
At 20 miles long, Lake Chicot is the largest natural lake in Arkansas and the largest oxbow lake in North America. Located near the Mississippi River, the park is situated in one of the largest flyways in the country making it a perfect place for birdwatching. Park programs include lake and levee tours. Enjoy one of the 14 cabins or 85 campsites for your overnight stay. The park’s pavilions are perfect for larger group meetings and reunions. Also available in the park are, a park store (boat rentals by reservation only at this time), and a seasonal swimming pool (cabin guests have free entry, otherwise, there is an admission charge to the pool).
Arkansas Country Doctor MuseumLincoln
The clinic and private home used by these doctors now house the museum's diverse collections of medical instruments, including an iron lung, a dental chair, and equipment from the 1930s, salt and pepper shakers, vintage hats and costume jewelry, commemorative plates and original clinic and domestic furnishings from 1930 to 1960.
Arkansas Museum of Fine ArtsLittle Rock
Located in historic MacArthur Park in Little Rock, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts features elegant art galleries that showcase the Center's acclaimed collection. Guests can enjoy a unique blend of visual and performing arts experiences and educational programming. Field trips will provide wonder and encourage curiosity as your students explore the Museum, enjoy imaginative performances in the Children’s Theater, and view the inspiring artwork in the galleries. Admission and parking are free.
Central High School National Historic SiteLittle Rock
Little Rock Central High School is recognized for the role it played in the desegregation of public schools in the United States. The website offers historical information about the park for those who cannot visit in person.
Historic Arkansas MuseumLittle Rock
Tour the museum's historic grounds and visit a pre-civil war neighborhood, including the oldest home still standing in Little Rock and the site where William Woodruff once printed the Arkansas Gazette. Interact with a living history character and see first-hand how early residents lived. Inside the Museum Center, explore Arkansas made art and artifacts in four exhibit galleries, see contemporary Arkansas art in the Trinity Gallery, and watch kids having fun in the interactive children's gallery. Shop for quilts and other contemporary crafts in the Museum Store, and see the award-winning introductory video in the theater.
Arkansas Museum of DiscoveryLittle Rock
The Museum offers 25,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and over 30 programs designed to provide learning experiences for all ages.
MacArthur Museum of Ar Military HistoryLittle Rock
The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History explores our the military heritage of our nation and state. Located in an historic building, students of all ages are welcome to explore galleries that will expand their knowledge of both national and local history. Programs on specific conflicts, topics, or time periods are offered and we can cater to any topic of interest if so desired. All programs can be made to serve any age group as well. We also offer a field trip grant program to reimburse gas mileage, bus drivers, or other related costs.
The Mosaic Templars Cultural CenterLittle Rock
Arkansas's state funded museum dedicated to the story of African American life and business. It focuses on collecting, preserving, interpreting and celebrating African American history, culture and community in Arkansas from 1870 to the present, and informs and educates the public about black achievements-especially in business, politics and the arts.
Old State House Museum - ArkansasLittle Rock
Set in the oldest surviving state capitol west of the Mississippi River, the Old State House Museum is designated a National Historic Landmark, though it is probably best known throughout the country as the scene of President Bill Clinton's 1992 and 1996 election-night celebrations.
Conway Cemetery State ParkLittle Rock
When Arkansas was admitted to the Union as the 25th state on June 15, 1836, James Sevier Conway (1796-1855) took office as Arkansas’s first governor. This 11-acre historic site preserves Conway’s final resting place, where a biographical marker details the life of Governor Conway is featured in the park. The cemetery was the family plot located at the former Conway home site, a large cotton plantation named Walnut Hill. There are no campsites or visitor services available at this state historic site.
Pinnacle Mountain State ParkLittle Rock
This day-use park offers a variety of outdoor adventures on the Big and Little Maumelle Rivers, in the Arkansas Arboretum, and along over 22 miles of trails including over 14 miles of challenging mountain bike trails. Hike to the top, explore the rivers or take in one of the many interpretive programs offered by park staff. Visit the park visitor center, enjoy a picnic, or reserve a pavilion for a larger gathering. Loblolly Outpost will be located at the Pinnacle Mountain State Park visitor center. Pinnacle Mountain State Park is also certified as a Trails of Tears National Historic Site.
