Do you have a bucket list for Arkansas yet? If not, you should! Below you’re going to find both the greatest hits of places and all the things you absolutely have to do in the Natural State in your lifetime. These 23 places are the perfect bucket list items and they’re a fantastic way to plan out this year or the next few years. Here are some of the places you should go in Arkansas in your lifetime.

  1. Eureka Springs Treehouses, Eureka Springs

Facebook/Eureka Springs Treehouses

Facebook/Eureka Springs Treehouses Starting out this list of places you should go in Arkansas is the Eureka Spring Treehouses. They have treehouses, hobbit caves, and castles where you can stay. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THERE ARE HOBBIT CAVES AND CASTLES THERE. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 3018 E Van Buren, Eureka Springs, AR, 72632

  1. Blanchard Springs Caverns, Fifty-Six

Dave Thomas/Flickr (Editor’s note: Blanchard Springs Caverns is temporarily closed. Visit the website for updates on reopening.)

This one made the list because it’s an incredible living cave full of wonders, and because the Dripstone Trail there is the one tour you absolutely have to take in Arkansas. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 704 Blanchard Springs Road, Fifty-Six, AR, 72533

  1. El Dorado

Wikimedia/Chris Litherland El Dorado is a perfectly delightful town. It is also Arkansas’s most perfectly Southern town. Their downtown has been beautifully restored, the people are incredibly nice, and it’s one of the best places you should go in Arkansas this year.

  1. Terra Studios, Fayetteville

Flickr/Chad (Editor’s note: Terra Studios is temporarily closed. Visit the website for updates on reopening and to shop and support the local artists in the meantime.)

If you’re looking for one of the most unique places in the Natural State and a place that will make you feel like a kid again, you can’t do better than Terra Studios. This Arkansas art park is full of whimsy and wonder. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 12103 Hazel Valley Rd, Fayetteville, AR, 72701

  1. Walnut Ridge

Flickr/Sara This little Delta town has a gorgeous tribute to the Beatles and a Beatles-themed festival each fall. It’s quite the musical place! For more information, read our full article.

  1. The Arkansas Grand Canyon, Jasper

Flickr/Noel Pennington The Arkansas Grand Canyon might not be as deep as the one out west, but it’s spectacular and something you definitely need to see to believe.

Address: Arkansas Grand Canyon, AR-7, Jasper, AR, 72641

  1. Longbow Resort, Edgemont

Longbow Resort

Facebook/Longbow Resort When things get exhausting, there’s one place you really need to stay. Longbow Resort is practically paradise, a place where you can truly get away from it all. Bonus: they have waterfalls! This has to be one of the best sites in Arkansas. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 4349 Prim Rd, Edgemont, AR, 72044

  1. Fort Smith

Flickr/FortSmithNPS Fort Smith is one of the most underrated cities in the Natural State, and if you don’t visit, you’ll be missing out on the incredible history of Arkansas’s hanging city. It now has a delightful downtown area complete with beautiful murals, great shopping, and some of the most delicious food in Arkansas.

  1. Whitaker Point, Kingston

Flickr/Noel Pennington

Flickr/Texas Tongs You really do have to visit Arkansas’s most photographed rock, and it’s because the views are incredible. It’s also called Hawksbill Crag, but no matter what you call it, this place is breathtaking.

Address: Co Rd 406, Kingston, AR, 72742

  1. Livingston Junction Cabooses, Eureka Springs

JDC/TripAdvisor Another place where you need to stay is in one of the lovely cabooses of Livingston Junction. These quaint little cabins are the perfect place to jump on board and have a relaxing little adventure. For more information, read our full article.

Address: Co Rd 222, Eureka Springs, AR, 72631

  1. The Castle on Stagecoach, Little Rock

Facebook/Castle on Stagecoach

Facebook/Castle on Stagecoach If you’re looking for a fairy tale experience, you need to head to the Castle on Stagecoach. This Little Rock dreamscape was built in 1935, and it truly does offer a fairy tale experience.

