Arkansas

Photographing Window Rock in Ouchita National Forest

Photographing Window Rock in Ouachita National Forest

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Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville

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An illuminated sculpture on the exterior of The Momentary, a contemporary art destination in Bentonville

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The rainbow-colored lights of Junction Bridge, a pedestrian and bicycle pathway in Little Rock

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Fall foliage views from Whitaker Point in the Ozark Mountains

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An array of paths for pedestrians and cyclists in downtown Little Rock

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Kayaking through whitewater rapids at Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area

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River Rail Trolley parked alongside a restaurant in the Little Rock's River Market neighborhood

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Aerial view of Bathhouse Row and other historic buildings in Hot Springs National Park

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A live performance at Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, where folk music is considered a way of life

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Major Airports:

Bill and Hillary Clinton/Little Rock (LIT)

Northwest Arkansas/Bentonville (XNA)
Nickname:

The Natural State

Blues, barbecue and the great outdoors

Known as The Natural State for stunning mountain vistas and clear running streams, Arkansas is a unique treasure waiting to be discovered. This is an ideal destination for those who want to experience both exciting cities and idyllic rural areas only a short drive apart. While it may be known for the verdant mountains and mighty rivers running through the bluffs, it’s also one of the birthplaces of blues, jazz and folk music. Cities like Little Rock, Hot Springs and Bentonville offer a cosmopolitan feel, while a visit to the Ozarks provides small-town, Southern hospitality among towering pines.

Plan your trip to Arkansas today!

Unique Cultural Experiences

Experience natural, historic and musical landmarks on a road trip along one of a dozen scenic byways, starting with the drive from Hot Springs to Eureka Springs. Along the way, visit Historic Washington State Park to learn what it was like to live as a pioneer, or head to the Museum of Native American History to see pottery and tools left by Arkansas’ Indigenous American peoples.

For those looking for a musical retreat, look no further than the Delta. This region is home to several nationally recognized musicians such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Levon Helm and Johnny Cash. The Delta blues tradition is alive and well in the towns and cities where it began, especially historic Helena and Little Rock. In Mountain View, hear folk music on the banjo and fiddle or country blues played in the original style, and tour Johnny Cash’s boyhood home in Dyess.

Bill Clinton, another Arkansas son, launched his political path in the state, and sites commemorating his legacy can be toured today. Want more interesting finds? Stuttgart, Arkansas, is one of the world’s top rice growing destinations, and Little Rock is home to the Esse Purse Museum & Store, one of only two purse museums on the planet.

Time in the Great Outdoors

From its rugged mountains and rolling rapids to its mysterious caves, Arkansas’ landscape reflects the scenic variety of this part of the USA. The state packs in seemingly limitless camping sites, hiking trails and waterways to excite even the most-traveled adventurer. Bring your mountain bike or rent one here and head out on one of the state’s five Epic Rides, as designated by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Don’t miss Crater of Diamonds State Park, where you can dig for real diamonds and keep what you find.

Plan your trip to Arkansas today!

Fun Fact

Family photo op at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas

Situated on the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro in one of the only places in the world where the public can search for real diamonds at their source.

In 1985, Arkansas made the fiddle its official state instrument in honor of its folk music tradition.

Must see places

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

See the world’s largest collection of American artwork in this Moshe Safdie-designed museum set squarely in Arkansas’s pastoral wilderness.

Cob Cave, part of the Lost Valley Trail, in the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas

Ozark Mountains

Experience the famed northern Arkansas highlands through a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, zip-lining and horseback riding.

Hot Springs National Park

These thermal springs, 47 in all, flow from Hot Springs Mountain to create “The American Spa.” Stop by the modern bathhouse for a soak in them or just enjoy the beautiful vapors rising up into the trees.

Garvan Woodland Gardens

The extensive botanical garden in Hot Springs is devoted to preserving and showcasing the Ouachita landscape. Features include a canopy bridge, promenades, lawns and even a model train garden.

Wegner Crystal Mine

Dig for quartz crystals, diamonds and other gems at this 16-hectare surface mine in the Ouachita Mountains and take home some treasures, or try hard mining at one of Wegner’s deeper veins.

William J. Clinton Library and Museum

Get a glimpse at life inside the White House at the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, situated within Clinton Presidential Center and Park on the riverfront in Little Rock. Created in honor of the USA’s 42nd president, the museum features an Oval Office replica, memorabilia and archives from Clinton’s life and time in office, as well as special events, exhibits and educational programming.

Crater of Diamonds State Park

Find your diamond in the rough at one of the world’s largest volcanic craters bearing the gem and then get it certified at the park’s Diamond Discovery Center.

Buffalo National River

Canoe through placid waters and over running rapids on this 217-kilometer national river, the first of its kind in the USA.

White River

The tail waters of this river that cuts right through the Ozarks are an angler’s dream. Full of rainbow trout, the White River is an internationally recognized fishing destination.

Signage outside Johnny Cash's Boyhood Home in Dyess, Arkansas

Johnny Cash Boyhood Home

Travel along Arkansas’ Sunken Lands Cultural Roadway to Historic Dyess Colony, a 1930s farming resettlement community where young Johnny Cash lived in a five-room home with his family. Today, the home has been refurbished along with several buildings in the colony, which provide insight into the legendary musician’s life here and how it shaped him.