Mammoth Spring State ParkMammoth Spring
A National Natural Landmark, Mammoth Spring is one of the world’s largest springs with nine million gallons of water flowing hourly. It forms a 10-acre lake then runs southward as the Spring River, a famous Ozark trout and float stream. Remnants of a mill and hydroelectric plant are part of Mammoth Spring’s history. The park also features an 1886 Frisco train depot and museum. Adding to the things to do here are a playground, picnic area, baseball field, walking trail, Arkansas Welcome Center, and gift shop.
Herman Davis State ParkManila
This monument honors Herman Davis who grew up hunting near Manila and became a scout and sharpshooter. He was on General John J. Pershing’s list of WWI’s 100 great heroic stories. Private Davis received the Distinguished Service Cross, Croix de Guere, and Medaille Militaire awards from the American and French governments. This historic site preserves Davis’ final resting place and does not include park facilities. This historic site is in Manila at the corner of Ark. 18b and Baltimore Street.
Logoly State ParkMcNeil
At Arkansas’ first environmental education state park, Logoly’s natural resources provide a living laboratory for students and visitors. Most of Logoly’s 370 acres comprise a State Natural Area that includes unique plant species and mineral springs. This peaceful park surrounded by an old-growth forest is an easy day trip from Texarkana, El Dorado, Camden, Magnolia, and Hope. Enjoy hands-on interactive exhibits in the park's state-of-the-art visitor center. Park interpreters lead programs and field trips year-round. Park facilities also include a bathhouse with hot showers, pavilion, picnic sites, playground, and multiple trails.
Queen Wilhelmina State ParkMena
The park's crowning attraction is a renowned hostelry, a lodging tradition born with the original "Castle in the Sky" that graced this same lofty locale high above the Ouachita Mountains over 100 years ago. The park includes 41 campsites, picnic areas, and trails. Interpretive programs highlight Rich Mountain’s fauna and unique flora and connect you to the fascinating history of the three inns that have graced this mountaintop site.
Petit Jean MountainMorrilton
Named for the legend of Petit Jean, the story of a French girl who disguised herself as a boy and secretly accompanied her sweetheart, an early explorer, to the New World and to this mountain. Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas's first and flagship state park, enhances this 300-year-old legend with windswept views, enchanting woodlands laced with streams and wildflowers, and a spectacular waterfall - Cedar Falls. The park offers a lodge, cabins, campsites, hiking trails, fishing, kayaking, and pedal boating. Two swimming pools, picnic areas, playgrounds, pavilions, boat launch ramp, tennis and basketball court, and an amphitheater are also on site. Interpreters lead programs and special events throughout the year showcasing the uniqueness of this park. Petit Jean State Park is a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Site.
Lake Ouachita State ParkMountain Pine
Arkansas’s largest lake, Lake Ouachita offers 40,000 acres of clear, clean water surrounded by the scenic Ouachita National Forest. Swimming, skiing, scuba diving, boating, kayaking, and fishing are enjoyed here. The park has 93 campsites, 12 cabins, and a bathhouse. Other facilities include Caddo Bend trail, picnic tables, swimming areas, and a marina with boat and kayak rentals, bait, and supplies. Historic Three Sisters’ Springs is in the park. There are also exhibits and a gift shop inside the visitor center. Interpretive programs such as guided hikes, eagle cruises, and kayak tours are offered year-round.
Ozark Folk Center State ParkMountain View
Tap your toes to traditional American mountain music. See blacksmithing, pottery making and over 18 other pioneer folk art and craft demonstrations. Learn how to play the dulcimer, autoharp, or fiddle. Learn hand quilting or turkey wing broom making, or how to grow a backyard herb garden. Pioneer craft workshops are offered throughout the season at the Ozark Folk Center.
Lake Fort Smith State ParkMountainburg
Nestled in a scenic valley of the Boston Mountain Range of the Ozark Mountains, this state park offers outdoor adventure including camping, fishing, kayaking, swimming, mountain biking, hiking and nature study. Park interpreters lead guests on nature hikes and lake tours year-round. For backpackers, the park serves as the western terminus of the 180-mile Ozark Highlands National Recreation Trail.
Trail of Tears National Historic TrailMulti-state
The park commemorates the survival of the Cherokee people and their forced removal from their homelands in the Southeastern United States in the 1840s. More than 16,000 Cherokee traveled by foot, horse, wagon, or steamboat along this path with devestating consequences between 1838-1839.