Address: 6601 Stagecoach Rd, Little Rock, AR, 72204

  1. Devil’s Den State Park, West Fork

Flickr/Jonathan Ball

Flickr/Jonathan Ball Devil’s Den State Park should go on your annual bucket list because it’s like experiencing a dream. The trails there offer chances to see caves, gorgeous overlooks, waterfalls, and all the beauty of the dense Ozark forest. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 11333 West Arkansas Hwy. 74 West Fork, AR, 72774

  1. Weinkeller Restaurant, Wiederkehr Village, Altus

Yelp/Jaya D. This restaurant might be miles and miles away from major population centers, but it’s totally worth the drive. Located in the town of Altus, the heart of Arkansas wine country, Weinkeller Restaurant offers European cuisine with charming old world flare. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 3324 Swiss Family Dr, Wiederkehr Village, AR, 72821 (on the grounds of Wierderkehr Wine Cellars, a delightful Arkansas winery).

  1. Oark General Store, Oark

Wikimedia/Valis55 The Oark General Store is the longest continually operational business in Arkansas, and it’s become a restaurant that people drive from all over to enjoy. Located in tiny little Oark, this general store is full of awesome that deserves to be enjoyed. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 117 Co Rd 5241, Oark, AR, 72852

  1. Mountain View

Flickr/Pigdogdown

Flickr/AR Nature Gal Welcome to the Folk Music Capital of the World. Mountain View is close to some truly gorgeous natural wonders like Blanchard Springs Caverns and Mirror Lake. In addition to all that nature, you’ll also find Ozark Folk Center State Park, where you can learn all about Ozarks culture.

  1. Hot Springs

Flickr/sandwich

Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM Hot Springs is a great place to go for a spa experience because of the incredible spas there, but it’s also a fantastic place for barbecue enthusiasts. With a row full of bathhouses, incredible shopping, and tons of delicious barbecue restaurants, a trip to Hot Springs definitely needs to go on your bucket list.

  1. White Rock Mountain, Winslow

Flickr/Mike Norton

Flickr/Matthew Peoples If you’re wondering about the one place in Arkansas that looks like something from Middle Earth, that place is White Rock Mountain. You can gaze off the top of the mountain to the thickly forested land below, and feel like a real elf while you do it. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 214 Bowles Gap Rd, Winslow, AR, 72959

  1. Lakeport Plantation, Lake Village

Facebook/Lakeport Plantation The Lakeport Plantation is alive with history. It fell into disrepair, but was donated to Arkansas State University and beautifully restored. You can visit this old plantation to learn more about the history of the Arkansas Delta.

Address: 601 AR-142, Lake Village, AR 71653

  1. East Calico Rock

Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM East Calico Rock, also known as the Peppersauce Ghost Town, is the only ghost town in America located entirely within the city limits of a living town, which definitely makes it worth a visit.

  1. The Buffalo National River

Flickr/Beth The Buffalo River was the first river in the United States to be federally protected for recreation, and that happened because it’s a truly spectacular place to spend your recreation time. For more information, read our full article.

  1. Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, Parthenon

Beckham Cave Lodge

Beckham Cave Lodge Okay, this lodge is pretty expensive, so gather up your friends and pool your tax returns, folks, because it’s worth it. At this extraordinary lodge, you can sleep in an actual cave. It’s absolutely stunning. You can make arrangements or inquire about pricing, email them at beckhamcave@gmail.com. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 1110 NC 8641, Parthenon, AR, 72666

  1. Jones Bar-B-Q Diner, Marianna

Facebook/Jones Bar-B-Q Diner (Editor’s note: Jones Bar-B-Q Diner is temporarily closed. Visit the Facebook page for updates on reopening.)

Jones Bar-B-Q Diner has been given a prestigious James Beard award as one of America’s Classics. That’s because this little barbecue joint has been serving the Arkansas Delta for a long time, and their food is absolutely to die for. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 219 W Louisiana St, Marianna, AR, 72360

  1. Mammoth Spring

Flickr/Gewel Maker The last on our list of places you should go in Arkansas is Mammoth Spring, the largest spring in the state. Your trip there comes complete with a fish hatchery, a visitor center made from an old train depot, a cool old dam, and super fun paddle boats. This spring also becomes Spring Lake and the mighty Spring River. For more information, read our full article.

To find the ultimate Arkansas bucket list, click here. For a list of natural places you should go in Arkansas before you die, try this one.

Facebook/Eureka Springs Treehouses

Starting out this list of places you should go in Arkansas is the Eureka Spring Treehouses. They have treehouses, hobbit caves, and castles where you can stay. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THERE ARE HOBBIT CAVES AND CASTLES THERE. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 3018 E Van Buren, Eureka Springs, AR, 72632

Dave Thomas/Flickr

(Editor’s note: Blanchard Springs Caverns is temporarily closed. Visit the website for updates on reopening.)