Crater of Diamonds State ParkMurfreesboro
One of the only places in the world where the public can search for real diamonds in their original volcanic source, Crater of Diamonds is a one-of-a-kind experience that brings people from all over the world to Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Visitors to the park search a 37-acre field, the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, for a variety of rocks, minerals, and gemstones – and any rock or mineral you find is yours to keep. Park staff provide complimentary identification of rocks and minerals found at the park, as well as diamond mining demonstrations and other interpretive programs. Amenities include walking trails, picnic sites, 47 Class AAA campsites, 5 walk-in tent sites, a gift shop, and Diamond Springs Water Park (seasonal).
Jacksonport State ParkNewport
In the 1800s, steamboats made Jacksonport a thriving river port. During the Civil War, Confederate and Union forces occupied the town because of its location at the confluence of the White and Black rivers. Jacksonport became the county seat in 1852, and the restored courthouse now stands as a museum. Admission is free. Facilities also include 20 Class A campsites, a swimming beach, pavilion, picnic sites, a playground, and the half-mile Tunstall Riverwalk. Today, exhibits in the park's 1872 courthouse and programs by park interpreters share the story of this historic river port.
The Arkansas National Guard MuseumNorth Little Rock
Dedicated to preserving the history and telling the story of the Arkansas National Guard and Camp Pike and Camp Robinson. Admission is free. The museum is located on Camp Robinson.
Crowley's Ridge State ParkParagould
Crowley’s Ridge State Park is situated on a unique geological formation and has a rich history. Native log and stone structures, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, set the tone for this park’s rustic quality. Facilities include five bunk cabins for group lodging, four duplex cabins with kitchens and fireplaces, one rustic cabin with kitchen, 25 campsites, picnic areas, hiking trails, pavilions, a 31-acre fishing lake, and 3.5-acre swimming area. The park offers fishing boat, kayak, and pedal boat rentals.
Mount Magazine State ParkParis
At the peak of the state park experience is Mount Magazine, Arkansas’s highest point at 2,753 feet. People come for the sweeping views alone, but there is much to see and do from this unique spot. Mount Magazine State Park is a place of relaxation, exploration, nature study, and is within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. It is a destination for outdoor sports and extreme adventures with mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking, and ATV riding. Mount Magazine is the state park system’s most dramatic location for technical rock climbing, and it’s one of only two parks to offer hang gliding launch areas. Scenic overlooks, hiking trails, picnic area, pavilion, and visitor center with gift shop add to the amenities. A wide variety of programs led by park interpreters highlights the mountain’s natural diversity. The park has a lodge, cabins, and campsites.
Parkin Archeological State ParkParkin
This National Historic Landmark preserves a 17-acre Mississippian Period American Indian village located here from A.D. 1000 to 1550. Archeologists at this research station also uncovered evidence that Hernando de Soto visited this site in 1541. Park interpreters offer tours, educational programs, and special events throughout the year. The site was the location of the 1920s-era Northern Ohio Lumber Cooperage Company, and the Northern Ohio School House still remains. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Admission is free for self-guided tours and viewing exhibits in the visitor center. Nearby are the day-use picnic area, playground, and pavilion, available by reservation only. A boat ramp provides access to the St. Francis River.
Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational CenterPiggott
A barn-studio associated with Ernest Hemingway and the family home of his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. Pauline's parents, Paul and Mary Pfeiffer, were prominent citizens of Northeast Arkansas and owned more than 60,000 acres of land. During the 1930s the barn was converted to a studio to give Hemingway privacy for writing while visiting Piggott. Portions of one of his most famous novels, A Farewell to Arms, and several short stories were written in this studio. Both the home and the barn studio were named to the National Historic Register in 1982. The properties have been renovated, focusing on the 1930s era. Areas of emphasis for the museum and educational center include literature of the period, 1930s world events, agriculture and family lifestyles, family relationships and development of Northeast Arkansas during the Depression and New Deal eras.
The Arts and Science CenterPine Bluff
The ARTx3 Campus presents programming in the visual arts, performing arts, and the sciences through exhibits, performances, classes, and local partnerships. Education programming occurs on and off site and area schools are encouraged to visit for free exhibition tours and hands-on activities. Classes are offered for children, youth, and adults with scholarships available. Gallery admission, hands-on programming, and school field trips are all free.
Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature CenterPine Bluff
The Delta Rivers Nature Center teaches visitors the Delta’s heritage, wildlife and ecology in both indoor and outdoor settings. The center sits between Lake Saracen and Lake Langhofer. Native fish can be seen in our 22,000 gallon aquarium as well as native reptiles and some amazing birds of prey housed at the facility. While walking out on the trails, you can watch for a large variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects, as well as the many interesting and beautiful species of native plants. The Delta Rivers Nature Center is a little bit museum, aquarium, laboratory, nature store, hiking trail, bird-watching facility, wildlife photography location and environmental education facility all rolled into one location. Admission to the nature center is free.
Arkansas Railroad MuseumPine Bluff
Operated by the Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society, Inc., the building encompasses over 70,000 square feet of floor space, including two display galleries and 17 tracks. The Museum is open from 10:00AM to 2:00PM, Thursday through Saturday, though extreme temperatures can affect operating hours, since the main museum is neither heated nor air conditioned. Admission is free, however donations to help offset operating costs are appreciated.
Arkansas Entertainers Hall of FamePine Bluff
The Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame in Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) was created to honor Arkansans who have made outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. Honorees include performers, nonperforming contributors (such as writers, directors, and producers), and pioneers in the entertainment industry.
Band MuseumPine Bluff
This beautifully refinished distinctive old building, circa 1890, is now home of the only museum dedicated entirely to the history of band music and instruments. Established by Jerry Horne, a band instrument collector for many years, the museum displays rare, old and unusual instruments and memorabilia from one of the most extensive collections anywhere in the USA.
Alum CovePleasant Hill
Visitors can view picturesque rock bluffs and hike wooded hillsides. Outstanding among the many natural features of the Ozark Natural Forest is the huge stone arch that forms a natural bridge at Alum Cove. The natural arch is all that remains of what was a quartz sandstone cave. The arch is 130 feet long and 20 feet wide.
Old Davidsonville State ParkPocahontas
Frontier history and modern-day recreation merge at Davidsonville, once home to Arkansas’s first post office and one of the earliest courthouses. Little of Davidsonville’s existence is evident above ground; archeological excavations here are still uncovering streets, foundations, and artifacts. Fishing is a major activity here as the park borders the Black River and a fishing lake. Pedal boats are available for rent. The new visitor center features a replica 1820s hunter-trapper flatboat, audio tour, and a display of historic finds from archeological digs. Trails, picnic areas, and a newly renovated campground with 20 campsites add to the amenities.
Lake Charles State ParkPowhatan
Anglers and nature lovers will enjoy this park on the shore of Lake Charles, 645 acres of spring-fed waters in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Along with fishing, the park offers a visitor center, campsites, a YURT, and hiking trails.
Powhatan Historic State ParkPowhatan
The uniqueness of this park is in its preservation: all six historic buildings stand in their original 19th-century locations. Built on a hill to overlook and welcome Black River steamboat traffic, the 1888 courthouse contains exhibits interpreting the commerce and culture of Lawrence County from Reconstruction through the early 20th century and is free to the public. Guided tours by knowledgeable interpreters are available in the remaining historical structures, including a log house, school, church, and jail. Popular among families, Powhatan bridges the past to the present. Lake Charles and Davidsonville are within 15 miles, making it possible to visit three state parks in a day.
Prairie Grove Battlefield State ParkPrairie Grove
Authentic, expansive, and well-preserved, Prairie Grove is known as one of America’s most intact Civil War battlefields. With more than 900 acres, this park commemorates the site of the Battle of Prairie Grove, where on December 7, 1862, Confederate and Union forces clashed in a fierce day of fighting that resulted in 2,700 casualties. This battle marked the last major Civil War engagement in Northwest Arkansas. The park offers walking and driving tours, programs, and weekend events. At the Hindman Hall Museum, artifacts recovered from the battle are displayed. Admission to the museum is free. Arkansas’ largest Civil War battle re-enactment takes place here biennially (even-numbered years) the first weekend in December.
Rogers Historical MuseumRogers
Features five permanent exhibits plus rotating temporary exhibits. Permanent exhibits: Five galleries that survey the history of Rogers from pre-history to today, 1895 Hawkins House, Vera's Victorian Garden, the First Street replica scene, and a retired caboose. The museum offers two hands-on spaces, The Attic and Children's Gallery, where children of all ages can play and explore objects from the past. Admission is free.
Hobbs State Park-Conservation AreaRogers
obbs is Arkansas’s largest state park, spanning a 12,054-acre tract of Ozark landscape along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. It’s an asset to the ecosystem with minimum human impact. Highlights of this day-use park include a diverse, 54-mile trail system with hiking, ADA accessible, mountain biking, horseback riding trails. The park has 11 primitive campsites, six accessible by mountain biking, the first in Northwest Arkansas. It’s the only state park in Arkansas to allow regulated hunting. The visitor center includes exhibits about the park’s natural resources, limestone landscape, and history. Interpretive programs and workshops are offered throughout the year.