This one made the list because it’s an incredible living cave full of wonders, and because the Dripstone Trail there is the one tour you absolutely have to take in Arkansas. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 704 Blanchard Springs Road, Fifty-Six, AR, 72533

Wikimedia/Chris Litherland

El Dorado is a perfectly delightful town. It is also Arkansas’s most perfectly Southern town. Their downtown has been beautifully restored, the people are incredibly nice, and it’s one of the best places you should go in Arkansas this year.

Flickr/Chad

(Editor’s note: Terra Studios is temporarily closed. Visit the website for updates on reopening and to shop and support the local artists in the meantime.)

If you’re looking for one of the most unique places in the Natural State and a place that will make you feel like a kid again, you can’t do better than Terra Studios. This Arkansas art park is full of whimsy and wonder. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 12103 Hazel Valley Rd, Fayetteville, AR, 72701

Flickr/Sara

This little Delta town has a gorgeous tribute to the Beatles and a Beatles-themed festival each fall. It’s quite the musical place! For more information, read our full article.

Flickr/Noel Pennington

The Arkansas Grand Canyon might not be as deep as the one out west, but it’s spectacular and something you definitely need to see to believe.

Address: Arkansas Grand Canyon, AR-7, Jasper, AR, 72641

Longbow Resort

Facebook/Longbow Resort

When things get exhausting, there’s one place you really need to stay. Longbow Resort is practically paradise, a place where you can truly get away from it all. Bonus: they have waterfalls! This has to be one of the best sites in Arkansas. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 4349 Prim Rd, Edgemont, AR, 72044

Flickr/FortSmithNPS

Fort Smith is one of the most underrated cities in the Natural State, and if you don’t visit, you’ll be missing out on the incredible history of Arkansas’s hanging city. It now has a delightful downtown area complete with beautiful murals, great shopping, and some of the most delicious food in Arkansas.

Flickr/Texas Tongs

You really do have to visit Arkansas’s most photographed rock, and it’s because the views are incredible. It’s also called Hawksbill Crag, but no matter what you call it, this place is breathtaking.

Address: Co Rd 406, Kingston, AR, 72742

JDC/TripAdvisor

Another place where you need to stay is in one of the lovely cabooses of Livingston Junction. These quaint little cabins are the perfect place to jump on board and have a relaxing little adventure. For more information, read our full article.

Address: Co Rd 222, Eureka Springs, AR, 72631

Facebook/Castle on Stagecoach

If you’re looking for a fairy tale experience, you need to head to the Castle on Stagecoach. This Little Rock dreamscape was built in 1935, and it truly does offer a fairy tale experience.

Address: 6601 Stagecoach Rd, Little Rock, AR, 72204

Flickr/Jonathan Ball

Devil’s Den State Park should go on your annual bucket list because it’s like experiencing a dream. The trails there offer chances to see caves, gorgeous overlooks, waterfalls, and all the beauty of the dense Ozark forest. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 11333 West Arkansas Hwy. 74 West Fork, AR, 72774

Yelp/Jaya D.

This restaurant might be miles and miles away from major population centers, but it’s totally worth the drive. Located in the town of Altus, the heart of Arkansas wine country, Weinkeller Restaurant offers European cuisine with charming old world flare. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 3324 Swiss Family Dr, Wiederkehr Village, AR, 72821 (on the grounds of Wierderkehr Wine Cellars, a delightful Arkansas winery).

Wikimedia/Valis55

The Oark General Store is the longest continually operational business in Arkansas, and it’s become a restaurant that people drive from all over to enjoy. Located in tiny little Oark, this general store is full of awesome that deserves to be enjoyed. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 117 Co Rd 5241, Oark, AR, 72852

Flickr/Pigdogdown

Flickr/AR Nature Gal

Welcome to the Folk Music Capital of the World. Mountain View is close to some truly gorgeous natural wonders like Blanchard Springs Caverns and Mirror Lake. In addition to all that nature, you’ll also find Ozark Folk Center State Park, where you can learn all about Ozarks culture.

Flickr/sandwich

Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM

Hot Springs is a great place to go for a spa experience because of the incredible spas there, but it’s also a fantastic place for barbecue enthusiasts. With a row full of bathhouses, incredible shopping, and tons of delicious barbecue restaurants, a trip to Hot Springs definitely needs to go on your bucket list.