Arkansas River Valley Arts CenterRussellville
Culture, arts, heritage and historic activity of the Arkansas River Valley.
Lake Dardanelle State ParkRussellville
This park is located in two areas on Lake Dardanelle, a 34,300-acre reservoir on the Arkansas River. The main site is in Russellville where you’ll find the Sport Fishing Weigh-in Pavilion, a fishing pier, swimming beach, boardwalk, trail, and visitor center with five aquariums, and the Lakeview Room meeting facility. Park interpreters lead a variety of programs and lake tours. There are 57 campsites in the Russellville area of the park with 18 Class B sites in the Dardanelle area of the park. Lake Dardanelle State Park is a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Site. The Visitor Center, located on the Russellville side of the park, offers spectacular views of the river, along with exhibits that tell more of the removal story.
Plantation Agriculture MuseumScott
Located in Scott, Plantation Agriculture Museum preserves Arkansas’ farming history. Housed in a series of buildings is the main museum originally built as a general store in 1912, the Dortch Gin Exhibit containing a 1916 cotton gin, Seed Warehouse #5 which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a Historic Tractor Exhibit. Live demonstrations include water pumping and cotton ginning. At the Plantation Agriculture Museum, kids and adults alike can explore where and how crops were grown and harvested in Arkansas from the time of statehood in 1836 through World War II. It’s a highly interactive park where kids and adults alike can explore where and how crops are grown, harvested, and processed into foods we eat and products we use. Special events include the Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show. Scott is just minutes from downtown Little Rock and makes for a pretty drive into the Delta. It’s also a popular stop for cyclists riding the Harper’s Loop route.
Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State ParkScott
Formerly Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park, Plum Bayou is one of four National Historic Landmarks in the Arkansas State Park system. This park interprets the largest and most complex mound site in the state. It also offers the rare opportunity to see archeological research at work. This site was a ceremonial ground for prehistoric Native Americans and stands today as an important and fascinating piece of history. A popular field trip destination for local schools, the park recommends that requests for guided tours be made well in advance.
Jenkins' Ferry State ParkSheridan
Three Civil War battles took place in south-central Arkansas in the spring of 1864 as part of the Union Army’s Red River Campaign. The sites of these skirmishes – Poison Springs, Marks’ Mills, and Jenkins Ferry – and the 1836 Courthouse at Historic Washington State Park, which served as Arkansas’s Confederate capital, comprise the Red River Campaign National Historic Landmark. Jenkins' Ferry Battleground State Park features interpretive exhibits and picnic sites.
Siloam Springs MuseumSiloam Springs
The Siloam Springs Museum preserves and interprets the heritage of an area with a rich past. Explore the past through permanent and rotating exhibits highlighting Indian culture, pioneer life, medicine and many other facets of the history. Admission is free.
Arkansas Museum of Natural ResourcesSmackover
South Arkansas is home to the unique story of the 1920s oil boom. Walking the grounds of the state park, you’ll see working oil field equipment used in the area, including a replica of a 112-foot derrick and a central power station that could pull up to 15 wells. Inside the museum, tour a reproduction of a boomtown with an old jail and café. The streets are lined with vintage trucks and gas pumps. Watch a short film in the theater, and view exhibits on the origins of oil and how to drill for it. Admission to the museum is free. Special events include Chautauqua, Tinker Fest, summer programming and a Holiday Lights Extravaganza.
The Monkey House of SpringdaleSpringdale
The Monkey House is an indoor bouncer/slide party and play place geared toward kids 12 years or less. We have separate areas for toddlers (under 3 years old) and non-toddlers. Parents are free to enter, and are encouraged to play with their kids. Call for info at 479-419-4161
Shiloh Museum of Ozark HistorySpringdale
"A regional history museum focusing on the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks. The museum takes its name from the pioneer community of Shiloh, which became Springdale in the 1870s. Most of what you'll see at the museum highlights the real shapers of Ozark history - the everyday men, women, and children who lived in our towns and rural communities. We tell their stories through a variety of exhibits on native peoples, pioneers, the Civil War, the fruit and timber industries, and traditional folklife. There's plenty of fun for all ages - you can use a grinding stone, try on some old-timey clothes, listen to folk music, or sit and play a game of checkers." Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
Cane Creek State ParkStar City
Located where the Coastal Plain meets the Mississippi Delta, this park offers you the opportunity to experience both in one visit. The trail system is a point of pride at the park. Trail run, ride, or backpack through rolling terrain, along the lake, and across three suspension bridges. Paddle or fish Cane Creek Lake. Explore nearby Bayou Bartholomew, the world’s longest bayou. Interpretive programs include guided walking, biking, kayaking, and birding tours. Facilities include 29 campsites, one Rent-An-RV, picnic sites, a backpacking shelter, pavilions, visitor center with exhibits and gift shop, launch ramp, fishing piers, a bathhouse, and playground. Boat and bicycle rentals are available.
Historic Washington State ParkWashington
An important stop on the Southwest Trail, James Bowie, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett famously traveled through here. James Black, a local blacksmith, actually forged the legendary Bowie knife. From 1863-1865, it served as the Confederate capital of Arkansas. The 1874 Courthouse serves as the park visitor center. Start there, and continue to the Blacksmith Shop, Weapons Museum, Print Museum, and other historic locations that make up the largest collection of 19th-century buildings in the state.
Delta Heritage TrailWatson
Every visit to Delta Heritage Trail State Park is one to remember. Walking or riding along the trail, you may encounter a variety of wildlife and plants. When the rail-to-trail project is complete, it will be 84.5-miles long. To date, there are 44.4 miles of trail completed. The Barton Trailhead is located at Delta Heritage Trail State Park's visitor center. There are 24-hour access restrooms (no showers), five primitive campsites with tent pads, picnic tables, standing grills, and a community water spigot. The visitor center also has a gift shop. Bikes are available to rent and interpretive programming is offered. The Pedal & Paddle Tour is a bike ride from Barton to Lakeview (about 12 miles one way), then kayaking on Old Town Lake, and then a bike ride back to Barton. Call the park for more information.
Devil's Den State ParkWest Fork
Some of the park’s unique characteristics are rock formations and caverns. An impressive rock dam spans Lee Creek forming Lake Devil, an 8-acre lake for fishing and boating with canoes and pedal boats for rent. The park’s hiking, backpacking, mountain bike, and horseback riding trails lead to the surrounding Ozark National Forest. Devil’s Den includes 23 cabins. The park also offers 135 campsites. The park’s cafe is open seasonally. The pool is open in summer only. Also on-site is a group camp, standard pavilion, store, and a meeting room. Join park interpreters on hikes along trails and for a variety of programs and special events year-round, like the Ozark Mountain Bike Festival held annually in the spring.
Cossatot River State Park-Natural AreaWickes
This park-natural area extends for 12 miles along the National Wild and Scenic Cossatot River. The river forms Cossatot Falls, a rocky canyon with Class IV rapids for experienced kayakers and canoeists when local rainfall increases the watershed. Brushy Creek Recreation Area offers picnic sites, restrooms, and river access. Tent sites are located at the Cossatot Falls Area, Sandbar Area, and Ed Banks Area. A primitive (no water or electricity) group camping area with tent sites, pavilion, restroom, fire pit, grill, and river access is available by reservation at River Ridge Group Camp. Hikers can enjoy four scenic trails spanning nearly 20 miles. The visitor center features exhibits, a wildlife observation room, meeting room, and gift shop. Interpretive programs are offered year-round.
Hampson Archeological Museum State ParkWilson
Hampson Archeological Museum State Park in Wilson, Arkansas, exhibits a nationally renowned collection from the Nodena site. This was a 15-acre palisaded village that once thrived on the Mississippi River in what is today Mississippi County. Hampson Archeological Museum interprets the lifestyles of this farming-based civilization that lived there from A.D. 1400 to 1650. Artifacts and exhibits share the story of this early aboriginal population of farmers who cultivated crops and supplemented their food resources with hunting native game while developing its art, religion, and political structure along with a thriving trading network. Admission is free. A knowledgeable, friendly staff leads group and private tours. Facilities also include a picnic area.
Village Creek State Park - ArkansasWynne
Village Creek State Park encompasses nearly 7,000 acres of beautiful forested hills and clear streams to create an environment found nowhere else in Arkansas. There are 33 miles of multi-use trails, campgrounds with bathhouses, an equestrian campground with stable facilities, 10 cabins, two lakes, a day-use area with pavilions and picnic sites, outdoor and indoor theaters, a small museum, and a visitor center with a gift shop. Interpretive programs are available year-round. You can walk on a segment of the Trail of Tears as part of the trails. Village Creek has the most intact segment of the Trail of Tears.