Flickr/Mike Norton

Flickr/Matthew Peoples

If you’re wondering about the one place in Arkansas that looks like something from Middle Earth, that place is White Rock Mountain. You can gaze off the top of the mountain to the thickly forested land below, and feel like a real elf while you do it. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 214 Bowles Gap Rd, Winslow, AR, 72959

Facebook/Lakeport Plantation

The Lakeport Plantation is alive with history. It fell into disrepair, but was donated to Arkansas State University and beautifully restored. You can visit this old plantation to learn more about the history of the Arkansas Delta.

Address: 601 AR-142, Lake Village, AR 71653

East Calico Rock, also known as the Peppersauce Ghost Town, is the only ghost town in America located entirely within the city limits of a living town, which definitely makes it worth a visit.

Flickr/Beth

The Buffalo River was the first river in the United States to be federally protected for recreation, and that happened because it’s a truly spectacular place to spend your recreation time. For more information, read our full article.

Beckham Cave Lodge

Okay, this lodge is pretty expensive, so gather up your friends and pool your tax returns, folks, because it’s worth it. At this extraordinary lodge, you can sleep in an actual cave. It’s absolutely stunning. You can make arrangements or inquire about pricing, email them at beckhamcave@gmail.com. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 1110 NC 8641, Parthenon, AR, 72666

Facebook/Jones Bar-B-Q Diner

(Editor’s note: Jones Bar-B-Q Diner is temporarily closed. Visit the Facebook page for updates on reopening.)

Jones Bar-B-Q Diner has been given a prestigious James Beard award as one of America’s Classics. That’s because this little barbecue joint has been serving the Arkansas Delta for a long time, and their food is absolutely to die for. For more information, read our full article.

Address: 219 W Louisiana St, Marianna, AR, 72360

Flickr/Gewel Maker

The last on our list of places you should go in Arkansas is Mammoth Spring, the largest spring in the state. Your trip there comes complete with a fish hatchery, a visitor center made from an old train depot, a cool old dam, and super fun paddle boats. This spring also becomes Spring Lake and the mighty Spring River. For more information, read our full article.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: 3018 E Van Buren, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, USAAddress: Blanchard Springs Caverns, 704 Blanchard Springs Road, Fifty-Six, AR 72533, USAAddress: El Dorado, AR 71730, USAAddress: Terra Studios, 12103 Hazel Valley Rd, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USAAddress: 12103 Hazel Valley Rd, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USAAddress: Walnut Ridge, AR, USAAddress: Arkansas Grand Canyon, AR-7, Jasper, AR 72641, USAAddress: 4349 Prim Rd, Edgemont, AR 72044, USAAddress: Fort Smith, AR, USAAddress: County Road 406, Co Rd 406, Arkansas 72742, USAAddress: County Road 222, Co Rd 222, Eureka Springs, AR 72631, USAAddress: 6601 Stagecoach Rd, Little Rock, AR 72204, USAAddress: 3324 Swiss Family Dr, Wiederkehr Village, AR 72821, USAAddress: 117 Co Rd 5241, Oark, AR 72852, USAAddress: Mountain View, AR 72560, USAAddress: Hot Springs, AR, USAAddress: 214 Bowles Gap Rd, Winslow, AR 72959, USAAddress: 601 AR-142, Lake Village, AR 71653, USAAddress: Calico Rock, AR, USAAddress: Buffalo National River, Arkansas, USAAddress: 1110 NC 8641, Parthenon, AR 72666Address: 219 W Louisiana St, Marianna, AR 72360, USAAddress: Mammoth Spring, AR 72554, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Places You Should Go In Arkansas May 23, 2021 Melissa M. What are the most famous attractions in Arkansas? Aside from some of the attractions listed above, Arkansas has many more well-known places of note. Garvan Woodland Gardens near Hot Springs is a botanical garden located on the campus of the University of Arkansas. Thousands of flowers, art installations, and a fairy garden make this an enchanting must-visit place. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs. This architectural marvel is found in the middle of the forest in the Ozarks and is a site of wonder with 6,000 square feet of glass that allow in light and the beautiful natural scenery.  What are some of the best sites in Arkansas for families? State parks are always a great place for families to visit and spend some quality time. At Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, you can enjoy the visitors center with its variety of interactive exhibits, head outside and enjoy the lake, and hike the family-friendly Ozark Plateau Trail to explore and admire nature. Zoos are another great option to take the kids. The 400-acre Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari in Gentry has a fantastic petting zoo where families can feed goats, pot-bellied pigs, miniature donkeys, and even kangaroos before setting out on an epic safari adventure. Along the four-mile drive-through, you will have the chance to see zebras, wildebeest, camels, tigers, lions, so so much more! It will truly be an unforgettable experience. What is the most unique town in Arkansas? Aside from Eureka Springs, Calico Rock, and Hot Springs, Siloam Springs is quite a fascinating town. Here you will find a perfect mix of city life and nature. Through the middle of town, you will find Twin Springs Park where you can relax and go fishing. The Family Aquatic Center waterpark is a great family-friendly place to spend time in the warmer weather. You can also take a ride or hike along the trails, visit the kayak park, go skydiving, or walk around town visiting all the boutique shops and restaurants. Siloam Springs has something for everyone!

The OIYS Visitor Center

Places You Should Go In Arkansas

May 23, 2021

Melissa M.

What are the most famous attractions in Arkansas? Aside from some of the attractions listed above, Arkansas has many more well-known places of note. Garvan Woodland Gardens near Hot Springs is a botanical garden located on the campus of the University of Arkansas. Thousands of flowers, art installations, and a fairy garden make this an enchanting must-visit place. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs. This architectural marvel is found in the middle of the forest in the Ozarks and is a site of wonder with 6,000 square feet of glass that allow in light and the beautiful natural scenery.  What are some of the best sites in Arkansas for families? State parks are always a great place for families to visit and spend some quality time. At Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, you can enjoy the visitors center with its variety of interactive exhibits, head outside and enjoy the lake, and hike the family-friendly Ozark Plateau Trail to explore and admire nature. Zoos are another great option to take the kids. The 400-acre Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari in Gentry has a fantastic petting zoo where families can feed goats, pot-bellied pigs, miniature donkeys, and even kangaroos before setting out on an epic safari adventure. Along the four-mile drive-through, you will have the chance to see zebras, wildebeest, camels, tigers, lions, so so much more! It will truly be an unforgettable experience. What is the most unique town in Arkansas? Aside from Eureka Springs, Calico Rock, and Hot Springs, Siloam Springs is quite a fascinating town. Here you will find a perfect mix of city life and nature. Through the middle of town, you will find Twin Springs Park where you can relax and go fishing. The Family Aquatic Center waterpark is a great family-friendly place to spend time in the warmer weather. You can also take a ride or hike along the trails, visit the kayak park, go skydiving, or walk around town visiting all the boutique shops and restaurants. Siloam Springs has something for everyone!

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Aside from some of the attractions listed above, Arkansas has many more well-known places of note. Garvan Woodland Gardens near Hot Springs is a botanical garden located on the campus of the University of Arkansas. Thousands of flowers, art installations, and a fairy garden make this an enchanting must-visit place. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs. This architectural marvel is found in the middle of the forest in the Ozarks and is a site of wonder with 6,000 square feet of glass that allow in light and the beautiful natural scenery. 

What are some of the best sites in Arkansas for families?

State parks are always a great place for families to visit and spend some quality time. At Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, you can enjoy the visitors center with its variety of interactive exhibits, head outside and enjoy the lake, and hike the family-friendly Ozark Plateau Trail to explore and admire nature. Zoos are another great option to take the kids. The 400-acre Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari in Gentry has a fantastic petting zoo where families can feed goats, pot-bellied pigs, miniature donkeys, and even kangaroos before setting out on an epic safari adventure. Along the four-mile drive-through, you will have the chance to see zebras, wildebeest, camels, tigers, lions, so so much more! It will truly be an unforgettable experience.

What is the most unique town in Arkansas?

Aside from Eureka Springs, Calico Rock, and Hot Springs, Siloam Springs is quite a fascinating town. Here you will find a perfect mix of city life and nature. Through the middle of town, you will find Twin Springs Park where you can relax and go fishing. The Family Aquatic Center waterpark is a great family-friendly place to spend time in the warmer weather. You can also take a ride or hike along the trails, visit the kayak park, go skydiving, or walk around town visiting all the boutique shops and restaurants. Siloam Springs has something for everyone!